The story of Eighteen Twelve our creator and Creative Director.
My first inspiration began at home as a boy, growing up in a family of artists, craftsmen and cordwainers. From an early age, I was captivated by the moment when a final design would leave the page and begin its transformation into something three-dimensional. I was fascinated by the patience, the dedication, the craft, and the spirit that breathed soul into an object that was both functional and beautiful.
This passion became an obsession, and that obsession became my path. I chose to dedicate my life to shoemaking not simply as a profession, but as a calling. Each pair I create for 1812 is an expression of precision and purpose, made entirely in England, carrying with it the depth of heritage and the spark of innovation.
For me, a shoe is not just an accessory; it is micro-architecture, a structure designed to hold the body in perfect balance. It is a cultural artefact and, at the same time, an object of radical design.
I am inspired by the timeless ideals of proportion and beauty found in nature and the work of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. My vision is to create shoes that embody this classical balance, timeless yet modern, steeped in history yet open to the boundless possibilities of the present. I operate within the tension between individuality and universality, between art and function, between nostalgia for the quality of the past and excitement for the uncharted future.
True luxury, to me, is not simply about rarity or expense. It is about the intimate connection between maker and wearer, about creating something so personal that it becomes a tool of transformation for the individual. Every shoe I design is intended to make its wearer feel distinct, empowered, and entirely themselves. That is the essence of my work. That is the soul I dedicate to every creation.
ET | 1812
