While there are a few bespoke shoe shops around Toronto, Leatherfoot — Yorkville’s latest custom men’s footwear operation — is hoping to become the sole name in the high-end shoe conversation.
Only one month old, Leatherfoot is a reflection of owner Ideyi Chuku’s love for quality and artisanal goods. On the walls are pictures of some of the best shoemakers in the business (like Dean Girling, an acclaimed British cobbler), while carpets and horsehide chairs adorn the place. Custom built-ins serve as pedestals for the main attraction: the shoes.
“I’ve always had a passion and appreciation for very well-made products,” says Chuku. “I love when people take time to create things, and that extends to beyond shoes. But for shoes it’s something that’s very personal to me, because my father loved them. His passion and care carried over to me.”
That same passion for quality footwear has influenced Chuku’s choice of stock: the labels carried here are strictly hand-made. Several high-end labels, such as Saint Crispin’s, Rider Boots, Gaziano & Girling and Alfred Sargent (among others) cannot be found elsewhere in Canada.
“Formerly, if you were interested in Saint Crispin’s, you would have to travel to New York (which is the closest shop to Toronto) to get fitted, then wait for the shoes to be shipped, deal with customs, etc.” says Chuku. “But with Leatherfoot being here, all the Canadian clients that buy shoes at Saint Crispin’s from New York, London or Paris can come here to get fitted without having to leave the country.”
All the labels that Leatherfoot offers are either bespoke or made-to-order. Customers who opt for the bespoke experience are fitted to “lasts” (store-designed wooden mouldings of the customer’s feet) and have a choice of colour, leather, stitching and design. Made-to-order shoes fall under different specifications but are still highly customizable. Customers are still able to choose the leather and stitching, but only for existing model designs.
Leatherfoot, 24 Bellair St., 416-967-3668
