Who's Wearing Golden Boot
Chavereys Accountants
Last weekend the Golden Boot once again attended the Weald of Kent Ploughing Match to show our new AW country collections. At the match we met up with the specialist team of Chavereys Accountants. Members of Chavereys looked professional, warm and very dapper all clad in the very item we’re here to chat about – the Schoffel gilet, adorned with embroidered Chavereys branding — from the Golden Boot of course!
Chavereys are a distinguished firm of Chartered Accountants advising the landed and property sectors, the energy and resource sectors and wealthy private clients. They're creative thinkers who deliver a style of expert advice that is rarely available in their chosen sector.
Whether being outside for work or exploring the countryside in their own time, the team already knew the quality Schoffel offers to its wearers, and that our custom service was a perfect match for Team Chaverey — bespoke service, countryside living, quality, functionality and a professional aesthetic.
The intention of the embroidery was to encapsulate and present the brand image for those members of the team who are customer-facing, particularly at such events as the Weald of Kent Ploughing Match. The high quality alcantara — trimmed Schoffel fleecing acts as the perfect backdrop for Chavereys striking logo, and of course fulfils its primary function – keeping the team snug!
The Golden Boot loves collaborating with local businesses, so if you’re after a wonderful way of representing your brand, then get in touch to find out more.
Aoibhinn
Aoibhinn lives in Dubai and has spent her Summer visting family and friends in the UK. With the new school year just around the corner, Aoibhinn popped by the Golden Boot to update us on her Summer adventures and to get fitted for a new pair of school shoes.
My name is Aoibhinn, I am nine years old and I live in Dubai!
We travelled to the UK this Summer to visit family and friends and of course, to get fitted for a new pair of school shoes. Even though I live in a different country we still manage to arrange our home visits for when I need new school shoes! We don’t shop anywhere else as it’s important for me to be comfy all day long whilst looking smart, especially in the heat.
My favourite subjects at school are PE and music. I love netball, it’s my favourite game and I’m in the team with my best friends.
Outside of school I love spending time with my brother and sister at the beach (when it’s not too hot!) and riding my bike.
I love reading and my favourite book at the moment is the School of Good & Evil by Soman Chainani. I’ve read all 5 books twice already.
I LOVE getting new shoes and the Golden Boot has lots of lovely styles to choose from. I like the patent ones best and mum agreed because she says that they’re easy to clean! The shoes look great and I like the Velcro strap as it means that I can change into my trainers quickly for PE lessons and to ride my bike home!
Trudi checked my feet with a measuring guage before fitting the new shoes and I was allowed to test them out around the shop. The shop is really cool, it looks like a train station and is much more interesting than other shops where we live. I sent a photo to my friends and they’re now buying the same shoes too!
I’m going to wear my shoes around the house before I go back to school as I’ve been wearing my trainers all Summer and I want them to be comfy for my first day. I can’t wait to go back now to see all my friends and meet my new year 5 teacher.
Aoibhinn chose https://thegoldenboot.co.uk/brands/ricosta/ricosta-beth-8500102-black-schwarz-patent
William
Little William has been shopping at the Golden Boot for his whole life (all 6 years) and refuses to shop anywhere else for his footwear! Currently on his holidays, he updated us on his Summer adventures and told us all about his recent visit to the Golden Boot for his new pair of school shoes.
My name is Will and I am having an amazing Summer!
I really enjoy watching the Olympics and I have been practising my archery. On our holiday in Devon my new sandals took me on lots of adventures. We went walking, swimming, I played cricket and I found lots of little creatures in the pond next to our house. I loved staying in the tree house!
When we got home from our holiday, we went to the Golden Boot to get new shoes for school.
I LOVE getting new shoes.
They check my feet with a special guage before I can try on lots of pairs and test them on the carpet which looks like a train track. I walk on the yellow bits as they feel like the hall at my school where we have assembly. I had saved three 10ps from my pocket money to spend on the trains that go around the shop. We remembered this time to take a big bag of my old shoes for the shop to recycle (Mummy always forgets)!
I liked the Clarks shoes Best for my school shoes. They are comfy and help me to jump really high!
The lady also checked my wellies, trainers and sandals. We got some new plimsolls and some PE trainers. They are much bigger than last year!
Clare, the nice lady, told Daddy to write my name in my shoes and we got some special stickers to put in them. Me and my best friend, Joseph, always pick the same shoes and we don’t want to mix them up when we change for PE!
I can’t wait to go back to school in September in my new shoes to play with my friends and see my new teacher.
Michael Fermor
Michael Fermor is the Director at Rumwood Nurseries & Garden Centre in Kent, a fellow independent business and the best rose growers in the South East!
With a beautiful garden centre boasting a broad range of high-quality products including plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and pots alongside a delectable coffee shop, we highly recommend a visit to any green fingered gardener.
“I joined Rumwoods over ten years ago because I found the process of rose growing really fascinating, there are so many different and unique varieties you never stop learning about them. What other job can you come home from smelling of roses?”
As Kent's largest and best grower of Roses, they also specialise in mail order deliveries - a service that they have been operating for over 50 years. It comes as a no surprise that over this time they have built up a vast catalogue of beautiful roses available for us to purchase.
Michael is a massive advocate of The Golden Boot. “Rumwood Nurseries & Garden Centre is a local business originally set up by my Grandad, who still loves to get involved! I work alongside my Dad and Uncle, it’s a family affair and we love to support other local independent businesses like the Golden Boot.”
If you required any further proof Michael recently married his best friend, Charlotte, in comfort and style wearing his favourite brand R. M. Williams, fitted and purchased from our shop in Maidstone. (Shoes and belts pictured)
When asked the ultimate question, Michael told us that his favourite rose this year is aptly ‘it’s a wonderful life’ and we couldn’t think of a more inspiring answer.
Our R. M. Williams Chinchilla boots are a limited edition style, painted by hand and available in two colours - Bordeaux and Cognac. Each pair is completely unique. Get them before they go!
www.rumwoodnurseries.co.uk/
Tabitha Ringwood
Swapping Heels for Hokas and Raising Money for Breast Cancer Research.
Tabitha Ringwood is a Footwear Designer and the in-house Designer here at the Golden Boot!
Tabitha started working at the Golden Boot when she was 16, originally fitting and selling shoes on the shop floor. After studying Footwear Design at University and designing for some very well known brands including River Island, New Look, Schuh, Topshop and Adidas, she decided to branch out and started her own business.
Shoes are Tabitha’s passion, and she hand make’s every order from a small studio in London. She’s had some incredible customers including models Jourdan Dunn and Paloma Elsesser as well as Cardi B and Beyonce!
Tabitha, who grew up in Maidstone and used to shop here with her Mum as a child, has always loved working for the Golden Boot. Over the years she has collaborated with Ed, our MD, on many different creative projects including re-designing the Children’s Shop, creating the seasonal and Christmas Window displays, designing the eco packaging that your online orders arrive in, creating The First Shoe experience, designing the website, emails, socials and she designed our very own Golden Boot leather bag and accessories range.
This weekend, with some Golden Boot sponsorship behind her, Tabitha swapped her handmade heels for a pair of Hokas to support a charity that’s very close to her heart, having been diagnosed with breast cancer only last year at the age of 32. Wearing a pair of our Hoka Clifton 9s, she bravely took to the streets of London, at midnight, in a bra, to raise money for cancer awareness and research. ‘Walk the Walk’ are an incredible breast cancer charity who raise money through power walking challenges including the midnight Moonwalk Marathons in London, Scotland and Iceland.
The Golden Boot helped Tabitha to the finish line in comfort and style. This year’s theme was Fiesta! And boy did the Hoka’s meet the brief!
Alongside 5k+ people including some famous faces, the walk took the team from Clapham Common on a circular route down the river and past some of London’s famous landmarks, all lit up in pink to support the cause.
So far Tabitha and her team of 6 have raised over £5.5k for vital cancer research! The Moonwalk 2024 event has raised nearly £2m for cancer research and to provide emotional and physical support for those living with cancer.
If you would like to get involved in walking and running events, either as beginner or as an experienced athlete, check out our new initiative ‘Move Your Way.’
https://giving.give-star.com/microsite/walkthewalk/themoonwalklondon2024/fundraising-page/tabitharingwoodsmoonwalk
tabitharingwood.com
Brendan Mills
Brendan is a globally acclaimed saxophonist.
With over 250 million streams he is in demand and quickly becoming the most listened-to saxophonist in the world.
He regularly plays at top brand launch events such as Chanel and Maybelline whilst also supporting the likes of Olly Murs.
From the beaches of South America to the vineyards of Europe he is also regularly attending special events and weddings.
Brendan is a massive advocate of The Golden Boot having grown up locally he continues to shop with us. Also if you have ever attended one of our evening events Brendan is the one who brings the buzz!
Always in his trademark boots on his most recent visit he wanted something with the comfort of a trainer but with a more classic, formal feel.
He quickly gravitated towards our Golden Boot collection selecting Golden Boot Javier 6301 Boots
With its superlight EVA sole and side zip closure it ticked all the boxes. It’s such a versatile boot, easily teamed with denims or worn with a suit. We wanted to make them extra special so using our in-house embossing service we added his initials.
Brendan has a deep passion for flying and is the proud owner of a Piel CP301A Emeraude.
On a recent beautiful sunny afternoon he invited Edward our managing director on a quick jaunt to the Isle of Wight.
Turns out that his new boots are perfect for flying in too.
www.brendanmills.com
Abi Clarke
We spent the afternoon with Kent based artist and DJ, Abi Clarke. We sipped coffee and chatted art, fashion, music and of course - the new Clarks Torhill!
Abi went for the dusty pink, that just so happened to perfectly match her carefully curated outfit for that day. It's easy to see from her collages and screen prints, that Abi is not afraid of colour. She primarily uses shapes, bold colours and typeface to create her uplifting artworks, also inspired by the music she loves, grew up with and shares with others.
"I was born in the 60s. Back then when you were a kid you wanted sweets, but when you got to about 9 or 10, you'd want to collect records. Over many years I built up a record collection. In 1996 I was at a friends party and their music system had broken down! Music system being a CD player in those days. I had some cassettes with a compilation of all my favourite records on in my car, so I brought that into the party."
Abi goes on to tell me about this promoter, who happened to be at the party and who loved her choice in tracks. He asked her to DJ at his club when it opens in London. Laughingly and not taking the offer seriously, she accepted. It was only after a phone call from a friend that she realised the event was serious, and that her name was printed on 5000 fliers ready to promote her DJing in the West End that following week!
After a quick lesson on queuing up records from a friend, the next 28 years were set, and it started her career as a DJ locally and across the world. As well as travelling all over to share music she loves, Abi also has a monthly radio show on Mysoul Radio.
"My first love, my passion is music. Closely following that is clothes and shoes! I love my clothes, I'll wear them for decades. I consider clothes and shoes to be real treasures."
Abi explains that her jeans were bought from a dear friend's shop in Camden, she then customised them herself. The jacket was handmade by a friend out of other sentimental clothing and the necklace is crafted by a Native American artist. The Pendleton blanket waistcoat was our personal favourite!
The conversation moves to shoes - Clarks specifically. And Abi talks us briefly through the history of Clarks shoes in relation to music.
Clarks shoes were adopted heavily by the reggae and dancehall musicians and Rudeboys of Jamaica. Due to them being considered expensive, they felt it was what they needed to impress. Wutang Clan got into wearing Clarks, and more recently MF Doom. Acid House Ravers wore Wallabees into some of the clubs, as they weren't allowed to wear trainers but needed something colourful and comfortable.
"That's why these Torhills are so interesting to me, because of that connection with the music that I love"
The painting, collage and screen printing came during lockdown. Abi's Dad's studio (Graham Clarke) wasn't being used, so she moved in! The first one made was 'We Are One' and it went from there. The others are inspired by the music she loves. ' Super Natural Thing' is now a brand her the printing and artwork, as well as the title of her radio show. " It's about being your authentic self, your natural self, embracing it for what it is"
You can listen to Abi here: www.mixcloud.com/abi-clarke/ and find her artwork on Instagram.
George Elokobi
George was born in Mamfe, Cameroon, and was aged just 11 years old when he lost his Father to diabetes. At the age of 16 he moved to London to join his mother who had been living there to study.
It wasn't long after he signed for Dulwich Hamlet. After impressing on trial he signed for Colchester united but was sent on loan to Chester City, managed by Ian Rush at the time.
George earnt a First Team spot at Colchester and became known as one of the most powerful defenders in the country. Fast forward for 2008 and George is signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers and quickly becomes a fan favourite as the club earns promotion to the premier league. The Fifa franchise recognised George as one of the strongest footballers in the world, helping to cement his status as a cult hero of the FA cup and beyond.
After a roaring 19 year career, having played at every level of the English football league, George joins Maidstone United as captain, and gains coaching experience with the clubs academy.
Geoge has stepped into his first team management role at the start of the 23/24 season and has established a clear mottos amongst the club...Believe
Since managing the Stones, George has taken them on a record-breaking emirates FA Club run, becoming the first club from outside the top five tiers to reach the fifth round since Blythe Spartans in 1977.
It was an absolute pleasure to invite George into the shop. He chose a pair of black suede R.M. Williams boots with matching black Pantherella socks as part of his outfit to head out celebrating his birthday with family.
Product: R. M. Williams
Comfort Craftsman Boots
What he and his team have achieved at Maidstone United so far is inspirational. The team at Golden Boot and the Maidstone community as a whole are so proud. As it turns out the Golden Boot MD Ed has always been a bit of a MUFC superfan!
Becky and Jamie Gunning
Based in East Sussex, Bricks and Stitches is a lifestyle brand founded by Becky Gunning - ex lawyer, now Instagram fashionista.
Product: Le Chameau Boots
Becky started her career as a lawyer, and went on to meet her husband Jamie, who ran his own residential development company in London. After marriage Becky's life direction changed, and she left the world of law to start a family. When the boys reached an age when they didn’t need Mummy around so much, Becky decided to start a business from her kitchen table and follow her passion. The initial idea was to run a property and interior design business alongside her husband, but as Becky took her first tentative steps into the fashion blogging world, she quickly realised the audience was a lot more interested in her outfits! Her confidence grew as she realised women everywhere were just like her - seeking high quality, affordable and wearable fashion. Bricks and Stitches was born.
Product: Red Wing Boots
The business blossomed from the kitchen table to the spare room. Then from a converted garage to their very own premises in the centre of Stonegate. "Our wonderful team of local and highly skilled mums make us incredibly proud. Many never thought they'd have a chance to be a fundamental part of an ever-growing business. We have a fantastic team of agents and suppliers in the UK and Europe, particularly France and Italy who absolutely love what we bring to the UK market. "
"The plans aren't stopping here. We want to increase interaction with our valuable customer base, offer special events for them and continue to attend the inspiring shopping events across the UK. And of course visit Ed and the Golden Boot Team who are always so busy!"
Ever in need of fashion guidance for an event, or after that extra special bespoke buying experience? Just get in touch with Becky at
[email protected] and be sure to find her on instagram @bricksandstitches