A must-have item for keeping your favorite shoes beautiful for years to come: the shoehorn

As the sayings "fashion starts from the feet" and "you can tell a lot about a person from their shoes" suggest, shoes tend to draw attention from those around us in daily life. They're also among the items that get dirty most easily, yet compared to clothing that can be washed every day, shoes inevitably get cared for less often. To keep shoes in the best possible condition, it's important not only to care for them but also to avoid putting unnecessary strain on them each time you put them on and take them off. This is where the shoehorn becomes indispensable.

The origins of the shoehorn

Top left, bottom left: CORDOVAN SHOEHORN, top right: ELBAMATT BRASS SHOEHORN KEYCASE, bottom right: Shoehorn (S) Megane

As the English term "shoe horn" suggests, shoehorns were originally made from animal horn. Sturdy and smooth, animal horn was the perfect material for a shoehorn—an item that needs to slide easily and withstand repeated pressure. However, this role was gradually taken over by celluloid and plastic, which are cheaper and easier to mass-produce, and today it has become difficult to find shoehorns made from genuine, high-quality horn.

From a long-established maker with over 250 years of history

The newest addition to ZUTTO's lineup is a shoehorn from ABBEY HORN, a British brand. The Horn Works, the predecessor of ABBEY HORN, was established in southwestern England in 1749, about 250 years ago. Though ownership has changed hands several times over the years, the company has continued making high-quality horn products to this day, and thanks to its long history, it is said to be the oldest surviving shoehorn brand in the world. Having survived an era when many makers disappeared with the rise of plastic, the products still crafted today using traditional methods are now counted among Europe's finest goods.

How a shoehorn is made

The cattle horn used as the material is hollow except at the tip, and is made of keratin, the same protein found in our fingernails and hair. It's a material also used for hair combs, and it has a smooth, natural feel in the hand. When it comes to materials derived from animals, one naturally wonders about their origin—but ABBEY HORN uses only horn from domesticated cattle, mainly those raised for meat, and never uses horn from wild animals at risk of extinction.

From raw horn to finished shoehorn, the material goes through roughly the following process.

Cutting to the appropriate size

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Heating and pressing between molds to shape it

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Repeated polishing to bring out the shine

Cattle horn has thermoplastic properties—it softens when heated and returns to a strong, hard state when cooled. Taking advantage of this characteristic, the horn is first cut to a certain size, then held over a flame; once softened, it is pressed between molds and cooled to fix its shape. This process is what creates the shoehorn's distinctively beautiful curve. After that, it is polished repeatedly until it is finally complete. All of this is done by hand by skilled craftspeople.

A surprising smoothness

Shoehorns come in all sorts of materials, from plastic to metal, but the most important thing to consider when choosing one is how smoothly it slides in behind the heel. Since it's something you use multiple times a day, you want it to work without any hassle. When you try an ABBEY HORN shoehorn, you'll notice that despite its thickness, it slides in and out with absolutely no catching—a smoothness that's genuinely surprising.

The reason for this smoothness is that the surface is polished to the utmost degree, leaving no unevenness at all. During the manufacturing process, it is carefully polished over and over, resulting in a shine so fine that objects can be seen reflected in it.

A color and pattern unique to each piece

The color and pattern on each piece are never uniform, and no two are exactly alike—a characteristic unique to natural materials. We offer three colors, so please enjoy the individual variation as part of each piece's charm.

White, which highlights the elegance of the material with a luxurious feel reminiscent of marble.

A mixed color with beige tones interspersed with touches of white and black. A modern hue that pairs well with interior décor.

A sleek black that brings out the smoothness of the horn along with a sense of luxury.

A length to suit your lifestyle

Please choose from three lengths. All come with a leather strap, so you can hang it on a hook by your entryway or carry it together with your keys.

10cm: A convenient, palm-sized length that's easy to carry. A simple shape that's easy to grip. Ideal for business travelers who go on frequent trips.

25cm: A handy middle size. Just the right length for those who often sit down to put on their shoes. The handle portion is cut for a comfortable grip.

30cm: A longer size to keep by your entryway. A standard length that lets you put on and take off shoes comfortably even while standing. Its beautiful silhouette tapers gracefully toward the handle.

The shoehorns from ABBEY HORN boast a luxurious look and smooth feel that make them truly appealing. Crafted with painstaking care, each shoehorn reflects the artisans' devotion to their work. They're perfect for use at home, and also make a heartfelt gift for someone who works hard every day.

▽ABBEY HORN Product Lineup