Groundcover: Handcrafted in the KZN Midlands Since 1990

Some things are worth doing slowly. Worth doing by hand. Worth doing right.

Groundcover has been making leather footwear and accessories in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands for over three decades. Not because it's the easiest way, or the fastest, or the most profitable — but because it's the right way. And in a world of fast fashion and disposable goods, that kind of quiet conviction is increasingly rare.

Where It Began

Justin and Amanda McCarthy found each other young, and with them came a shared passion: leatherwork, craftsmanship, and a desire to build something meaningful. They spent years travelling the world selling leather goods, eventually returning to Africa in the mid-1980s, settling in Lesotho and working with development projects — teaching communities the leather tanning process, sharing the skills of an ancient craft.

In 1990, they put down roots in Curry's Post in the KZN Midlands and opened what is still, today, the Groundcover factory and store. They started with four people. They were founding members of what would become the celebrated Midlands Meander. And they built something that lasted.

On the 2nd of July 2010, Justin was tragically killed on his mountain bike while training for a trip to the Himalayas. With the support of the Groundcover community, Amanda steered the company forward. In 2022, Justin and Amanda's son Daniel and his wife Angela took over the reins — keeping the ethos alive while bringing renewed energy and a focus on the next generation of their community.

The workforce has grown from 4 to 30. The craft has not changed.

How a Groundcover Shoe Is Made

This is not a brand that outsources its soul. Every design is original. Every pattern is manually graded in waxed board using a pentagraph — an old machine, deliberately chosen over mass-production technology. Every upper is hand-cut by skilled clickers who know exactly where on the skin to place the knife to minimise waste.

From the closing room — where uppers are marked, skived, glued, and stitched — to the delicate operation of pulling leather over the last without stretching it to tearing point, to heat-setting at 130°c to give the shoe its shape, to the sole room where rubber is bonded under heat and pressure, trimmed, and sanded to a fine finish — every step is done with care. The completed shoe then goes through edge staining, polishing, and a thorough quality control inspection before it's boxed.

It takes time. That's the point.

The Shoes People Keep Coming Back For

With over 70 products in the range — sandals, boots, slippers, moccasins, bags, and accessories — Groundcover makes something for every season and every occasion. But a few styles have earned a special place.

The Ladies Daisy Leather Sandal is, by a significant margin, the most loved Groundcover product we stock. Feminine, comfortable, and built from full-grain veg-tanned leather with an EVA sole, the Daisy is the sandal that customers return for season after season. It's the kind of shoe that earns its place in a wardrobe and stays there.

The Ladies Toe-Strap Leather Sandal — available in brown and tan — is the second and third most popular style. A clean, casual toe-post design in full-grain leather that works from the beach to the market to a long lunch. The tan colourway in particular has a devoted following.

The Sheepskin Moccasins bring Groundcover's craft indoors. Genuine sheepskin lining, suede outer, soft flexible sole — the kind of warmth that makes you reluctant to leave the house. Available for adults and kids.

The Mens Grandpa Leather Sandal rounds out the bestsellers — a timeless adjustable buckle strap design in full-grain leather that fits precisely and wears beautifully. The sandal equivalent of a well-broken-in leather belt.

Beyond the Bestsellers

The Groundcover range runs deep. For winter, the wool-lined boot collection — the Alpine, Tundra, Arctic, and Blizzard — offers serious warmth in full-grain leather, each named with the cold in mind. The Sabie Bush Boot (named after the Mpumalanga river) and the Berg Utility Boot (from the Afrikaans for mountain) are built for those who actually use their boots. The Ithala Sandal takes its name from one of KZN's most rugged game reserves.

There are leather bags — sling bags, bucket bags, shopping totes, body bags — all in full-grain veg-tanned leather that develops a patina over time. Leather bow ties and suspenders for those who want something genuinely different. And the Oslo Wool Slippers and Wool Stokkies for those who believe that staying in deserves as much consideration as going out.

Every piece improves with age. That's not a marketing line — it's the nature of veg-tanned leather, and it's why Groundcover customers tend to become Groundcover customers for life.

A Business Built on People

Groundcover is candid about what has made them successful: "The single most important reason for our success has been the people who make up the Groundcover family. We have been working with one another for a very long time."

That shared experience — the depth of skill, the creative freedom that comes from a small, trusted team — is what allows Groundcover to remain innovative while staying true to traditional construction. It's what has allowed them to thrive through tough economic conditions and the relentless pressure of globalisation.

Thirty-plus years in. Still in Curry's Post. Still making shoes by hand. Still getting better at it.

Explore the full Groundcover collection at Made by Artisans →