It is no coincidence that in London, many CEOs of multinational companies consider it essential to buy a pair with this signature – perhaps as a sign of status – which in the case of ready-to-wear start at around 1,700 euros, while custom-made ones often reach and exceed 5,000 euros.
From Tokyo to New York
Tony Gaziano and Dean Girling, before deciding to start their collaboration, already had twenty years of experience in the historic shoemaking company Edward Green & Co. The former as a designer and the latter as a production technician, with knowledge that also came from his shoemaker father. Their first thought after joining forces was how to save money to open their company.
This was the reason they found themselves in Tokyo, where they managed to accept dozens of orders, before moving to New York for the same reason. As they say, after several years of effort, they managed, without any outside help, to finance the opening of their own store at number 39 of the famous Saville Row, one of the most expensive shopping streets in London. Before this happened, all the orders they collected from their travels were made in Tony’s garage and in the garden shed at Dean’s house, with the collaboration of a tailor who specialized in handmade shoes.
Gaziano & Girling designs combine a unique balance between contemporary and classic form, stylized as necessary, with a modern twist and with a main concern for timelessness and durability. In the factory located in Northamptonshire, more than 20 craftsmen work to produce the shoes. All with excellent training and constant monitoring by the duo of creators. Although the company selects the best leathers from England and Switzerland, using the perfect leather is not enough, as traditional treatments play an equally important role. Moreover, a leather, no matter how good quality it is, needs many stages to acquire the ideal finesse and above all the fine, soft feel that the luxury footwear category should have, in this size.
The handmade process and its secrets
A characteristic of the effort for the perfect training of craftsmen is that very often, the heads of the departments, visit for training the tanneries where the leathers that are ultimately used are processed. But also the way of sewing the sole with the upper of the shoe, is methodically taught to the younger assistant craftsmen, through the knowledge that the older ones have.
After so many years of British footwear production experiencing a decline in sales, Gaziano & Girling continues its growth path, securing new demanding customers every year. Not only from the English market, but also from the showroom in Tokyo and from the frequent shows in New York. At the same time, following modern dictates for the attention required from companies in the creation of waste, the materials discarded from production, leathers, threads and anything else that remains unclaimed, are all used in the educational programs of the house. In an effort to offer knowledge to a new generation of student-artisans, who would like to be informed and follow this direction professionally.
Gaziano & Girling, beyond the 20 craftsmen, remains a small-scale company, almost family-run, with relatively small production as it is aimed not only at those with a “comfortable” pocket, but primarily at those who appreciate handmade excellence.
