Gaziano & Girling (G&G) is an English handmade shoemaker founded in 2006 by Tony Gaziano and Dean Girling in Kettering — the capital of English shoemaking. Though it arrived after century-old houses like John Lobb, Edward Green, and Crockett & Jones, G&G quickly rose to the world's top tier thanks to its bold lasts, tightly sculpted "fiddleback" waist, and superb handcrafted finishing. A pair of G&G is an investment that deserves proper care — with dedicated products and routines.
In the world of handmade dress shoes, reputation is usually measured in centuries: Crockett & Jones (1879), Edward Green (1890), or John Lobb with a history dating back to 1849. Yet one name, founded only in 2006, is ranked by shoe connoisseurs worldwide alongside — even above — those century-old houses: Gaziano & Girling. This is the story of a brand that "came late but leads".
Who is Gaziano & Girling?
G&G was founded in 2006 by two English shoemakers: Tony Gaziano and Dean Girling. Neither was a newcomer — both were artisans who had honed their craft at England's most prestigious shoemaking houses before launching their own brand.
- Tony Gaziano — a specialist in last design and styling, formerly at Edward Green and the legendary bespoke workshop George Cleverley in London.
- Dean Girling — a master of shoemaking technique and finishing, formerly at John Lobb (the bespoke workshop under Hermès).
They set up their workshop in Kettering, Northamptonshire — the heart of the English shoemaking industry, home to most of the world's leading Goodyear-welted makers. The combination of Gaziano's design eye and Girling's shoemaking craft is the formula behind the brand.
A "latecomer" that leads — why?
What sets G&G apart isn't age, but aesthetics and finishing that few houses can match:
- Bold, elegant lasts — lasts like the DG70, TG73, and MH71 are famous for beautifully shaped toes and clean lines full of "character", a world away from conservative traditional lasts.
- The "fiddleback / beveled waist" — the sole's waist is tightly narrowed and hand-beveled like the back of a violin, a hallmark of top-tier shoes that demands exceptional skill.
- Meticulous hand finishing — multi-layered patina polishing, even stitching, and slim, tapered heels. Many details are done by hand rather than by machine.
- Premium leathers — superb calf (usually from renowned European tanneries) that holds its shape and develops a beautiful patina over time.
All of it is built on Goodyear welted — a sole-stitching technique that allows multiple resoles, letting a good pair accompany its owner for decades.
G&G's product lines
Gaziano & Girling serves every level, from ready-to-wear to bespoke:
Ready-to-Wear (Deco)
The ready-to-wear collection in standard sizes — the most common starting point, retaining the house's full finishing quality and signature lasts.
Made-to-Order (MTO)
Choose your last, style, leather, and color on the basis of existing models — a balance between personalization and a reasonable wait time.
Bespoke
The house's pinnacle: a last carved specifically to the customer's foot, made entirely by hand. This segment places G&G alongside the world's most celebrated bespoke houses.
Compared with John Lobb, Edward Green, and Crockett & Jones
Each house has its own personality, and the choice comes down to the wearer's taste:
- Crockett & Jones — durable, elegant, great value; the classic "first pair" choice for Goodyear-welted shoes.
- Edward Green — classic luxury, refined leather and finishing, graceful lasts.
- John Lobb — long heritage, the benchmark of Anglo-French elegance.
- Gaziano & Girling — the boldest and most "soulful" in styling, with finishing aimed at demanding collectors. The youngest, yet the most ambitious and aesthetically refined.
There is no absolute "best" — but the fact that a 2006 brand is mentioned in the same breath as century-old legends says everything about G&G's standing.
Owning a pair of G&G — how do you care for them?
A pair of premium handmade shoes is a long-term investment, and it deserves proper care. This is exactly what Gazano does every day for owners of premium dress shoes:
- Use cedar shoe trees right after each wear to maintain shape and absorb moisture.
- Condition the leather regularly with natural creams (Saphir Renovateur/MDO) to keep the leather from drying and cracking — especially important in Hanoi's humid climate.
- Polish & patina with proper technique to preserve and deepen the layered colors that define premium shoes, without "deadening" the original leather.
- Protect the soles & resole when needed — thanks to Goodyear welted construction, leather soles can be fitted with protective toppings or fully replaced without damaging the shoe's structure.
Gazano uses products Saphir Médaille d'Or imported from France for every deep-care service — safe for complex patina-dyed leather and consistent results on high-end shoes.
Gaziano & Girling makes its shoes in Kettering, Northamptonshire — the cradle of English Goodyear welted shoemaking. A brand born in 2006 yet standing alongside century-old shoemakers: proof that excellence is defined by craftsmanship and aesthetics, not just age.
