COVER STORY

Reimagining British Style in 

Cactus Leather


Reimagining British Style in Cactus Leather


with Ross Oliver

Ross Oliver is a sustainable brand that produces men loafers made of cactus leather

MAY ‘22

#COVERSTORY

6 minutes

#COVERSTORY

6 minutes

Ross Oliver is a sustainable high-end English brand focused on comfortable and sophisticated loafers made from cactus leather. We spoke to the founder, Ross Oliver, to fill us in on the inspiration for his designs and the essence of the brand.

#COVERSTORY

6 minutes

Ross Oliver is a sustainable brand that produces men loafers made of cactus leather

Ross Oliver

Ross Oliver Saunders is a footwear designer who is passionate about bringing a sustainable edge to his British heritage. For his brand, Ross Oliver, he merges the traditional British shoe-making craft with modern sustainable material developments, such as cactus leather. The results of his creations are timeless, quality loafers that are not only sustainable but beautiful as well.

Although it is a young company, the brand already has a few outstanding achievements under its belt. Ross Oliver received two nominations for its innovative loafers within a year of its launch in December 2022. Indeed, its cactus leather pair of loafers for men is the first of its kind in the UK, earning it the nominations for “Footwear Designer of the Year Finalist” and “Best New Footwear Brand Finalist”.

Ross Oliver is a sustainable brand that produces men loafers made of cactus leather

Ross Oliver Loafers


The story of
Ross Oliver Loafers

Ross Oliver tells us that his motivation for starting his own brand emerged from his desire to create something unique. He not only wanted to focus on sustainability, but to all together produce a new type of product, that is, cactus leather loafers. Trying to avoid falling into a reproduction of an existing design or the re-stylisation of another brand’s style, Ross Oliver designed its first pair of loafers drawing inspiration from his own personal life. The pair of cactus leather loafers features a bridge buckle across the vamp that was inspired by the Clifton suspension bridge where he lived. Ross Oliver’s unique design ethos began with this authentic concept.

But Ross Oliver’s motivations were not only due to his creativity. In a way, it seems to have started as a bet. While at university, Ross Oliver was “obsessed with fashion and shoes”. He would regularly show up to lectures in a different pair of designer shoes, which although renowned, showed little concern for comfort. In fact, Ross Oliver found some of his designer shoes “unbearable to wear”, so a friend of his told him, “if you think you can do any better, make your own pair”. So they set up a bet that he would make a pair in seven months—just in time for their graduation.

Ross Oliver, Cactus Leather, Loafers

Author of the picture

Author of the picture


Traditional craft and high-end quality

Ross wore his creation to the graduation ceremony and fell in love with the process of shoemaking. He decided to start his own business, so he went away for two years to work on his brand’s discovery process. The result of those years’ hard work is his eponymous brand which, according to him “combines what I like most, traditional craft and high-end quality, and my passion for sustainability, veganism, and climate change. Producing Britain's first fully sustainable and vegan, high-end handmade footwear”.


Ross Oliver, Cactus Leather, Loafers
Ross Oliver is a sustainable brand that produces men loafers made of cactus leather

Ross Oliver Loafers

Ross Oliver is a sustainable brand that produces men loafers made of cactus leather

Author of the picture

Ross Oliver, Cactus Leather, Loafers

Ross Oliver Loafers

Ross Oliver is a sustainable brand that produces men loafers made of cactus leather

Picture by Desserto Pelle


As to his sustainability concern, Ross Oliver shared his concern that sustainability is going “too slow” in fashion. In his opinion, “the innovation is out there, but a lot of brands are more concerned with reputation to divert to alternatives quick enough”. Speaking to Ross Oliver, it’s clear that he takes sustainability seriously at heart, as we question him about his own preferences and concerns. Avoiding animal products—a preference that extends to his diet—and cutting waste appear to be key pursuits for him that are reflected in the values and essence of his brand.


In the face of consumerism and fast fashion, Ross Oliver is hopeful that fashion will switch to natural materials and alternatives that are more sustainable. He elaborated on his preference for local brands like Drakes, which originated from Somerset, close to his hometown in Bristol. Ross Oliver likes that they set trends rather than follow the mainstream. Other brands he admired include JohnLobb and Ralph Lauren for their timelessness and refinement. They have helped inspire his creative journey.


As to the terms he would use to describe his own brand, “traditional craft, modernised” he replies with confidence. Handmade in Britain using traditional techniques, but with cactus leather instead of animal leather. We think Ross Oliver may be ready to redefine modern luxury – the kind that cares about the preservation of nature and thoughtful, timeless designs.



Shop from www.staiy.com

Shop from www.staiy.com


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