Our Story
CHAPTER 2 is a slow fashion footwear brand, founded in 2013 by shoe designer Fay Murphy and her husband, master shoemaker Tom.
"Our aim is simple: combine our skills as both designer and maker to create shoes which honour the craft of shoemaking, look exceptionally beautiful and for our shoes to be worn and loved for years to come."
After a 25 year career designing women’s shoes for luxury fashion brands such as Dries Van Noten and Paul Smith, Chapter 2 is a very personal project for Fay and a reflection of her years of experience in footwear.
“Having founded the brand shortly after our second son was born, for me the name Chapter 2 represents that motherhood can be more than babies, and that as a designer there is life beyond big brands and fast fashion. Choosing the name Chapter 2 was a way of marking out a fresh start and about doing things differently.”
Today, Chapter 2 remains rooted in craftsmanship and is driven by a desire to create beautifully crafted shoes, made with integrity and where each shoe begins with intention rather than trend.
Considered Design
At its heart, Chapter 2 is a quiet conversation between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design.
Our approach is guided by simple silhouettes and thoughtful details that are designed to feel timeless rather than seasonal. We create shoes to sit naturally within your wardrobe, to be worn often, and which will feel increasingly personal with time.
"Luxury, for us, is found in how something feels, wears, and lasts."
Craftsmanship
Our palette is guided by nature rather than trends. Earthy tones, softened neutrals, and beautifully soft leathers chosen for their timeless versatility and how beautifully they age, developing character with every step.
Each pair of Chapter 2 shoes is crafted in small batches at an artisan shoe factory in the Marche region of Italy, using traditional shoemaking techniques passed down through generations. From cutting and closing to lasting and finishing, skilled hands shape every stage of the process — ensuring quality that can be felt, not just seen.
By producing in limited quantities, we preserve a level of detail and craftsmanship that larger-scale production simply cannot offer — ensuring each style remains considered and quietly exclusive.
Direct from the Hands of the Maker
For those seeking something even more personal, our Made to Order service offers the chance to select materials and create your own unique pair of Chapter 2 shoes.
Working slowly and with intention, each pair is handcrafted just for you in our workshop in East Sussex where every cut, stitch and finish is made by our master shoemaker Tom.
Our Made to Order shoes are extra special, often unique and made with a truly considered and handcrafted approach to shoemaking.
Our Workshop
Our design studio and workshop are based in Hailsham, close to the rolling hills of the South Downs in East Sussex. It’s here that ideas are refined, materials are chosen, and the rhythm of slow craftsmanship remains at the centre of everything we do.
Chapter 2 is about creating shoes with intention — pieces that feel personal, considered, and quietly luxurious from the very first step.
Care, Repair & Longevity
We believe a well-made shoe deserves to be cared for and worn for many years.
With the right care, quality materials and traditional construction allow our shoes to age beautifully and, where needed, be repaired rather than replaced. We encourage thoughtful maintenance and see signs of wear not as flaws, but as part of a shoe’s story.
A scuffed sole or softened leather tells a story which for us is all part of their beauty.
Our hope is that each pair of Chapter 2 shoes becomes something you return to season after season — familiar, comfortable, and uniquely yours.