Off-Cuts Collection Shell Cordovan Card Holders

Without our amazing customers understanding and likeminded beliefs, we would not have this business. Everything we make is direct from the factory, every order made to order which allows us to offer the most incredible materials in the world at a price without middlemen. The connection between us and our customers is the reason we are always looking at further ways to put great hand-crafted products into the world.

We have an amazing relationship with Horween that allows us to utilise their vast range of colours and finishes of cordovan. We stock four colours and every three months release a limited edition. For early access to these drops please join the mailing list.

It is a business run with the same ethos as us, which has created what is generally considered the best cordovan in the world. The process takes months and is a challenge to source, so it would be such a waste to not utilise every part we can get our hands on.

Read more on our blog: Crown Visits Horween Leather Co.

Cordovan shells vary in size, thickness and shade. They require a highly skilled craftsman to cut a matching pair of sneakers. In the shoe trade this is called ‘clicking’, a term that comes from the sound of the knife as it leaves the brass edged pattern when hand cutting.

During this process there is, inevitably, a small amount of shell which is put to one side that is not big enough to cut a sneaker pattern from (especially a wholecut). These pieces are called off-cuts and until now have not had a purpose other than key rings.

Link to rose anvil everdon.

If you have 40 years of experience and still love what you do, some amazing things can be created.

The staff and machinery that we took on at the start of 2024 has given us the ability to use the off-cuts in this imaginative way. Along with the craft involved in belt making is the same amount of experience in small leather goods.

The brief we gave Adrian and the team was simply to have a play with the cordovan off-cuts and make something to demonstrate your talent. 

Read more on our blog: Life in the Belt Business

We want to offer our customers something beautiful that thanks them for supporting us. 

We are not charging a penny for the material. The off-cuts exist because of our sneaker production and the demand for them, it’s a collaboration.

For every 5 pairs cut we have enough for one card holder! That’s £2,000 worth of cordovan to make one card holder that would not exist without either of us.

The cost to each card holder is the labour and rates and that is all. No carriage costs as it travels with the sneakers.