Hi Lee. Welcome to the hot seat! Please tell us first how you became part of Team Crown?
I joined Crown back in 2003, just a month out of school. My dad, who was in shoemaking himself, introduced me to the owner Chris and his dad Andrew Woodford, and it felt like a natural step from there. I’m actually a third-generation shoemaker, with family who’ve worked at places like Sargents, Grenson, and Dr. Martens. My mum was a dressmaker too, so you could say it’s in my blood! My brother’s joined us here now too - keeping it all in the family.
What Was Your Training Like?
When I started, Chris taught me everything from the ground up. I began with gluing materials and then moved into side-lasting, which became my first main job. Back then, Chris would pull toe last and pass them over for me to finish - it was hands-on from day one, which I loved. Nowadays, I cover almost everything in the Lasting and Making room, from eyeleting to finishing. I enjoy the variety, jumping between different tasks when needed. Crown is all about variety; we’re not tied to the same machines every day.
Twenty Years is a Long Time - Tell Us How You’ve Seen Crown Evolve.
I remember back before Crown sold direct to consumer (trading as Chancery Footwear), we were working with racks of wholesale - race boots, police boots, golf shoes, you name it. Now, we’re all about made to order, using much rarer more varied leathers. Our factory itself has grown with the re-launch of E Woodford & Sons and making our own belts / small leather goods.
Today, each pair gets real thought and time—I spend a big part of the day setting up racks, adjusting lasts, and prepping each shoe individually. It took me a couple of years to feel confident working with all these unique leathers, especially rare ones like oak bark and Cordovan. Cordovan’s a tough one - stiff, doesn’t like heat or steam, so you have to know how to handle it. But when you get it right? The results are worth every bit of effort.
What Are Some Differences Between Wholesale and Made to Order?
Each pair of footwear we make here is treated like it’s for someone specific - because it is. More recently, we’ve taken it up a notch with custom fits, especially for our regular customers. I’ll add pieces to a last to tailor it more closely to someone’s foot shape. We keep each customer’s details in a dedicated area of the factory, so if they order again, we have their last adjustments to hand, ready to go. It’s like building a personalised history for each customer. No other factory I know of does it quite like this.
I also get to interact more with our customer service team. They’re based in the factory, so I hear directly about specific requests or unusual foot shapes, making the work more personal and rewarding.
What is your favourite leather to machine and last?
For me, the nicest leather to work with has to be Scottish Deer Suede - it’s got this softness that makes it a pleasure to handle but still has the strength of the thicker leathers.
Why Else Do You Work at Crown?
I did try something else when I was 21, but I came back. It’s different here - you’re part of something. I even get a say in the design process. A colleague and I actually came up with the idea for the Everdon boot just by experimenting with some walking boot uppers. That kind of freedom is what makes this place special. Amongst our team is people with years of shoe making experience. We all rely on each other, and that makes all the difference
What’s life like Outside of Work?
I’m mostly kept busy by my kids, spending plenty of time keeping them active and entertained. I’m a big fan of American football and ‘80s action films - Arnold Schwarzenegger’s an icon to me, which is why I’ve got him tattooed on my leg! I also love working on classic American cars; my current pride is a 1989 Camaro IROC-Z28. There’s something special about restoring old cars - it’s a bit like shoemaking, working with your hands to bring quality to life.
Lee, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. We hope you enjoy the rest of the year - it sounds like it’s been a busy one for you!
Thanks! I’ve heard we’re all being gifted a handcrafted belt as an end-of-year perk. Looking forward to it, especially if it matches my favourite Crowns - which is pretty much anything in black leather. Right now, I’m wearing the Overstone Derbies in black Chromexcel, so a matching belt would be a great addition.
