Shoemakers of Northamptonshire

Shoemakers of Northamptonshire is the debut short film from Nation of Artisans — a new project exploring Britain and making.

In an age of AI slop, culture wars, and an atomised economy that feels detached from anything real, Nation of Artisans seeks to challenge the doom loop of nostalgia and conflict.

We want to forge a new story of Britain rooted in something good, true, and beautiful. While the flux is relentless, there are some things that remain true.

Britain is still a land of ingenious makers, both stewards of tradition and architects of the future.

Nation of Artisans is dedicated to exploring and celebrating their ideas, crafts, and worlds.

To begin, we are delighted to partner with Gaziano & Girling, a business that masterfully straddles both heritage and innovation, the aristocratic and the punk.

Rejecting the slow death of the welted shoe industry, Gaziano & Girling was the first new factory to open in Northamptonshire in over 100 years. In just two decades it has quietly become one of the most revered shoemakers in the world.

Whether it is a pair of brogues for the King or some alligator loafers washed in 24-karat gold, Gaziano & Girling embodies the essence of what Nation of Artisans stands for.

Not worshipping the ashes but passing on the fire.

Created in collaboration with award-winning filmmaker Christian Cargill, the film offers an intimate portrait of an extraordinary workshop and craft. Thank you to Tony Gaziano, Dean Girling, Michael Symons, the entire team on Balfour Street — and, of course, David Ludlow — for letting us tell your stories.

Read more about the Voyage to Northamptonshire on Substack →

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