SANDERS, a leather shoe brand from Northampton, England—the sacred ground of shoemaking—has joined ZUTTO.

With a basic silhouette that still carries a certain charm through its rounded toe, and a royal crown stamped on the heel—SANDERS, a leather shoe brand made in Northampton, England, the sacred ground of shoemaking, and beloved by many shoe enthusiasts, has now joined ZUTTO.

Leather shoes might bring to mind an image of something made for men, but SANDERS, despite being leather shoes, are perfect for everyday wear and can be worn just as casually as sneakers. We'd especially recommend them to anyone who wants leather shoes they can wear for years, but who feels uncertain about how to care for leather shoes properly. Here, we'll introduce the background of the SANDERS brand, along with the voices of real wearers and styling ideas.

The Beginning: The Sanders Brothers

Looking back at the brand's history, SANDERS was founded in 1873 in Rushden by brothers William Sanders and Thomas Sanders. It is a maker from Northampton, the sacred ground of shoemaking, with roughly 135 years of history and the craftsmanship to back it up.

Two brothers and five craftsmen set up a workshop in the town of Rushden, Northampton, and the operation grew until it employed as many as 70 craftsmen. Then, in 1912, about 40 years after the brand's founding, a new factory was built. Today, 90 craftsmen produce shoes in that same factory, and the company has remained family-run from its founding right up to the present day.

Each shoe is carefully finished by hand, one at a time, by skilled craftsmen.

✓ Shoes Loved Around the World

SANDERS' collection is trusted for its quality to the extent that it has been adopted as footwear for police, military, and security forces around the world. In fact, most of the UK-made leather shoes supplied to the British Ministry of Defence are made by SANDERS, with about 50% of the factory's production lines allocated to that purpose.

The crown stamped on the heel is a unique SANDERS mark, inspired by the way British officers once applied their own crown insignia to their personal belongings. This stamp on simple leather also serves as a subtle accent point.

SANDERS leather shoes carry a sense of British history. While leather shoes may bring to mind a somewhat masculine image, the plump toe shape and flat laces give them a slightly casual air as well. In addition, their comfort and ease of everyday wear set them apart a bit from what you might expect from typical leather shoes.

✓ Excellent Cost Performance Thanks to the Goodyear Welt Construction

When you start researching leather shoes before buying a pair, you'll probably come across the term "Goodyear welt construction." So what exactly does this construction involve? First, the upper, insole, and welt (the edge around the sole) are stitched together; then the outsole is sewn on afterward. It's a construction method finished through these two separate stitching processes.

This cross-section shows how the shoe is built through many stages.

Because they go through such an intricate and labor-intensive process, these shoes are "resistant to losing their shape and durable," and "the outsole—the part that wears out—can be replaced as many times as needed." It's a construction that truly makes long-term wear possible.

The outsole uses a studded sole from ITSHIDE, known for its excellent grip. Unlike a leather sole, it won't slip, and it's also lightweight and easy to walk in.

The cork used as cushioning inside the sole gradually molds itself to your foot, and the more you wear them, the more they conform to your own feet—a benefit unique to this construction. The shoes offer reassuringly high durability, standing up to more than a little wear and tear. In addition, since the cork absorbs impact from the ground, the cushioning is excellent. Compared to lighter shoes that break in quickly from the start, like those made with the Blake construction, these shoes actually offer the advantage that you tire less easily during walking or work that involves standing.

You can see the cork placed where your foot sinks in.

Also, as mentioned earlier, because these shoes are made with supply to the Ministry of Defence in mind, SANDERS' own collection—like other Northampton makers—uses Goodyear welt construction and natural materials, yet keeps manufacturing costs down thanks to its secured factory capacity. The result is a leather shoe with excellent cost performance.

Which One Fits Best? We Tried Them All On

ZUTTO currently carries four types of SANDERS shoes. Broadly speaking, they come in a standard leather shoe style and a boot style, and staff members with different foot sizes tried them on to compare.

・Staff F: Pumps and sneakers both 【22.5-23cm】, width: normal

・Staff K: Pumps 【23.5cm】, sneakers 【23.5-24cm】, width: narrow

・Staff O: Pumps 【24cm】, sneakers 【24.5cm】, width: narrow

A timeless silhouette, the OFFICER SHOE 1831 Black

Staff F【22.5-23cm】chose... 【3H=23cm】

"It runs a little large, so there's some extra room even with thick socks, but it never slips off. If you like a slightly loose fit, this size works well."

Staff K【23.5cm】chose... 【3H=23cm】

"It feels perfect! It's not a size I'd normally pick, but since the construction runs a bit roomy, 3H turned out to be just right."

Staff O【24cm】chose... 【4=23.5cm】

"This was the best fit by far, so I chose it without hesitation for how snugly it sits."

Also, the three-stitch MILITARY DERBY SHOE 1830 Blackruns slightly tighter at the toe because of the stitching, but rest assured that the cork sole will compress and mold to your foot as you wear it in.

Simple and mannish, the side gore boot CHELSEA BOOT 1829 Black

Staff F【22.5-23cm】chose... 【3H=23cm】

"It still feels a little on the large side, but the shape of the elastic gore follows the curve of the ankle nicely, making it easy to walk in and comfortable enough that my feet don't hurt."

Staff K【23.5cm】chose... 【4=23.5cm】

"There's a bit of extra room at the toes, but since it covers up to the ankle, it doesn't affect how easily I can walk. On the other hand, one size down (3H) fit the toes and width perfectly when wearing socks, but felt tight around the ankle and made walking a little harder, so I think 4 is the better choice."

Staff O【24cm】chose... 【4=23.5cm】

"The opening feels a little tight. The width is a bit snug, but the length and instep fit just right. Considering how the leather will mold to my foot over time, this is the size I'd choose."

With the side gore, some staff felt it fit snugly to the foot once worn and was easy to walk in, while others found the lace-up shoeeasier to wear since the opening can be adjusted. Either way, the leather will soften and conform to your foot over time, so if it starts to feel a little roomy, try adjusting the fit with an insole.

What loyal wearers love

As it happens, a male family member of one of our staff members is also a longtime SANDERS wearer. Let's hear about his favorite things about them.

◇Item worn: MILITARY DERBY SHOE 1830 Black

Years worn: about 6 months

・Since the calfskin leather is resin-treated, they can be worn even on rainy days

・Works for both on and off duty

・Easier to care for than ordinary leather shoes

"SANDERS uses high-quality calfskin with a resin finish on the upper, so while leather shoes are generally considered off-limits on rainy days, it's a relief that SANDERS can be worn even in the rain. Leather shoes are usually vulnerable to water, so having to keep both a rain-proof pair and a regular pair always felt like a hassle to me. But I've found that SANDERS is a pair of leather shoes you can wear both on rainy days and on your days off, giving it a reliability that isn't affected by the occasion or the weather, which makes it really convenient.

Of course, they're not rain shoes, so it's more that they can still be worn on rainy days rather than being fully waterproof, but even so, the toes don't end up soaking wet when you wear them in the rain. Also, when I say they're 'easy to care for,' I mean the finish resists dirt and makes it simple to wipe away moisture after getting wet, so you don't have to be overly careful, which makes them nice and easy to use. I think these are leather shoes I can recommend to both men and women."

Q&A from a loyal wearer

Q. I try to be careful about cracking, but if the leather does crack, can it be repaired?

A. In principle, yes. If you'd like this service, please contact our customer support team first. There will be a fee, but we'll direct you to a repair provider.

*Please understand that depending on the details, we may not be able to accommodate every request.

Easy to wear, on or off duty

Leather shoes tend to carry a somewhat formal impression, but what's remarkable about SANDERS is that it avoids that. Take this outfit, for example.

Sweater: Aran Cable 2Way V Cardigan (Oatmeal), Inner top: Cotton Cashmere Rib Cut-and-Sew (ELEPHANT GREY), Pants: Bardot UP127305 High-Waist Straight Denim BLU

Pairing a chunky knit with wide-leg jeans and deliberately choosing leather shoes over sneakers adds a mannish touch to a casual look, and it changes what kind of bag or coat suits the outfit too. Since these leather shoes can genuinely be worn hard, just like sneakers, they should also break in comfortably.

The lace-up boots we carry also pair nicely with skirts.

Sweater: Crew Neck Elbow Patch Sweater LINEN, Skirt: EASY KILT (59cm) BLACK WATCH, bag: Hampshire Shoulder Bag (BLACK)

Sweater: High Gauge Knit Crew Neck L/S (CAMEL), skirt: EASY KILT (73cm) ANCIENT NAVY, bag: Hampshire Shoulder Bag (BLACK)

Pairing a British schoolgirl-style check skirt with lace-up boots brings out an elegant touch. Boots for those times when you want to dress just a little more polished are lovely too, without ever feeling too sweet.

If you'd like a cooler look, we also recommend pairing side gore boots with pants.

Sweater: Nordic Sweater (NEW NAVY)

Coat: LONDON TRADITION Duffle Coat, sweater: Crew Neck Multi (Oatmeal), pants: CTX-010L 12oz Selvedge Straight Jeans

Because they have such basic, simple shapes, these styles blend into any outfit—in fact, they're all incredibly easy to wear. SANDERS shoes are like a companion you can enjoy for years to come, so it's nice to collect a few different shapes and rotate through them.

What kind of care will help you wear them for even longer?

SANDERS shoes are meant to be worn with care, and when the soles wear down, you can have them resoled to keep wearing them for years. While high durability is one of their defining features, careful maintenance will help you keep wearing them in beautiful condition for even longer.Please see here for the general steps involved in caring for leather shoes.

✓ Insert shoe trees to prevent cracking

First, while shoes can lose their shape while being worn, this is also quite likely to happen during storage. Creases from walking are unavoidable, so keeping them completely wrinkle-free is difficult, but if you leave those creases as they are, they can become permanent and eventually lead to cracking. To prevent this, make it a habit to insert shoe trees every time you take the shoes off—doing so will help maintain their shape and also help control moisture and odor.

✓ If they get dirty

Use a brush to remove surface dust and dirt, then polish with a cloth lightly dampened with a small amount of water. Please be especially careful if the shoes have been worn in the rain.

✓ If the toes get scuffed

Scuffs that appear from wear are proof of how much you've loved and used your shoes. If they do get scuffed, first brush the entire shoe with a soft horsehair brush—the same one used for removing dust—and then apply a colored cream. Using a brush made specifically for this purpose lets you apply the cream neatly without getting your hands dirty. After that, use a hog bristle brush to spread the cream evenly over the whole shoe, then wipe off any excess with a cloth to finish.

✓ Rest your shoes for a day after wearing them for a day

It's only natural to want to wear your favorite shoes every day, but doing so does speed up wear and tear. Women may not have as many occasions to wear leather shoes, but even so, try to avoid wearing them on consecutive days. As a result, the soles will wear down more slowly, helping you enjoy the shoes for longer. Store them in a well-ventilated, dark place, away from high heat and humidity.

▽Click here for the SANDERS brand page