How Crown Northampton Makes the World's Best Sneakers-and the New E. Woodford Handwelt Line

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Күн бұрын

E. Chris Woodford is a bit of a madman. And he’s pretty much thrilled about that.
The fifth-generation shoemaker founded Crown Northampton-maker of some of the world’s best-made sneakers-as a reaction to watching his father’s business unravel, along with so much else of the iconic Northampton, England shoemaking trade.
While needed stalwarts like Crockett & Jones, Tricker's, and Edward Green blessedly continue to persist in Northampton, Chris watched factory after factory shutter while growing up-and knew he needed to create a different kind of business. Early wholesale success in Japan provided the buoy for Chris to design a sneaker made with the finest possible materials available-including J&FJ Baker oak bark leather, and Horween’s renowned shell cordovan-sell made-to-order models direct, and see if it caught. (Oh it caught.)
Now, Chris is on the verge of launching E. Woodford, an extremely high-end, full-custom handwelt line powered by Chris’s own bespoke shoemaking knowledge, and his desire to create “careers, not jobs” for shoemakers in Northampton.
In a fascinating, engaging chat, Chris talks us through the Woodford family shoemaking history that stretches back to 1908, how wars have always powered the Northampton shoe trade (and what happens when they end), why he’s obsessed with using only the best materials and preserving nearly vanished techniques, and why creating an environment in which shoemakers can learn and grow and be excited about their work every single day is the key to Northampton’s future success.
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Crown Northampton: crownnorthampton.com/
E. Woodford: www.ewoodford.com/
EPISODE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
01:09 - Meet Chris Woodford
02:45 - Woodford family history in Northampton
14:55 - Crown's beginnings
17:06 - Why sell direct to customers?
18:39 - Shell cordovan sneakers
28:04 - What's a "real" shoe??
34:25 - E. Woodford: The BIG REVEAL
38:53 - What's different about handwelt?
44:51 - Preserving craft
52:05 - Ben hits himself in the face with a shoe
55:39 - Shoemaking academy
1:02:34 - BOOT CAMP!!
1:07:40 - Future of Northampton shoemaking??

Пікірлер: 12

@annahenderson1730 10 ай бұрын

Here because of Carl Murawski and this didn’t disappoint

@stitchdown 9 ай бұрын

Carl is a fastidiously reliable individual. Thanks for watching!

@weaponson3-158 9 ай бұрын

How do I tell what size width I should get I’m not sure if I classify as a size wide or not. I am currently wearing EE wide brooks sneakers right now.

@Vilmir 7 ай бұрын

I do not understand why Crown isn't proposing the Harlestone in calf brown like their Upton in Chromexcel calf. I do not like Cordovan and how it ages and I need brown sneakers. The Upton is real nice and I will probably order a pair, but I would love ordering the Harlestone as well.

@1525boy 3 ай бұрын

You can do that but you have to contact them and do a special order.

@CarlMurawski 9 ай бұрын

Who is this Carl guy anyway???

@stitchdown 9 ай бұрын

I hear he's ok with me wearing Carhartt

@bryanjones9356 9 ай бұрын

Some dude that thinks loafers suck.😂😂😂

@Winston_Smith_84 10 ай бұрын

Carl sent me. Because I haven’t spent enough money already. 💸💸💸

@stitchdown 9 ай бұрын

CARL!!!!!

@DMorgan77 9 ай бұрын

Where's Ticho been?

@stitchdown 9 ай бұрын

More Ticho soon! Honestly a ton of focus has been on just getting video of the quality we need with remote guests (who often make shoes with their hands for a living and therefore care not at all about ripping internet speed! Bless their hearts.)