About

Our history is a history of fashion

Kyriacos George Zorlakkis founded KG Shoes in 1954, shortly after his arrival in England from Cyprus. Initially focusing on crafting bespoke shoes and boots on Eversholt Street, Camden, Kyriacos, ever the entrepreneur, realised there was a demand for shoe repairs and started a sideline to meet the need soon after opening.

The 50s

The arrival of the “winklepicker” boots onto the fashion scene in the late 1950s signified the first peak for the bespoke shoemaking side of the business. Offering a bespoke boot, people flocked to KG Shoes from all over the city to secure a pair. The peak lasted for four years and its sustained nature is a real testament to Kyriacos’ dedication to his craft.

Platforms brought about a renewed demand for bespoke boots during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some of our most well-known projects have been worn by celebrities including the white boots worn by Engelbert Humperdinck, the famous silver platform boots worn by Dave Hill from Slade, and the Bee Gees. The fashion for platform boots started in the UK and during this time we were approached by Andy, the owner of the infamous Jumping Jack Flash store on East 59th Street, New York to start making stock boots for his store.

The 60s and 70s

The 70s and beyond

At the end of the 1970s, Kyriacos began to consider retirement and so George Zorlakkis took over in 1985. During this time the bespoke shoe market was beginning to wind down and, as a result, George concentrated on expanding the shoe repair side of the business.

This proved to be a great success as KG Shoes are now the trusted shoe, boot, and luggage repair partner for top designers and department stores across the UK and beyond. We’re proud of our heritage and everything we’ve learned along the way.

Our history is a history of fashion

The 50s

The 60s and 70s

The 70s and beyond

The Modern Day