Thomas Bird is a small, as yet obscure company that was founded in 2015 by Adam Bugla and Taro Gibbs, specialising in classic men’s footwear designed in Northampton but with an Italian construction. There are barely any in-depth reviews of this relatively unknown company online outside of the reviews section of their website (to which I myself have contributed), so this will post will hopefully serve to increase people’s knowledge about this brand and what they do. On their site they boast an impressive display of shoe styles, from boots to loafers, in all manner of daring, experimental colours and patinas that are quite a departure from my own, somewhat conservative taste. Nevertheless, they add something new in the niche that is the men’s footwear industry. Everything they produce is at an affordable price point relative to the big Northampton brands like Crockett and Jones – their most expensive piece of footwear is probably their £360 Memphis Zip Boot in black, full grain leather. Their commitment to producing quality footwear for an approachable expense is to be commended, especially given the diversity of styles and colours, which must cost a great deal on their part. There is no way that they could be produced so cheaply in Britain, with labour costs as they are. Moreover, the rather daring styles that they go for are probably easier to achieve with Italian craftmanship. They ship all products from their warehouse in Northampton, and they are quick and efficient with their delivery.
After the exhaustion of my aforementioned Burlington Boots, I was on the hunt for another pair of Chelseas. They are the single most versatile shoe type in my wardrobe, because I can wear them with suits to work but also casually. I needed a quality pair that would last me a long time – ideally, longer than the used pair which I bought, which meant I was willing to potentially plump for a brand new pair, provided the price was right. Due to my reluctance to pay full price, I had been scouring Ebay for quality used pairs by Northampton brands, due to my recent loss of faith in Russell and Bromley’s quality control. The Crockett and Jones Lingfield model was simply out of reach at full retail price, and not available in my size used, whilst the Loake Chatsworths were not as aesthetically pleasing to me as the sleeker, Italian-made Burlingtons. Imagine my delight when I saw in my emails that Thomas Bird was giving me a £75 voucher to use with one of their products. I decided to seize the opportunity to purchase a new pair of Chelseas. A perusal of their offering led me to their Eastwoods – a handsome pair of boots with a sleek, dressy silhouette that allowed it to be worn easily with a suit, but could also be worn casually if needed. Full retail price was £285, but I purchased a pair for £210 with the discount. The boots come in a generous fit, and, since I am anywhere from a size 8 in Cheaney to a size 9 in Loake, I decided to take the advice they place on their website and size down, taking a size 8. I later ordered shoe trees and insoles as well.
Trying them on at home, they felt fine. I even thought they were somewhat roomy. I was so chuffed I went to work in them the following day. That weekend I made the mistake of walking with them in the forest park opposite my house. My toes were in agony. The discomfort was palpable. Walking on carpet and pavement had disguised some serious fit issues that I did not trust would resolve themselves over time. I returned the boots, knowing that a refund was likely out of the question since they had been worn outside. Generously, upon receipt of the boots they offered me a 50% discount on another pair in size 9, complete with an exchange of the shoe trees I received and a free pair of insoles in my size. Their customer service was flawless, and the lady I spoke to on the phone was professional, efficient and beyond helpful. Ultimately, I blame myself for gambling on the wrong size when I should have gone to the trouble of measuring my feet properly and contacting them in advance.
The boots are beyond beautiful, with a buttery-soft full grain leather burnished in burgundy and a luscious patina on the toe cap. They fit me well in the forefront of my foot, but are generous in the instep and heel area. I am only now getting used to it – I could not shake the feeling that they were a bit too big, but with an insole and thicker socks, any fit issues should be minimal. There is simply no way I was a size 8. The difference is night and day – my feet are comfortable and happy. So pleased am I with my purchase that I have purchased a second pair of these boots in brown so as to have more rotation in my casual footwear collection.
They have a Blake-stitched construction, but that is no objection to owning a pair – Goodyear-welted is not the be-all-and-end-all of good-quality footwear, and there is no way they would be as affordable did they utilise Goodyear-welted construction methods. I highly recommend their shoes to one and all.
Another great thing about Thomas Bird is their system of awarding points for each purchase. These points can then be converted into vouchers for the value of 10% in of how many points you have (for example, 767 points would be £76). I used this to purchase my second pair of Eastwood Chelseas from them for quite a bit less than I would have paid full price.
Thomas Bird are the real deal and deserve the confidence of every gentleman who crosses their path. I hope this article gives some much-needed context to this still largely untried outfit.