The workers at the Oliver Sweeney factory near Ancona, Italy, are rightfully proud of their astonishing skills. Their artistry, technique and workmanship are second to none in providing beautifully hand-made Oliver Sweeney shoes time and time again.



As in English shoe factories, certain jobs are done mainly by women, others by men.
Sewing is traditionally a woman’s role.



The factory blends decades-old mechanised processes with centuries-old manual skills.



Everything starts with the skin. Here the factory’s leather expert and head cutter (or “clicker”) checks that a calf hide is free of blemishes.



The plastic gloves may be a modern innovation, but otherwise the manual application of polish to build up the desired finish on an upper is an ancient skill that takes years to learn.



It’s a family tradition: the owner of our factory and his son maintain the high standards that come when people have personal pride in what they make.




Machines provide consistent, accurate processes, but they must be set up, operated and maintained by humans who know the subtleties of shoe-making.



Perfection is achieved right down to the sole of every boot.



Typically workers specialise in one or two stages of the shoe-making process, but veterans like this woman are experienced enough to make the entire shoe. Such artisans are very important in the sampling of new styles.



Our factory is versatile, manufacturing with great flair all manner of Oliver Sweeney styles from chunky brogues to sleek trainers.



Although the thickness of the soles requires the shape to be punched out by huge mechanical die presses, the edges are smoothed by hand. It’s a typical amalgam of the mechanical and the manual.