Having taken one step into the office – a warm environment, warmth reified by the crackling wood on the fire – a plethora of photographs greet you, each serving as an indicator the personality of the man who calls it home. After just one panoramic glance around the room you get an rare, alternative insight into the shoemaker and Owner of Grenson, Tim Little.
“I’m a big Blues fan” he says, seeing my lingering look at his extensive collection of precisely placed photographs.
His Blues photographs are all self prints by acclaimed photographer Terry Cryer, known in certain circles as the ‘dean of UK Jazz and Blues photography’.
“I’m pretty sure he lives in Yorkshire now.” Tim says, pondering.
I later find out that all of Tim’s shoes are named after Blues songs; a tribute, yes, but also a perfect marriage of two timeless classics – music and his perpetually relevant footwear. It was this very topic of ‘collaboration’ that had brought me to Tim’s Kings Road shop – not a musical one – but a partnership with 19th Century whisky distillery Chivas Regal.
“There are many similarities between the two brands, the time honoured way the products are made, the blending of ingredients, the craftsmanship.”
I notice some more imagery on the walls, this time of a sporting hue giving an angle to another interest of the master shoemaker. A bird’s eye view of Pride Park and the Baseball ground, two of the homes of his beloved football club Derby County, are just some of the images paying homage to one of his lifelong passions.
When asked about his work, Tim Little without hesitance responds “Generally, it’s amazing. For me personally, it’s the best job in the world” He lets slip a momentary reflective look almost as if recalling were it all began.
You can see that Tim is a connoisseur of brands, not just in shoemaking, but brands from all manners of existence, age and guise, essentially brands of interest. Thoughtfully he looks through the blinds at a shop across the road, a shop called Savoir Beds:
“They recently moved in across the road. I couldn’t tell much about them so I went in to find out more.”
He then breaks into an insightful side story about how the company was once owned by Savoy Hotel, and still makes all their beds.
“You wouldn’t have guessed the brand had such heritage by looking at the shop.” He surmises.
It’s this consistency of story and brand image that has been retained throughout the Gresnon brand; even the website design and graphics are designed by Tim’s long-time friend, the man responsible for the Grenson logo and marketing material. “I wanted to retain a consistency of image” he briefly explains.
Looking in the past for inspiration as well as to the brands future, Tim has a collection of classic Grenson styles which he purchased off eBay for his own personal reference. This consistency of image is also reflected in his staffing policy; Howard has watched the Floor of Tim Little’s Kings Road boutique for over 15 years his knowledge of the collection second to Tim alone.
So following this prolonged, privileged, insight into the man responsible for this year’s Chivas 12 ‘Made for Gentlemen’ Limited Edition, we sat down for the interview.
PHOTOs: JOSHUA’s
