Introducing Goral x Division Road Collaborations
At Division Road, we keep our focus on what's in front of us while constantly looking ahead. As our customers increasingly seek the same longevity from casual footwear that they expect from the heritage work boots we carry, one gap has remained clear: properly lasted, welted leather sneakers built to be worn, repaired, and enjoyed for decades. For the past several years, we've followed Goral of Sheffield, England, with growing appreciation. Drawing on four generations of family shoemaking, Goral has reimagined the leather trainer through uncompromising craftsmanship, recraftable construction, and a distinctly modern design language. As a family-owned factory that remains agile and deeply collaborative, Goral proved an ideal partner — developing exclusive patterns, executing our carefully sourced leathers with exceptional precision, and embracing a shared commitment to thoughtful design. We are proud to introduce Goral to Division Road through a collection that applies traditional shoemaking to contemporary forms. Built using two of our favorite leather articles from Badalassi Carlo Tannery, the collection includes Goral’s signature Mellor II alongside a fully custom Mellor High that draws inspiration from 1970s sport footwear, 1980s skate shoes, and the refined designer sneakers of the 2010s. The resulting Goral X Division Road collection is defined by balanced proportions, exceptional materials, and enduring construction — a modern expression of heritage luxury, built to be worn for decades rather than seasons.
For context, Goral is a fourth-generation family shoemaker whose roots trace back to a small workshop established by Franciszek Goral in Poland in 1936. Today, the family carries that legacy forward from their Sheffield, England factory, blending generations of Central European shoemaking expertise with Britain's enduring manufacturing tradition. The company's history is one of resilience as much as craftsmanship. Through the hardships of World War II and the decades of government control that followed under the Stalinist regime, the Goral family preserved their workshop through ingenuity and determination, often manufacturing by night and quietly distributing footwear despite severe restrictions.
As Poland's economy recovered in the late 20th century before entering another downturn at the beginning of the 21st, the family relocated both their home and factory to Sheffield, England, in 2005 to preserve the business while creating opportunities for future growth. Many of their artisans relocated with them; the fourth generation established Goral as the family's brand, built by master shoemakers whose combined experience spans more than a century and is rooted in an unwavering commitment to traditional methods. Every pair from Goral is crafted through more than 200 individual steps, as uppers are carefully hand and machine-lasted and assembled using Blake-welted construction with a durable sidewall-stitched outsole, creating a lightweight, flexible foundation that can be rebuilt by Goral for years of continued wear.
Goral x DR Badalassi Nero Pueblo Mellor II
The Mellor II serves as Goral's signature silhouette, and for our first collaborations, we sourced exclusive leathers from Italy's renowned Badalassi Carlo Tannery. The Nero Pueblo Vachetta begins with a rich matte black finish that gradually self-burnishes with wear, revealing remarkable grain character and evolving toward a deep semi-gloss patina unique to every pair.
Its clean two-piece pattern, minimal stitching, and refined proportions allow the leather to remain the focal point. At the same time, the Natural Gum TPS 70 Shore sole provides vintage contrast for a timeless athletic foundation. The result is a versatile sneaker that effortlessly transitions from tailored ensembles to everyday casual wear while developing an unmistakably personal character over time.
Goral x DR Badalassi Noce Nofin Mellor High
Developed in collaboration with Division Road, the Mellor High introduces our custom-designed pattern that expands upon Goral's signature sneaker with a more expressive sportswear-to-street profile and considered detailing. The pattern incorporates an elegantly curved collar and backstay to balance an elongated tongue, and a minimalist two-piece pattern with restrained eyestay and counter stitching to create a patina canvas that feels equally informed by vintage athletic footwear and contemporary luxury design.
For this collaboration, we sourced Badalassi Carlo's exceptional Noce Nofin Vachetta, a natural crust leather infused with rich waxes that burnish, shift in tone, and develop extraordinary depth with every wear. Finished with a Black Gum TPS 70 Shore sole for skate culture reference, the configuration creates a warm, tonal composition that highlights both the evolving character of the leather and the thoughtful proportions of this exclusive design.
