Inside a tiny room at the George Cleverley shop in Mayfair, some of the world's most famous feet are at rest. Dangling from the wall are rows of wooden shoe lasts, each one the foot-equivalent of a Hollywood stars autograph, revealing a client list that includes men as well known as Sylvester Stallone to Colin Firth and Michael Caine. Founded in 1958, the family-run shoemaker’s remarkable roll call of clients come to George Cleverley for its famed, handmade shoes that take around 90 man-hours to make.

“One of our most interesting clients is Daniel Day-Lewis,” says Adam Law, the workshop manager, “He worked at a shoemaker so he actually has real insight into the shoe-making process.”

But it’s the last that really makes the shoe, according to Law. “We start off with the last -that’s the wooden form of the foot,” he says. “The last is what’s ultimately going to make or break the shoe. It’s crucial to get it right for that balance of style and comfort.”

As one of the few remaining elite British shoemakers, George Cleverly stands as a testament to the country’s reputation as a maker of the highest quality men’s shoes, produced in the traditional, time-tested manner. While the namesake founder cemented the brand’s reputation with the famous Cleverley shape - the chiseled, square toe - the company now makes round-toe shoes and has a ready-to-wear line alongside its bespoke service.

Despite this move forward, George Cleverley doesn’t pretend to be something its not: “We’re not competing at the forefront of fashion. We’re making classic style shoes that have enough elegance and style about them so that they are as appropriate now as they will be in five, 10 or 20 years time,” says Law.

“It’s nice to be able to have a pair of shoes in your wardrobe and be able to say, ‘I wore those at my children's wedding!’ To actually have something you are familiar with, that you keep coming back to. We leave the crazy stuff to the fashion guys and keep on making the traditional.”

And it’s that kind of refreshing approach to footwear that makes George Cleverley feel so modern.