Our Special Edition handsewn derby is inspired by legendary shoe designer John Hlustik’s personal story.

John Hlustik was akin to a second founder, a man of enormous flair and panache who re-moulded Edward Green, re-focusing our commitment to making 'the best shoes without compromise.'

As a young boy, John grew up in Zlin, in what was then Czechoslovakia, before his family fled from communist persecution finally finding refuge in England. 

We wanted to find a way to both honour John’s legacy and do something positive to support a new generation of refugees charting a similar journey, which is why we have launched this Special Edition with 15% of all revenues going to support Ukrainian refugees, via the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee.

The Zlin is based on a sample that John created back in 1988. It’s a handsewn split-toe derby and has much in common with the Dover, with a longer quarter and counter, which overlap creating the curved chevron detail we all know from the Galway.

 

You can read more of John’s personal story in our Journal.