With deepest regret:
Today is a hugely sad day for us here at Chuckles - we have had to say goodbye to Barrie after his extremely brave fight with cancer.
We know there will be a lot of you out there in the wider Chuckle community who will be deeply sorrowful - Barrie has benefited so many people over the years with his amazing knowledge and open hearted way, shoeing a large population of Devon and beyond. His absolute favourite part of that was helping people - he could see exactly what they needed and make it happen.
Barrie has built Chuckles up more like a family than a business. Candy, his wife, who has stood beside him in the business, and we, who have been lucky enough to have been taught by him, will be carrying on his legacy and good work in the future. We would love your support in that.
Today we stand in sorrow and gratitude for the gifts he brought to us.
Chuckle Shoes
Shoemaking is one of mankind's oldest and most essential skilled trades.
For over 30 years the craftsmen and women at Chuckle Shoes have been proud to consistantly design and create stylish and comfortable footwear for feet of all ages, shapes and sizes.
Using a combination of traditional and modern techniques and both natural and especially formulated synthetic materials our dedicated and knowledgeable staff produce a range of handmade shoes designed around the actual functionality of the human foot.
This not only makes for happy feet but promotes better overall health through improved posture while at the same time allowing for a huge choice of style and colour.
How our shoes are made
We utilise correct UK standard sizes and shapes in the construction of our off the shelf shoes (unlike most mass-produced footwear), however our preference, where possible, is to begin the shoe making process by measuring the length and girth of the customer's feet and taking drawings and notes of the shape we are seeking to accommodate. We can then combine a variety of standard and bespoke components as appropriate to create the perfect fit.
The component parts of the upper are cut (or "clicked") from the chosen materials. These may include the quarters (sides), vamp (top/front), trims, straps etc. which we then stitch together by hand.
The appropriate shape is stamped from one of a variety of soling materials - natural crepe rubber or textured Vibram and hand finished as necessary.
A "runner" is stitched to the bottom of the upper enabling it to then be glued to the sole.
The shoe is then steamed to make it supple and a correctly sized foot shaped "last" inserted before leaving for 24-72 hours to give the shoe its final shape. During this time the edges of the sole may be buffed and the upper polished to give a final finish.
During these stages alterations such as insoles, strengtheners, cutaways or spot stretching may be utilised to create a comfortable and healthy fit for the individual foot concerned.
Bespoke shoe making service
One of the many advantages of the handmade shoe process is that we can provide a bespoke shoe making service.
You can indulge your own creativity by choosing style, colors, materials and details such as trims, fastenings or stitching.
Personalised made to measure production ensures that the shoes you purchase from us are not just made for feet - they are made for your feet and enables us to accommodate a wide variety of foot problems.
Visit our problem feet page for further information regarding how we can help you.
