Our Joy in Helping People Walk More Comfortably Through Life

For many people, walking is something rarely questioned. It is simply part of daily life. Yet for others, movement becomes increasingly difficult over time, often shaped by foot pain, balance issues or long-standing medical conditions. At Gilbert & Lisson, helping people walk more comfortably is not simply a service. It is the central purpose behind everything we do.

For more than 60 years our workshop in Marylebone, London, has welcomed customers seeking bespoke orthopaedic footwear and custom orthotic support, from everyday comfort needs to complex lower-limb conditions. Some arrive with common concerns such as bunions, dropped arches, broad feet, protruding joints or recurring discomfort through foot ulcers, etc. Others come with more advanced medical challenges affecting posture, balance, and long-term mobility. What unites them is the need for footwear that supports the way they live, rather than forcing their feet to adapt.

We also recognise that not everyone is able to travel to London. When mobility itself is the challenge, access to care becomes just as important as the care itself. That understanding resides at the heart of our consultation process, whether it takes place in our private London consultation rooms, during a home visit, or through our international consultation services.

Listening, Medical Assessment, and Design as One Process

Every bespoke journey begins with listening. During a consultation, our priority is to understand both the context and the particular circumstances behind the feet being presented and examined. We take time to review medical history, lifestyle, previous footwear experiences and the specific challenges a customer faces day to day. We look closely at what causes discomfort, what activities matter most, and how movement affects quality of life. We have been assessing customers’ feet for many decades and have seen everything which affects feet, mobility and foot health.

From listening, we focus on medical assessment. Our specialists review foot health, posture, gait and any medical conditions affecting foot mechanics, examining how the entire body moves and where it might compensate. This understanding of lower-limb biomechanics is essential for long-term comfort, postural correction and balanced gait.

Gilbert & Lisson is experienced at operating as a collaborative team. During remote home visit consultations, video technology is always used to involve colleagues back in the Marylebone workshop, including shoe last makers and orthotic technicians. This allows for multiple experts to observe foot structure and walking patterns in real time, combining medical insight with craftsmanship from outset. The best outcomes spring from team performances.

Precision Measurement and Bespoke Design

Accurate measurement is central to creating bespoke orthopaedic footwear and orthotics. Rather than relying on standard sizing, we build a detailed picture of each foot using a combination of techniques. These may include outlining the foot on paper, taking precise tape measurements, photographing key details, filming gait, and using 3D imaging.

A foam impression of the foot is also taken and converted into a working cast, allowing precise modelling of curvature, alignment, and material density. These impressions inform the creation of fully bespoke orthotic insoles and handcrafted wooden shoe lasts, ensuring that footwear and orthotics work together as an integrated system.

Medical assessment naturally leads to footwear design. Bespoke footwear provides excellent foot mechanics support to suit the wearer’s specific needs and lifestyle. That will affect things like tread material and thickness, leather durability, detail down to as specific as how many eyelets for flexibility control are required, etc. Customers are invited to discuss preferred styles, a range as wide as shoe design itself. A Gilbert & Lisson catalogue helps customers view a selection of footwear from sandals to walking shoes to boots, court shoes and more formal designs. Existing customer footwear is reviewed, sketches will be offered, and materials suggested. Leather swatches are presented for colours and finishes that reflects individual taste.

From Consultation to Craft, and Care Beyond Borders

Once design details are agreed and a deposit is placed, the making begins. Skilled shoemakers handcraft each pair using traditional orthopaedic shoemaking techniques, commencing with crafting a shoe last, refined over decades of medical practice. A skilled pattern maker draws up the required design styling, leather uppers are cut and stitched, and footwear is shaped to deliver optimal functional support and refined aesthetics.

At the midway stage a fitting appointment is offered to assess comfort, alignment and appearance. Typically a couple of adjustments are made where necessary, followed by careful finishing and polishing. All fittings and adjustments are included in the service, fine-tuning carried out where required. This ensures optimal comfort, function and long-term durability.

For many customers, the true impact of bespoke orthopaedic footwear is felt far beyond the workshop. Walking becomes easier. Pain reduces. Balance improves. Customers often experience enhanced postural stability and renewed confidence in everyday movement. That change, quiet but profound, is what we value most.

Concerning accessibility, Gilbert & Lisson offers international consultation services in selected venues. By returning regularly, we are able to provide continuity of care without requiring customers to travel long distances. This approach allows us to support people where they are, while maintaining the same medical standards and craftsmanship for which we are known.

Helping people walk more comfortably through life is both a responsibility and a privilege. It is a commitment that guides every consultation, every measurement, and every pair of shoes we create.

Medical Orthotic Consultations Now in the Algarve

Following our successful initial visit in October 2025, we are returning to Portugal to provide our full orthotic and footwear consultation service to residents of the Algarve.

Date: 9th-12th March 2026

Venue: Top suite, Hotel Quinta Jacintina, 8135-025 Almancil, Portugal

Book the consultation here.

Your appointment or consultation will cover (on a complimentary basis):

● Full biomechanical and electronic gait analysis (this will be recorded on video and discussed with you

● A personalised footwear and orthotic consultation

● Review of any particularly medical or foot concerns such as bunions, dropped arches, hammer toes, fused bones, diabetic ulcers, or imbalance

● Options for bespoke shoes, orthotic insoles, and long-term support

Given the demand, these visits will take place bi-monthly, allowing customers in the Algarve to receive continuous care without travelling to London.

Limited private consultations available by appointment - click to book today!

For more information, please contact Gilbert & Lisson at +44 20 7486 4664 or info@gilbertandlisson.com.

Our address: 12 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 8UN, United Kingdom