JOURNAL
Sneakers Made in UK: The Complete Guide to British Craft Sneakers
For decades, sneaker production moved overseas in pursuit of lower costs and faster manufacturing. But change is afoot. A growing number of buyers are searching for sneakers made in the UK, drawn b...
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The Lost Art of Keeping Things
Written by Callum McAnulty - GORAL Ecommerce Executive Something I’ve become more and more conscious of in the last few years is the act of balancing my love for clothes and shoes with my love for...
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WORKSHOP SAMPLE, NOT FOR RESALE: What is a mystery box?
Not every pair we make is destined for the icons, some are built in the workshop during development. Tested, adjusted and then sometimes set aside but not because they failed, but because they were...
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"Forget Common Projects - This UK Brand Does It Better" - Cameron O.
If you’re looking for a resoleable leather sneaker, look no further. Most modern sneakers are designed around speed of production rather than longevity. Materials are selected for consistency, cons...
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NEW YOUTUBE EPISODE! FIRST INSTALMENT OF FRIENDS OF GORAL Friends of Goral is a video series dedicated to the people we are proud to call friends. A celebration of craftsmanship, handmade heritage...
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New YouTube Episode Drop! The GAT sneaker!
In the 1970s, something interesting began happening in fashion. Designers started looking beyond traditional fashion houses for inspiration. Instead, they turned to something far more practical: ...
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There’s something special about seeing a pair of shoes come together from start to finish. Recently we welcomed VIP customer Ethan to our Sheffield factory to create his own custom pair of SMUGS. I...
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WHAT IS A CREPE SOLE AND WHAT ARE IT'S BENEFITS?
A crepe sole is made from natural rubber that’s been tapped from rubber trees, rolled into sheets, and left to air-dry. As it dries, the rubber forms a soft, rippled texture with a slightly uneven...
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WHAT IS A GERMAN ARMY SNEAKER?
A German Army sneaker, often called a GAT, is a minimalist leather training shoe originally issued to the West German military during the 1970s and 1980s. Designed as an indoor training shoe for so...
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Delivered Duty Paid - What It Means For You
If you’re ordering from the UK, US, or EU, here’s exactly how shipping works at GORAL - All of our shipments to these regions are sent Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). That means the price you see at che...
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It’s called Crazy Cow for a reason: NEW leather drop
Crazy Cow is a leather with real substance. During tanning, the fibre structure is lightly shrunken, creating a tight, durable grain that improves strength and control. At 1.8–2.0mm thick, it has t...
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Is this the craziest leather we've ever used?
In this video we take a look the latest in our range using Crazy Cow! Developed by C.F Stead in Leeds, hand created here in Sheffield! We break down what makes this leather special, how it behaves ...
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The Worlds Heaviest Denim Made into A Shoe?
Today, we’re stepping into heavyweight territory. On the bench 32oz Japanese Selvedge denim, supplied by our good friends over at Naked & Famous Denim, a brand globally respected for pushing th...
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Charles F. Stead Introduces Beaumont Leather
In the world of fine leathers, few names carry the same respect as Charles F. Stead & Co. Ltd. Founded in Leeds over a century ago, this historic English tannery has become synonymous with hide...
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Unboxing the lowest top boots you can buy
When we first started working with Rose Anvil, the goal was simple: make something no one else was really making. Not just another cupsole sneaker, but a true hybrid, footwear built with the princi...
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When we started GORAL, our focus was firmly on men’s footwear. It’s where our primary experience lay, and where we first carved out a space for our resoleable sneakers. But as the brand grew, somet...
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When you look at a great pair of shoes, the first thing you notice is the leather. Adria is a premium full-grain pebbled leather that balances softness, durability, and visual depth. It’s designed ...
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How we made Blood Core Alien SMUGS?!
Step inside the factory and watch each stage of production for the Alien Blood Core SMUGS. After the Alien Blood Core hides landed at between Christmas and New Year, everything moved into the works...
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What is Alien Blood Core Leather?
At GORAL, we believe great footwear shouldn’t just be worn, it should evolve. The leather you choose is as important as the construction beneath it, which is why Blood Core has become one of our mo...
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Teacore leather emulates the grain, feel, and break-in of classic, vintage hides, bringing a touch of history and authenticity to modern footwear. Teacore leather is all about wear and character. I...
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The BUXTON boot is a product of place, purpose, and experience. Designed by us at GORAL and made in collaboration with William Lennon, a specialist bootmaker based in the Peak District with over 10...
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SMUGS high or low? Here’s what you need to know
You might already know SMUGS. They started as our high-top, but built more like a boot than a sneaker. Weston at Rose Anvil once called them “sneakers built like a boot” and the name stuck. Now, we...
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The history of a low top sneaker
Sneakers are everywhere now, from sidewalks to boardrooms, from skateparks to weddings. But one silhouette in particular has quietly shaped our footwear culture more than most, the low‑top sneaker....
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GORAL Aspen horse leather care guide
Our Aspen horse leather is a premium, full-grain, vegetable-tanned material that develops a patina over time and with the right care your shoes will last a lifetime. Daily wear & protection Avo...
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A new chapter in the GORAL leather line-up, we’re proud to introduce Aspen by Horween. Developed by Horween in Chicago, Aspen is a full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather crafted from thick, boot-qual...
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We’ve reached that point in the year where reflection feels unavoidable. The quieter days creep in, the pace slows just enough, and suddenly you’re looking back at the last twelve months thinking t...
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In a world where styles change faster than seasons, it can feel like every week brings a new must-have item. A new colourway or louder logo but at GORAL, we’ve always believed that the most meaning...
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YouShoe reviews the BASLOW Chelsea boot
We recently had the pleasure of hearing from Ryan Bethushu (YouShoe), who shared his break-in experience with our BASLOW Chelsea boot. While he jokingly called it his “most hated” pair of boots, ba...
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Caring for Horween Chromexcel Leather
Horween Chromexcel leather is renowned for its rich colour, supple texture, and ability to develop a unique patina over time. Caring for Horween Chromexcel leather is about gentle maintenance and a...
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What makes Horween Chromexcel special?
Chromexcel is Horween’s flagship leather, built on a tanning recipe that has barely changed since the 1910s. It’s what’s known as a combination tanned leather, meaning it goes through both chrome t...
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Built different MUGGS, SLUGGS & SMUGS on Vibram
At GORAL, we approach sneaker design the same way most brands approach boots. Every pair is made with longevity in mind, using traditional shoemaking techniques and premium materials that improve w...
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Christmas offers that make gifting easy
The countdown is officially on. With Christmas less than two weeks away, it’s time to get cracking. Whether you’re shopping for the style minimalist, the footwear obsessive, or the infamously hard-...
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When we launched our Bloodline campaign for Black Friday, we wanted to celebrate the people who make GORAL what it is: our customers. Nathan is one of those people, a loyal supporter who has worn G...
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In a city built on makers, metalworkers, and modern creatives, Elm has quickly become one of Sheffield’s most exciting spaces, part coffee shop, part restaurant, and entirely rooted in craft. We sa...
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BLOOD CORE SMUGS, READY TO SHIP
If you’ve been around GORAL for a while, you’ll know Blood Core has become a bit of a phenomenon this year. It’s the leather people talk about, ask about, DM us about… and the leather we’ve struggl...
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For our Bloodline Black Friday campaign, we wanted to celebrate the people who make GORAL what it is, our community of loyal customers, Ethan is one of those people. He’s been following GORAL for a...
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Some collaborations happen naturally, not because of strategy, but because of shared values, shared craft, and shared care for the people behind every product. That’s exactly the case with Nomad Ma...
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For our Bloodline Black Friday campaign, we wanted to celebrate the people who make GORAL what it is, our community of loyal customers. Sean is a perfect example. He’s been following and wearing GO...
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The Bloodline - Our Black Friday campaign
At GORAL, we know we’re a small brand and we see that as our strength. It allows us to focus on what truly defines us, our craftsmanship and the community that supports us. As we began planning for...
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We believe a pair of shoes should be more than just something you wear, they should be made to last a lifetime. That’s why every GORAL shoe comes with our Lifetime Repair Guarantee, ensuring your ...
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Barefoot shoes are designed to allow your feet to move as naturally as possible. They are lightweight, flexible, and have a minimalist construction that mimics being barefoot while still offering p...
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What is a blake stitch construction?
With nearly 90 years of shoemaking experience, we came to recognise one unavoidable truth, most shoes were never built for true longevity. No matter how well they were crafted, once the soles wore ...
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Understanding duties, tariffs, taxes, and shipping on GORAL orders
At GORAL, we want your shopping experience to be simple, transparent, and hassle-free, especially when ordering internationally. Whether you’re in the UK, the USA, Europe, or elsewhere in the world...
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