The Canterbury by Gaziano & Girling — Exclusive to The Hand

A high-shaft Oxford reimagined for modern wardrobes.

There are moments when design, craft, and timing converge perfectly. The Canterbury is one of them.

At The Hand, our mission has always been to bring hidden artisanal excellence to light — to rediscover forms and details that modern luxury has forgotten. When Tony Gaziano and Dean Girling presented the idea of reviving the Oxford boot, we knew this collaboration would become something truly special.

A revival of the Oxford boot

The Canterbury is built on Gaziano & Girling’s MH71 last — the sharp chisel form that defines their contemporary house style. It is, in essence, an Oxford elevated to boot height: a seamless continuation of the clean lines and balance that have long distinguished English shoemaking.

We worked with Tony and Dean to create two exclusive make-ups for The Hand:

• Vintage Oak Calf, chosen for its depth and refinement — a nod to heritage.

• Black Hatch Grain, selected for its fine texture and confident modern edge.

Each pair is Goodyear welted, with a double leather forepart that tapers to a single at the heel, a specification we love for how it adds both substance and poise. The blind eyelets preserve the minimalist aesthetic, and the lower-calf height gives the silhouette a strong yet elegant stance.

Why now

As we enter the colder months, the Canterbury bridges the gap between the seasons — polished enough for boardroom formality, but equally striking when dressed down with flannel trousers or tailored denim. It’s not a reinvention; it’s a restoration. The Oxford boot, as it was once worn, returned for a generation that values substance over show.

The Hand’s curation

For Dennis van de Water, co-founder of The Hand, this collaboration represents more than a design project — it’s a dialogue between makers who share the same standards of perfection.

“What drew us to Gaziano & Girling from the very beginning was their precision. Every millimeter of the MH71 last tells a story of intent. With the Canterbury, we wanted to bring that sharpness to a boot that feels timeless — elegant, yet powerful.”

That pursuit of balance — between heritage and modernity, between formal and casual — is what defines The Hand’s approach to curation. We seek pieces that make sense today, yet feel as though they could have existed a century ago.