Brand
Leather shoes
Can you describe your style as rugged and refined? Then the leather shoes from Lennertson might match your outfits perfectly! This Belgian brand was founded by two friends from Hasselt and Genk, Robin Carlo and Robin Todde. Both are (mostly) vegetarian but still a fan of leather shoes because of the high quality and the ability to repair them when needed.
Lennertson means ‘being lionhearted’, which involves moving forward courageously while embracing your unique origin story. The brand was born out of personal need. As the friends grew up, they noticed that shoes in Benelux and Europe were a bit stiff. British shoe brands delighted and inspired them, but this was not quite what they were looking for either. So they started their own brand, where style comes first, and ethical working conditions are guaranteed. With the last shoemaker of his kind based in England and the production workshop located in Spain, the product is proudly and entirely European.
This COSH! Brand Index was calculated thanks to a paid contribution of one of the shops below.
Production locations
Lennertson disclosed the exact production locations to COSH, transparent!
Working Conditions & living wages
Lennertson chooses to work only with companies that share their values. Robin and Robin regularly visit and maintain a close relationship with their partners. So you can be sure that your shoes are made in ethical conditions! And there is a lot of work involved. It can take weeks or months before a pair of shoes is finished.
Materials
All Lennertson shoes are made from full grain European cowhide, the most durable material for shoes according to the founder. There is a layer of cork between the insole and outsole, and sometimes the outsole is made of rubber instead of leather. The shoes are constructed using Goodyear welting, a durable and traditional method which adds another layer of reinforcement around the sole. This construction allows the shoes to last a long time and to be repaired easily.
Packaging
the shoes come in boxes made from recycled cardboard, with a filling of thick paper to protect the shoes. The boxes also have a sustainably printed shoe passport containing information about the shoes.
Water usage & chemicals
The brand does not mention specific details about water use or chemicals. The shoes do consist mainly of leather, read our article on the impact of leather here.
Circular product design
The shoes are ‘made to last’ and endlessly repairable.
Circular business models
On their website, the brand provides tips on how to best care for your shoes and offers care products.
If your product breaks, you can send your pair of shoes back to Lennertson and they will be refurbished by the original shoemaker. They are also happy to help you find a shoe repair shop near you that is experienced in Goodyear technology. At COSH!, we love that Lennertson is supporting the local shoe repair shop trade!
Distance & complexity of the supply chain
Packaging and shipping of the shoes is done in-house in Belgium. Each pair of Lennertsons passes through the hands of the company’s owners.
Within the European Union, the highest standards, laws and rights are guaranteed. Lennertson a short supply chain courtesy of all-European production.
Transportation
Within the supply chain, we are not aware of transport methods.
e‑commerce:
Lennertson uses European cowhides, which are a waste product from the meat industry.
In the future, Lennertson would also like to make vegan shoes. For this, they first need time to research sustainable materials because vegan leather today is mostly plastic-based. It would also be a challenge to make the Goodyear-welt vegan.
Product design
Style is always a top priority at Lennertson. They want to make stylish items that represent people like themselves, the lionhearted, rugged and refined. The shape, proportion, patterns and materials are chosen accordingly.
The owners of Lennertson have had a memorable last made in Northampton, England. This last has a specifically shaped toe box and shape, a fundamental part of the shoe design. The fit is a little wider than the standard width, as for many men, this fits better. The brand also works with the English sizing system.
Lennertson started with a collection for men but wants to expand with a women’s collection in the future. The brand also explores releasing a limited edition women’s shoe in suede. Because of the difference in foot shape and, therefore, in the last, the collection is currently not suitable for women. The founders believe that the rugged, refined style suits a particular type of person, not a certain gender. A nice thought, we think at COSH!.
Slow fashion processes
The shoes are produced in small runs, which improves quality control.
Lennertson shoes have a timeless look and are not trend dependent. Therefore, Lennerston does not have a continuously changing and successive collection. They also don’t participate in sales because this doesn’t fit the slow business model.
Still, want to pick up a Lennertson bargain? Then take a look at their B‑grades offerings! These shoes have minor imperfections and are therefore sold at a reduced price. They are still beautiful and quality shoes; Lennertson maintains as a benchmark that the flaws are not noticeable to anyone else looking at your shoes.
Transparency on product
The product pages of the shoes always include an illustration to learn more about the material, construction and quality of each part of the shoe.
Transparency on processes
Lennertson was transparent to COSH! about their suppliers and materials.
Can’t wait to try the Lennertson shoes with your outfit? Check out the map below to see where you can buy them.
