Episode 1

Shoemakers of Northamptonshire

Shoemakers of Northamptonshire is the debut short film
from Nation of Artisans — a new project exploring Britain and making.

In an age of AI slop, culture wars, and an atomised economy
that feels detached from anything real, Nation of Artisans seeks
to challenge the doom loop of nostalgia and conflict.

We want to forge a new story of Britain rooted
in something good, true, and beautiful.

While the flux is relentless, there are some things that remain true.

Britain is still a land of ingenious makers,
both stewards of tradition and architects of the future.

Nation of Artisans is dedicated to exploring and
celebrating their ideas, crafts, and worlds.

To begin, we are delighted to partner with Gaziano & Girling,
a business that masterfully straddles both heritage and innovation,
the aristocratic and the punk.

Rejecting the slow death of the welted shoe industry, Gaziano & Girling was the
first new factory to open in Northamptonshire in over 100 years. In just two decades
it has quietly become one of the most revered shoemakers in the world.

Whether it is a pair of brogues for the King or some 24-karat gold-washed alligator
loafers, Gaziano & Girling embodies the essence of what Nation of Artisans stands for.

Not worshipping the ashes but passing on the fire.

Created in collaboration with award-winning filmmaker Christian Cargill,
the film offers an intimate portrait of an extraordinary workshop and craft.

Thank you to Tony Gaziano, Dean Girling, Michael Symons,
the entire team on Balfour Street — and, of course,
David Ludlow — for letting us tell your stories.

—LOUIS ELTON

Founder,
Nation of Artisans

Follow Nation of Artisans on Substack and Instagram to learn more.

Created & Exec Produced by Louis Elton
Directed & Cinematography by Christian Cargill
Produced by Dalmatian Films
Edited by Tom Gilfillan
Colourist – Nathaniel Skeels
Edit producer – Luke Spencer
Post production by The Shop