Crown Northampton Artizan Belgian Slippers Review

A Call With Chris…

A few weeks ago, Rafael, myself, and Chris Woodford—Crown Northampton’s managing director and a fifth-generation shoemaker—hopped on a call.

During our chat, Chris mentioned that Japan is one of Crown’s biggest markets. In fact, a 2015 BBC report noted that about one-third of all footwear made in England ends up there.

He explained that the Jazz range was originally designed specifically for that discerning market. There, the white leather Jazz shoes are affectionately called “マシュメロ” (Mashumero), which translates to “Marshmallows,” a name that perfectly captures their cloud-like comfort.

Broadly speaking, the Jazz line defines itself by its softer materials and more unstructured, flexible construction compared to Crown’s other offerings. These characteristics immediately made me fall in love with the Artizan Belgian Slipper.

After our chat, Chris generously sent over the classic white pair and a limited-edition model featuring kudu suede sides with a “Mad Dog” leather apron from the nearby Tusting & Burnett tannery.

Sizing & Materials

I knew Crown Northampton was a made-to-order operation, but I didn’t realize the extent of their personalization.

Following a set of clear instructions, my wife helped me trace both of my feet, and I sent the outlines over to Chris. His feedback was a revelation.

He noted that my feet were on the wider side and recommended I go half a size down from my usual 9, but opt for a wider fitting.

For years, I had just been buying a standard size and accepting whatever minor discomforts came with it. This simple act of expert consultation demonstrates the profound value of dealing directly with the people who make your shoes.

Crown Northampton “Marshmallow” Slippers

Let’s start with the white “Marshmallow” pair. The finish is a clean, beautiful white with a buttery-soft feel.

The calf leather Crown uses is highly regarded for its quality and durability, standing in stark contrast to the stiff, plasticky leather found on many big-name minimalist sneakers that often cost more and deliver less.

The lining is soft and welcoming, but the real magic is underfoot. A layer of cork filling, a feature typically reserved for high-end dress shoes, acts much like a memory foam mattress, gradually compressing and molding to the unique shape of your foot over time.

I was a little worried about the sole at first glance; it looks quite thin. Then you remember it’s made by Vibram, the same company that produces the rugged, hard-wearing wedge soles on classic work boots.

The Artizan may resemble a ballet slipper in profile, but in terms of sole quality and resilience, there is more substance here than the silhouette suggests.

Crown Northampton “Mad Dog” Belgian Slippers

Now for the “Mad Dog” pair. As part of a limited ‘guest leather’ capsule, this model showcases what happens when the team gets to play with unusual materials.

“Mad Dog” is a vegetable-tanned African goat leather from a farming cooperative in Northern Nigeria, sourced via the Tusting & Burnett tannery just a half-hour from Crown’s factory. During the hand-tanning process, the skins are twisted, imparting an incredible, unique grain structure to each hide.

No two pairs are exactly alike, and the leather is designed to darken and develop a rich, individual patina over time.

The kudu suede on the sides comes from C.F. Stead, the same legendary tannery that produced the Janus suede for my desert boots. This kudu, however, is a different creature entirely.

It is, without exaggeration, the plushest, most velvety suede I have ever felt. The contrast between the grained apron and the velvety quarters is interesting without feeling theatrical. You won’t look like you’re heading to a 1920s costume party; you’ll look like you know your leathers.

Travel Field Test in Japan

You might be asking, “Carlos, weren’t you just in Japan earlier this year?” Yes, I was.

But in a strange twist of fate, I won a free plane ticket on a Taiwanese airline for tufting a rug over Christmas. If that sounds like a joke, I assure you it isn’t. You can hear the full story on my travel podcast later this year.

After a 13-hour flight, I landed in Osaka, paid a quick visit to my friend Kazuki-san at CigarNest, and then boarded a bullet train to Kinosaki Onsen.

Cigars at CigarNest

This idyllic town, nestled in the mountains, is famous for its seven public bathhouses, each with natural hot springs said to have unique healing properties. As someone with a high-stress commercial pilot job and chronic back pain, this was exactly the getaway I needed. Crucially, Kinosaki is tattoo-friendly, a welcome rarity in Japan.

While strolling the town in the evening, it is traditional to wear a yukata (a summer kimono) with wooden geta sandals. The streets fill with the rhythmic clop-clop of those wooden soles.

I lasted about 30 minutes in geta before my feet begged for mercy. They demand a short, shallow stride, punishing any hurried heel strike with a sharp rap of unyielding wood.

While the intention is to encourage mindfulness, my already leisurely pace became glacial. Thankfully, my host reassured me that Western shoes were perfectly acceptable.

I switched into the white “Marshmallow” Artizans, which looked surprisingly elegant with the yukata, and my feet thanked me immediately.

The ultimate test, however, came unexpectedly.

High on Mt. Daishi, overlooking the town, sits a beautiful temple.

I decided to take the scenic ropeway up and hike the somewhat steep trail back down. You may think I’m crazy for attempting this in slippers, especially the suede pair. And while dedicated hiking boots would have been smarter, the Artizans performed admirably.

It was a powerful reminder that high-quality suede is not a delicate, fragile material. It is, in fact, incredibly tough. That night, a light brushing was all it took to remove the dust and restore the nap to its plush, velvety luster.

Style and How to Wear

The Belgian slipper profile makes the Artizan a perfect “in-betweener” shoe. It’s decidedly more elegant and refined than a sneaker, yet more relaxed and versatile than a formal loafer.

This adaptability is a core tenet of the Jazz collection and explains its popularity in Japan, where it’s styled with everything from vintage denim to seersucker suits.

When I wasn’t wearing a yukata, I paired the slippers with olive fatigue pants or blue jeans. In both cases, they provided a definite upgrade from standard sneaker territory without sacrificing an ounce of comfort.

They would look perfectly at home with chinos or even a relaxed suit, provided you’re not attending a funeral or a high-stakes business meeting.

Comfort, Fit, and a Small Quirk

Comfort is the headline here. The soft lining, the cork footbed that molds to your feet, and the flexible Vibram sole make the Artizan easy to wear all day long.

The made-to-order fit advice was spot-on for me. I did, however, experience a small amount of heel slip in both pairs.

This is because the Artizan, being the only non-laced model in the Jazz collection, does not come standard with a reinforced heel counter cover. This is part of what gives it that unstructured, slipper-like feel. Since every pair is made to order, it would be no trouble at all to request one be added, turning a potential flaw into yet another example of Crown’s exceptional, customer-focused service.

Conclusion

If you ever get the chance to speak with Chris Woodford, take it. Our brief phone call was incredibly inspiring. He spoke not just of materials, but of Northampton itself, painting a vivid picture of a town steeped in shoemaking heritage.

You can feel that the shoes are made by people who share his ethos.

Chris isn’t trying to compete with giant global brands; he prefers a small, dedicated customer base that can email him directly, adjust patterns, and be part of the creative process. I only recently learned that he still personally “clicks” (cuts) the leather for many of the shoes himself. That says everything about the craft mindset at Crown.

Every pair is made to order, and the 9 to 12-week lead time is the trade-off for this level of quality and customization. By eliminating the overhead of inventory and physical storefronts, Crown delivers a handmade-in-England shoe for just under $250.

That is real, undeniable value. I am currently debating whether to order a pair of black jazz shoes for my pilot uniform or to save up for one of Crown’s shell cordovan models.

When I first unboxed the pristine white “Marshmallows,” my instinct was to protect them.

But after a few days of soaking in hot springs and hiking down a dusty trail, I had a change of heart.

There is a Japanese concept called Mono no aware (物の哀れ), which is a gentle sadness or awareness of the transience of things, and an appreciation for their fleeting beauty.

I realized I needed to accept—and embrace—the wear, the scuffs, and the patina that will inevitably come. I am going to wear these slippers into the ground, and then I’ll send them back to Northampton to be resoled and refreshed. Kind of beautiful, right?

Further Reading

Once you’ve finished reading this review, feel free to peruse our wide range of shoe content such as the following resources:

• Crown Northampton Everdon “Rambler” Boots Review by Carlos Alberto.
• Harlestone Derbies review on Bespoke Unit
• Best English Shoemakers and their history
• What is the difference between desert boots and chukkas
• Our most comfortable dress shoes shortlist