Simple Way

Simple Way: leather kits and made-to-order footwear from County Durham

Simple Way is a British workshop business that has supplied leather kits and fitted footwear by post for more than 51 years, according to its own account. It operates from Frankland Farm in Durham and sells through its online catalogue, which is organised around three main blocks: leather kits, ready-made items and gift vouchers.

Leather kits prepared for hand sewing

The kits are designed for home assembly. Every leather piece arrives with the stitch holes already punched, and each kit includes full instructions, a ball-point needle and special waxed hand-sewing thread. The company states that anyone able to work a running stitch can complete the kits. The catalogue lists accessory kits, bag kits, leather satchels and separate ranges of shoe, sandal and boot kits for women and men.

Footwear made to order for difficult fits

All footwear is cut and made individually to order in the company's own workshop in the North East of England. The construction uses soft, supple leather uppers, flexible shock-absorbing polyurethane soles and padded insoles. No hard toe stiffeners are used, which the company presents as a way to avoid rubbing and irritation for customers with large toe joints or hammer toes.

Simple Way addresses several specific fitting problems:

• Different-sized left and right feet, resolved by making an odd-sized pair.
• Glue allergies, with certain styles available made without any glue at all.
• Wider or broader feet, including swollen or otherwise problematic feet.
• Orthotics, by increasing the depth of the shoe so the insert can slide inside.

Customers can send their foot measurements, and the company also offers home visits to take measurements.

Ready-made stock, repairs and historical styles

Alongside the kits, the catalogue carries a ready-made line of accessories, bags, boots, sandals and shoes for women and men. It also includes a repairs and spares section and a category of Roman sandals and Viking shoes. Other sections of the shop cover craft items, bulk sale stock, end-of-stock clearance and gift vouchers.

Guarantee and customer data

The company states that all its regular products are covered by a money-back guarantee and that customer details are not passed on to third parties. It also notes that its shoes are recommended by chiropodists nationwide, a claim presented as part of its own description.