Being made to order opens a door that most brands keep closed. Some customers walk straight through it, others are happy to order online and let us get on with it. All are very welcome. But occasionally someone comes along who wants to see exactly what is behind that door, and what happens next tends to be interesting. Bjorn is one of those people.
The visit that started it all
Bjorn first visited the factory a while back to be measured up and see whether we could accommodate his wider feet in a pair of Harlestones in snuff naked kudu. Wider feet are something we work with regularly, and this was no exception. Bjorn is also someone who understands what we are trying to do here, and Chris genuinely enjoyed the conversation. It is always reassuring and a privilege when a customer values the direct to consumer model we have built and what it means for how we make.
A leather spotted in passing
Bjorn was so taken with the visit that he came back a couple of months later, this time with his family, to have a go at hand welting. Whilst his family attempted a stitch or two in our Ernest hand welted sneaker, Bjorn happened to notice one of the leathers we use for our E.Woodford & Sons welted footwear, Janus calf from CF Stead and brown kudu suede. That chance encounter became the inspiration for his own pair of Adnitt GATs.
Making it his own
The Adnitt GAT typically sits within our Jazz Collection on a lighter Vibram sole. For Bjorn's pair, we adjusted the patterns and last to suit his wider measurements, cut the insoles and footbed by hand, and finished them on our Lactae Hevea cup sole instead. As for the sole inspiration, that came from a very special cordovan sample he spotted in reception. More on that in a couple of months.
If you have wider feet and have struggled to find something that fits well, it is worth getting in touch.
The result
Thank you Bjorn for visiting us, twice. Your handmade GAT shoes are a genuinely one of a kind pair and we hope they do you proud. We look forward to seeing them back here in Northampton for a resole in a few years.
"Donna and I hugely enjoyed Saturday so thank you for setting it up, and many thanks indeed to Chris and Will for being such outstanding hosts and giving us a genuinely inspiring experience. We love what you guys are about.
Just wanted to thank you all for a wonderful morning.
Max and Ava loved giving the welting a go and it’s genuinely been an inspiring experience for them to see how passionate - and talented! - the team is. Donna and I have always wanted the kids to find something they care about and enjoy working hard at it… visiting Crown gave them a perfect example of how true this can be.
So huge thanks, especially Will for being so generous with this his time, and to everyone for a hugely inspiring morning."
If you would like your sneakers to be featured in Shoe of the Month, get in touch.
Gallery of the making process
Measured and cut by Chris and Johnny:
Upper components of the Adnitt GAT:
Upper laid flat, Janus calf and Kudu by CF Stead:
Prepped, fitted, and machined by Yvey, Brandon, and Alastair:
Lasting and making by Lee, Kerry, and Craig:
Sole stitched and finishing by Ollie and Elaine:
Customer service by Justine.
Images by Zain.
Blog Written by Chris & Lucy.
