About

The story of TWISK is a tale of triumph over adversity, of courage in the face of despair, of remarkable recovery against all odds and of a good man who just couldn’t be kept down…

TWISK shoes are designed by a world-famous British master shoe designer, with over 50 years of experience. As a runaway living on the Central Line of the London Underground, his lucky break came in 1969 when he got a job at Alan McAfee in Mayfair. There he was trained by expert craftsmen, those who made shoes for a host of eminent clients, including Fred Astaire, Henry Mancini, Laurel and Hardy, and Sammy Davis Junior. He spent the next 20 years perfecting his trade working his way from humble Shop Boy to Chief Designer.

In 1989 he left McAfee to launch his eponymous label, which rapidly gained international success. His customers included the England rugby, football and cricket teams, Elton John, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Dylan Jones and many other icons of men’s style. His designs sold in over 130 stores and concessions in Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Saks, Nordstrom, Selfridges, independent boutiques and through his own standalone stores in London and beyond.

In 2005, at the height of his career, he suffered a catastrophic stroke that left him paralyzed on the right side and unable to walk. He was also left with Aphasia, a devastating condition that causes the sufferer to lose the ability to speak, read and write, but does not affect intelligence.

This tragedy was deepened when four years later in 2009 he lost his multi-million pound business because his ability to run it had become so impaired. The fact that the business carried his name, which was trademarked, meant he also lost his right to the very intellectual property that defines a person – his own name.

Despite all this, his determination remained – he was not going to be beaten. He set about learning to draw with his left hand and refused to remain in a wheelchair. It was a long and painful process to achieve his goal but after years of perseverance, he eventually walked, his left-handed drawing skills became exceptional and his speech improved.

And now, with the support of a trusted team, he is ready to make his return as a world-class designer. The distinctive designs of TWISK shoes are unmistakably from his hand, showcasing his unsuppressible, inherent talent resulting in shoes that are brilliantly unconventional and beautifully unique – just like the men who wear them.