Penelope Chilvers is inspired by the Past with Respect for the Future
We love the natural world and want to play a part in the Green Revolution to fight climate change.
Back to Slow
We believe in 'Back to Slow' - our footwear and accessories are designed with quality and longevity in mind. We design timeless pieces, made to last and consider the full product lifecycle, including the materials used.
Makers in Mind
We don't work with middlemen. We enjoy a close, direct relationship with our makers. We make everything close to home in small family run factories in Spain, where a wealth of shoe making tradition has been passed down through the generations.
Old is New
We are passionate about keeping dying crafts alive. We work closely with the artisans, who have taught Penelope over the years, and we encourage age-old techniques, knowing that these are often more sustainable than newer ones.
Replaceable Sole
The majority of our collection is made using the Goodyear welt™ construction, that ensure a longer lifecycle for the shoes, often 10 years of more, if cared for correctly. Goodyear welt™ construction allows for the shoes or boots to be entirely resoled.
Made to Order
The beauty of producing close to home means we don't need to order en masse. Surplus raw materials are re-purposed. You will often see a repeated design or material in our collections. We call these Waste-Not-Want-Not-Pieces.
No Plastico
We avoid using plastic as much as possible in manufacturing and packaging. Our packaging is minimal and plastic free. We choose biodegradable materials over non-biodegradable.
Vegetable Dye Leather
We source our sustainable 100% vegetable dye leathers from a Spanish tannery with over four generations of experience. The hides are dyed using the natural plant barks of the Quebracho and Mimosa trees. Vegetable dyeing is more environmentally friendly than chrome tanning and is the most traditional method for adding colour to leather.
Made In Spain
Spain is the home of the brand with a strong Spanish equestrian heritage at the heart of it. Spain has a long tradition of shoemaking and leather craft and our factories are family owned businesses whose knowledge has been passed down through the generations. We choose to manufacture close to home, in Spain, to keep our carbon footprint low. By manufacturing our collection of leather boots, shoes and accessories within Europe we can make orders that fulfil demand without over producing and creating waste.
Photography by Emma Hardy
