1960s
What’s my connection with the 60s
and winkle.pickers ??????????
I was 13 years old when I saw my first winkle picker, worn by a German boy who came over to my town, on a student exchange.
I just could not believe what I was seeing, I was smitten and the fashion bug was sown!
It’s now some 48 years later so I'm finishing my career where I started half a century later.
I finally got the point !
1970s
I have been in the footwear trade for most of my life (a long time)
In the late 70’s myself and two other young men decided to go to Italy and develop interesting footwear for men. The 70's platform era had finished and no one really knew what to do next ( neither did we).
Against all odds we seemed to get something right, as we virtually dictated the fashion in the UK from 76 till 82 with our Succhi shoes label. However we then all went our separate ways (all good things come to an end).
1980s
In 1984 I opened the first Japanese looking shops in London's Kings Road and Covent Garden. The brand was Giorgio Ferrari; at that time I had no idea how to make women’s footwear, as I had always specialized in Men’s. So true to form I had to learn fast, as I now had the two most prime sites in the UK. Now I could really end up looking a complete prat!
I therefore decided it was no point in trying to compete with experienced women’s stylists, so I made my own look. I made heavy men’s type shoes and boots for women. At first people thought I was completely off my rocker…..
Then in the Autumn of 1985 all hell let loose…we had by default created a new fashion, the shops were the busiest and most individual shops around.
1990s
All good things eventually come to an end. After doing women’s footwear for Warehouse group & Oasis for many years, plus our own shops the market changed once again.
The ugliest shoes on the planet arrived;
training shoes! Ugghhhh.
I decided if we had to do this type of product to compete, then retail was over for us.
I now focused on the rider and rider-burns labels which I supplied to high fashion shops such as Cruise, Flannels etc.
2000
In 2007 after working in India for some three years I decided to take a break from footwear.
Then for some inexplicable reason I noticed the awful standard of winkle pickers that were on offer. A spark was ignited…I had to do something about it !
I set about making a product to be proud of, that people could wear with pride in the same way as they had for many years with my designer ranges.
I am now totally obsessed with the winkle pickers and will ensure that these are the best in the world….As I said before what a sad bastard I am !!!!!
