Client Favorites: The Hand’s Most-Loved Shoes of 2025
A year of favorite pairs
In 2025, The Hand welcomed clients from 38 countries – some visiting the Amsterdam boutique in person, others ordering from afar but still taking the time to send photos, questions and fit notes. Along the way, a few models kept resurfacing in conversations, fittings and WhatsApp threads.
From intimate evenings with John Lobb and Chapal to weekends with Edward Green, Saint Crispin’s, Marco Cerrato and Sciamat in our boutique, this year was rich in stories about leather, lasts and how a good pair of shoes can quietly support a very busy life. At the same time, our collaboration with Edward Green deepened with the revival of the Barton loafer from their archives, created exclusively for The Hand.
When we look back at what our clients actually chose – not in a spreadsheet, but in real fittings and orders – four models stand out: Edward Green’s Dover, Galway and Piccadilly, and John Lobb’s Lopez. Together, they form a kind of modern “core wardrobe” of handcrafted shoes.
Edward Green Dover: the hand-sewn split toe that became a daily uniform
Within Edward Green’s canon, the Dover lace-up derby sits alongside the Piccadilly loafer and Galway boot as one of the house’s defining designs. Its character is shaped by the hand-sewn split toe: a raised seam that runs along the front of the shoe and around the apron, stitched by specialist craftsmen using a boar-bristle in place of a conventional needle.
Because the upper is constructed in multiple pieces that meet at tight angles, a machine can’t do this work; it requires two artisans working by hand, guiding the thread through pre-pricked holes. At Edward Green, this is often the work of Andy and Nathan Peach, a father-and-son team whose names many of our clients will recognize from events in Amsterdam.
At The Hand, our core Dovers are unlined suede make-ups on the softly rounded 202 last, with slim R1 rubber soles – one in Mink suede (a deep, versatile brown), the other in Mole (a lighter, slightly more casual shade). Both versions are noticeably lighter and softer on the foot than a fully lined derby, making them easy to wear for long days and across seasons.
-
Dover | Unlined | Suede | Mink – Often chosen as a “do-everything” lace-up that can move from office to dinner without feeling formal or stiff.
-
Dover | Unlined | Suede | Mole – A frequent second pair for clients who already own Mink; its lighter tone pairs beautifully with denim, chinos and soft tailoring.
Why people love it: the Dover offers serious craftsmanship in a very relaxed package. It’s refined enough for business, but the unlined construction and rubber sole give it the comfort of a much more casual shoe. Many clients tell us it quietly becomes the pair they reach for most often.
Hands On: Edward Green’s Dover
Edward Green Galway in Rosewood Country Calf: one boot for city and countryside
If the Dover is the everyday lace-up, the Galway is the field boot that does almost everything else. The original design dates back to around 1930, when it was created for British army officers; today it’s considered one of Edward Green’s most iconic models.
Our Galway, Country Calf, Rosewood pairs this heritage silhouette with a richly textured, printed leather in a warm reddish-brown tone, built on the 202 last and set on a Ridgeway rubber sole. The result is a boot that feels substantial underfoot, but still elegant enough for a tailored overcoat.
Clients tell us they appreciate three things in particular:
-
Versatility. The Rosewood shade sits comfortably between country and city – it works with flannel and corduroy, but also with dark denim and cotton twill.
-
Weather-readiness. The grippy sole and grained leather are well suited to autumn and winter conditions without feeling like “technical” footwear.
-
Comfort and support. The 202 last offers a supportive, rounded fit in E-width, with enough room for thicker socks when needed.
For many of our clients who travel frequently, this Galway has effectively become the default winter boot: one pair that can handle a countryside weekend, a business trip and a snowy city walk without missing a beat.
Edward Green Piccadilly Unlined London Grain: the loafer that does everything
Over the past decade, loafers have moved from “occasional” shoes to a core part of many men’s wardrobes. In that shift, Edward Green’s Piccadilly has become a modern reference point.
The Piccadilly is the brand’s signature penny loafer, built on the 184 last with a softly almond-shaped toe that balances ease and formality. Our unlined Piccadilly in Dark Brown London Grain pairs that last with a textured calf leather that molds quickly to the foot. The grain gives the shoe quiet personality while the dark brown color keeps it easy to wear.
Why clients gravitated to it in 2025:
-
It dresses up with a navy suit or separates, yet doesn’t feel out of place with denim and knitwear.
-
The unlined construction makes it comfortable from relatively early on in the break-in phase.
-
For travel, it’s an easy shoe to slip on and off while still feeling “put together”.
For many, the Piccadilly has become the loafer equivalent of the Dover: a piece that quietly earns its place in the rotation by solving a lot of everyday dressing questions.
Hands On: Edward Green’s Piccadilly loafer
John Lobb Lopez in Dark Brown: a low-key icon
Where the Dover, Galway and Piccadilly speak to Northampton’s tradition through Edward Green, the Lopez brings in another giant of English shoemaking: John Lobb.
First introduced around the mid-20th century, the Lopez is John Lobb’s signature penny loafer, defined by a neat saddle strap and hand-stitched apron. Made in Northampton through a multi-week process that includes well over a hundred separate steps, it has a generous, rounded toe and a clean, unfussy profile.
At The Hand, our Lopez in dark brown museum calf sits naturally alongside our English and Austrian makers. The dark brown shade, with its subtle depth of color, makes it a natural choice for clients who already own suede loafers and want something a touch sharper.
What clients appreciate about the Lopez:
-
Understated design. It doesn’t shout; it just looks right under a well-cut trouser.
-
Longevity. The classic leather sole and robust welted construction are built for many years of wear and resoling.
-
Continuity. Many clients enjoy the idea of wearing a model that has barely changed in decades, and still feels relevant today.
For some, the Lopez is the “city loafer” complement to the Piccadilly: a little cleaner, a little more formal, perfect with sharp tailoring or a navy blazer and flannel trousers.
One more name you kept asking about: the Barton
Although the Barton is not (yet) a bestseller in volume terms, it deserves a mention in any 2025 recap. Revived from Edward Green’s archives exclusively for The Hand, the Barton is a full-strap loafer on the 184 last with a hand-sewn apron and split toe – details that echo the Dover’s craftsmanship in a more relaxed silhouette.
To mark seven years of collaboration between The Hand and Edward Green, a limited number of pairs were produced in special make-ups for our clients. The hand-stitching on the apron is again executed by Nathan or Andy Peach, whose work many of you have seen in person during our events.
In many ways, the Barton sums up what our clients look for: something rooted in tradition, but revived and edited in a way that feels right for today.
The Edward Green Barton Returns – Exclusively for The Hand
What these favorites say about our clients
Looking at these pairs together, a pattern emerges:
-
Craftsmanship first. Each model showcases a specific artisanal detail – from the Dover’s hand-sewn split toe to the Barton’s apron, the Galway’s field-boot heritage and the Lopez’s carefully stitched saddle.
-
Versatility by design. None of these are “show pieces” for rare occasions. They are built to work hard: with tailoring, with denim, in the city and beyond.
-
Comfort without compromise. Unlined constructions, supportive lasts and practical soles (like Ridgeway rubber and R1 city soles) make it easier to choose these shoes for long days.
For us, the most rewarding part of 2025 has been seeing how you wear these shoes: to weddings, promotions, quiet weekends away and everyday moments that matter only to you. That is where craftsmanship comes to life.
If you’re considering one of these models for 2026 and would like advice on fit, last or make-up, we’re always happy to help – in the boutique, via WhatsApp, phone- or videocall, or through a made-to-order consultation.
