Jeffery-West

The British invasion has hit once again, bringing stylish men’s footwear to New York City with Jeffery-West’s first U.S. store. Hand made in the shoe-making capital of the world, Northampton, England, this innovative shop delivers the finest quality shoes, with the fit of a tailor-made pair, in designs that are distinctly Jeffery-West. Men will find a broad range of styles and shapes with a notable twist, from calf leather oxfords and '70s Jim Morrison motorcycle boots, to suede loafers and round toe polished leather brogues. Mixing Victorian and edgy rock n’ roll elements, the whimsical brand embraces a fresh take on traditional footwear, with unique details such as military inspired red lining and signature diamond punching.

Co-founded in 1987 by childhood friends Mark Jeffery and Guy West, the young men began making shoes at age 16, selling their work throughout English markets. After the sudden death of Jeffery’s father, a shoe factory owner, he was unable to take over the family business that resulted in a loss for the two boys. The unfortunate event motivated them to take their business to the next level, approaching retailers with a 12 piece sample range and eventually receiving a generous bank loan. Now with five locations in the U.K. and others across the globe, the New York City shop is cloaked in opulent red velvet reflecting the designers unconventional elegant taste, with its modern Gothic interior furnished by sculpture artist Mark Brazier-Jones.

Jeffery-West remains true to the traditional shoe-making industry principles with ‘Goodyear welt’ soles — a twice stitched sole and welted edge resulting in a perfect tailored fit and allows the shoe to be easily resoled. Between the inner and outer sole is a cork mixture that molds to the foot, giving the wearer a custom fit. Each shoe is named after an English “hell-raiser” or “hero”, with selected styles honoring a famed name, quote or phrase on the shoe's sole — one being lyrics from Rolling Stone’s “Sympathy for the Devil”. Celebrated musicians include David Bowie, Ian Frazier “Lemmy” Kilmister, and Ozzy Osbourne. For a limited edition line, the shop has collaborated with pop art from the Insect Boys, British new wave artists. Their exotic leathers include ostrich, crocodile and snake, with overseen tannery production in England and Italy. Customers will find a large selection of leather finishes and colors, such as the super soft mad-dog leather, olive calf, cedar, rosewood, pickled walnut and purple iridescent. The shop's additional items include colored laces, journals and address books, doctor satchel bags, bow ties and silk pocket scarves.

From short Chukka boots, finer shaped moccasins, to clutch-strapped Norton motorcycle boots with special rubber soles, the brand prides itself on Northampton-made, guaranteeing the quality and authenticity of a fine heritage shoe. It takes anywhere from 12 to 14 weeks to make one pair, and prototypes are tested for months. To ensure the original tattooed sole of your Jeffery-West shoe, resoling and repairs are offered with shipment to Northampton, England or other local recommendations in New York City. Jeffery-West is for the eccentric and daring, putting an elegant modern take on classic men’s footwear.