Terrence Higgins (21 March 1938 â 27 November 2019), professionally known as Terry de Havilland, was an English shoe designer. Known as the 'Rock n Roll Cobbler of the 1970s', he is most famed for his key part in the âÂÂSwinging Londonâ fashion scene, with clients including Marianne Faithfull, Led Zeppelin, Bianca Jagger and David Bowie. His platforms are still worn today by British model Kate Moss.
Terry de Havilland was born in London into a family of cobblers and was young when his parents started their own company, Waverley Shoes. He was already assisting in the workshop at the age of five. Their company catered to West End clientele and showgirls from the cityâÂÂs busy theatres, producing winklepickers.
In the 1960s he found a pair of three-tiered wedges in his fatherâÂÂs attic. He made up new pairs in psychedelic snakeskin colours. The Jolly Boy stall sold the shoes, and as quickly as they were picked up from the factory they were sold.
After the collapse of âÂÂKamikazeâ in 1988, the Terry de Havilland name went on to take the guise of âÂÂMagic ShoesâÂÂ, featuring platform styles and latex boots that proved popular with the clubbers of the 1990s. De Havilland met his future wife Liz in 1990, a textile designer, who helped to build up the brand, which by the mid 90s was stocked by major UK retailers.
The de Havillands then opened âÂÂCobblers to the Worldâ in Camden Stables Market. By this time the company was producing shoes for international fashion publications and blockbuster film productions, but Terry de Havilland suffered a minor heart attack on Christmas Eve in 2001, and the shop was closed the following February to ensure he could focus on editorial work and rebuild the de Havilland brand.
Terry de Havilland opened a pop-up flagship store in London in 2013.
de Havilland died aged 81 on 27 November 2019.
In 2006, Terry de Havilland was nominated as Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards and in 2010 was awarded a Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to footwear design over the last fifty years.