I usually try and buy British when possible, but then Google caught my attention by repeatedly throwing me back a brand whose name might be synonymous with the United Kingdom, but that’s about all. You would be forgiven for thinking that the slipper specialist Stubbs & Wootton is a British heritage brand. Borrowing the name from 18th-century English artists, Mr. George Stubbs and Mr. John Wootton, the founder, a former investment banker Percy Steinhart opened up shop in 1993 in Palm Beach, Florida.
He wanted to give the slipper its due recognition as an all-purpose shoe, and the tongue-in-cheek designs derive their inspiration including everything from history to surfers. Steinhart insists that slippers may be worn at all times from day into dawn - with shorts and jeans to tweeds, blazers, suits and dinner clothes.
The European production ensures superior quality; the designs are handcrafted by a small community of artisans in La Mancha, Spain, known for their tradition of quality and expertise in stitching and assembling footwear.
Although a slipper style is a fairly unisex item, the Stubbs & Wootton website features a Women’s collection, a Men’s, and Junior’s as well as other accessories. With so many styles and colours I am still finding a decision difficult. I am beginning to think that perhaps the Slipper is a shoe that one needs many of.
I love the Needlepoint designs, particularly the ‘Cuena’ and ‘Camo’.
In velvet the ‘Sagittarius’ and ‘Ribbiting Burgundy’ are fun and beautiful colours and detailing. The ‘New collection’ has some wonderful floral and pond related designs.
Stubbs & Wootton has not just found favour with University students, fashion insiders and celebrities, but is also helping to make comfortable flat evening slippers relevant once again, which no woman is going to complain about.
I can see why Steinhart is onto a winner. He wanted to recreate the handmade needlepoint house slippers that men would change into after muddying their boots on unpaved streets, but something more diverse and whimsical than the velvet evening slippers his friends were wearing in Palm Beach. Who can argue with that?
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