The Italian Job

To create an investment piece, you have to invest in the craft. We've all read the 'Made in Italy' stamp on fine leather goods and understood it to be a sign of quality, but have you ever wondered just how much work goes into creating our signature boot?

We're taking you from London to Florence, a city renowned for its rich leatherworking history, for a behind-the-scenes look at Marco Leather, the company that crafts all our Stretch Boots by hand.

A family-run operation since the 1940s, Marco Leather's factory is in Malmantile, a small hamlet situated in the heart of Tuscany. It's only a stone's throw from Florence, but the rolling hills and olive groves surrounding the factory are a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the city.

It all starts with the pattern. After our in-house team sources the leather from Leather Working Group-approved companies, the shape of each section of the boot is carefully stencilled on the leather, then it's cut by hand or machine.

Once the pieces are cut, they're stitched together to form the upper, including any zip fastenings. This now-constructed single piece is then attached to a last, the foot-shaped mould that gives the boot its silhouette. The solid last mimics the shape of the foot, ensuring the leather is stretched and shaped in the correct way throughout the rest of the crafting process, including supporting the arch of the heel and the movements associated with everyday wear.

With the last mould still in the shoe to maintain its shape, the excess upper is pressed and stitched neatly around the bottom of the boot before the sole is hand-glued and the heel affixed.

The final product is thoroughly inspected and any hand-finishing touches are performed, et voila, or should we say, ecco fatto, you have a pair of Italian-crafted Stretch Boots.