Once upon Time (1969 to Be Precise) There Was a Cool Kid Who Dreamt of Running Away to London to Be a Shoemaker. so He Did. that 16-Year-Old with Big Ideas Was Oliver Sweeney. After Two Decades Learning His Craft from Some of The Best Bespoke Shoemakers in The Business, He Decided to Go It Alone, Founded His Eponymous Business, and Went on To Be One of The Great Maverick Shoe Designers of His Generation.