The art of bespoke shoe making has hardly changed since the 19th century and one brand has become synonymous with high quality and refinement in the detailing of handmade designs. The name of the game is G.J. Cleverley, which after being founded in Mayfair, London, not far from where it stands today, served some of the world’s most famous names, world leaders, titans of industry ,socialites and quickly became known for the Cleverley shape – a graceful chisel shoe, which became the signature of its extraordinary craft.

George Cleverley was born on 10 August 1898 into a family of shoemakers in London. After completing his apprenticeship at 15, he was called up to the Royal British Army for the First World War and then settled in London before joining a British Army boot factory in Calais, France. After the war he joined Tuczec, a London high society shoemaker, in Clifford Street, Mayfair, where he remained for 38 years. George left Tuczec in 1958 to start his own business – G.J.Cleverley of Cork Street, Mayfair. In 1978 he chose long-time students John Carnera and George Glasgow to succeed him in the business because of their shared high standards of shoe making. George died in 1991, he was nearly 93 and still working. All Cleverley shoemakers go through a 3 to 5 year apprenticeship to ensure that style and quality are consistently maintained to the highest standards. Today, the company is still a family run business led by Mr George Glasgow Snr (Chairman) & Mr George Glasgow Jr (CEO & Creative Director).

Photos Courtesy: georgecleverley.com