Hidden inside a discreet workshop on London’s prestigious Mount Street, an unexpected revolution in luxury footwear quietly unfolds day after day. Arthur Sleep Shoes, the brainchild of university mates Chris Boadle and Jahangir Azar, has accomplished something remarkably rare in today’s fashion world – they’ve seamlessly married centuries-old craftsmanship with bleeding-edge technology, creating something genuinely novel in an industry often resistant to change.
The brand’s quirky name – pinched from Victorian-era Cockney slang meaning “half asleep” – belies the razor-sharp innovation driving this operation. While their competitors doze comfortably in tradition, Arthur Sleep has dramatically reimagined what’s possible in bespoke shoemaking. “We weren’t interested in simply preserving tradition for tradition’s sake,” Boadle told me during a recent workshop visit, running his fingers across a half-finished calfskin loafer. “The question that obsessed us was: how do we honor these incredible techniques while making them relevant for today’s luxury customer?”
Their answer has strikingly disrupted the luxury footwear landscape. By developing proprietary scanning technology that captures thousands of measurement points on each foot, they’ve accomplished what old-school cobblers might have dismissed as fantasy – crafting fully bespoke shoes in as little as five hours, slashing the traditional timeline from weeks to mere hours without sacrificing an ounce of quality.
| Arthur Sleep Shoes: Company Profile | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Chris Boadle and Jahangir Azar |
| Headquarters | Mount Street, Mayfair, London |
| Previous Location | Savile Row, London |
| Specialization | Luxury bespoke shoes for men, women, and children |
| Manufacturing Time | As little as 5 hours from measurement to finished product |
| Notable Clients | Robert De Niro, James Harden, various royalty and celebrities |
| Retail Presence | Harrods, Selfridges |
| International Markets | America, Japan, Korea |
| Unique Technology | Proprietary 3D foot scanning system |
| Website | Arthur Sleep Official Website |
Walking through their Mayfair microfactory feels like stumbling into a fascinating time warp. Ancient wooden lasts and hand-burnishing wheels share space with gleaming terminals running sophisticated design software. Grey-haired master craftsmen, their fingers shaped by decades of handling leather, work alongside tech specialists monitoring the digital aspects of production. This jarring juxtaposition somehow works perfectly – much like oil and vinegar in a well-balanced dressing.
“The perfect fit has always been the holy grail in shoemaking,” explains Azar, gesturing toward their scanning setup. “Traditional methods relied heavily on the craftsman’s eye and experience, which produced beautiful results but couldn’t account for the incredible uniqueness of each human foot.” Their system captures asymmetries, arch differences, and pressure points with astonishing precision – creating digital blueprints that inform every aspect of the manufacturing process.
Perhaps most impressively, the company has built this cutting-edge approach while maintaining exceptionally high sustainability standards. By keeping production hyperlocal and employing a micro-factory model, they’ve dramatically reduced the carbon footprint typically associated with luxury goods. Leather scraps become smaller components rather than landfill waste, and shoes are built to last decades – a deliberate rejection of fashion’s disposable ethos.
The Arthur Sleep clientele reads like a fascinating cross-section of the extraordinary. Robert De Niro, an early champion, introduced numerous Hollywood connections. NBA star James Harden, whose size-17 feet present nightmarish challenges for conventional shoemakers, became a devotee after discovering Arthur Sleep could accommodate his requirements without compromising aesthetics. European royalty, tech billionaires, and ballet dancers with highly specialized needs have all found their way to the discreet Mount Street atelier.
“What connects our clients isn’t necessarily wealth or status,” Boadle notes thoughtfully, “but rather an appreciation for something that perfectly balances craftsmanship and innovation.” This philosophy has guided their expansion from men’s evening slippers to women’s Belgian loafers and even children’s bespoke footwear – each piece undergoing scrutiny that would make a Swiss watchmaker blush.
The brand’s recent relocation from Savile Row to Mount Street represents a strategic evolution. While the former location provided prestigious tailoring associations, Mount Street positions them among the world’s most exclusive luxury retailers. “This move represents our coming of age,” reflects Boadle, gazing out at the elegant storefronts surrounding them. “We’ve established our reputation for exceptional quality and innovation; now we’re cementing our place in the global luxury landscape.”
Looking forward, Arthur Sleep aims to push technological boundaries while maintaining their unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. They’re developing advanced materials that maintain traditional aesthetics while offering enhanced performance – waterproofing that doesn’t compromise breathability, soles that provide unprecedented support without added bulk.
In an era where luxury brands often struggle to balance heritage with innovation, Arthur Sleep offers a masterclass in walking this tightrope successfully. They’ve proven that respecting tradition doesn’t mean being shackled by it – that technology, thoughtfully applied, can actually enhance rather than diminish the soul of craftsmanship. For a company named after being half asleep, they’re remarkably wide awake to the possibilities of luxury’s future.