A workshop, a set of knives, and a standard
Di Leather opened in 1939 as a small leather workshop. The country needed hard-wearing boots and shoes, and the founder had one rule: use the best part of the hide, last it by hand, and finish it so it can be resoled — not thrown away. That first bench turned into a factory, and the factory turned into showrooms across the Western Province.
“Built for safety. Built for heroes.”
For decades Di has been a principal supplier of footwear to the armed forces, the police and government service — parade derbies, commando patterns, riding boots, and the landmark Anti-Mine Boot, developed by Di technical staff with the Engineering Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. Its blast-attenuating sole is credited with saving thousands of lives.
See the military rangeFour things we won’t cut
Full-grain hides
We buy the top layer of the hide — the strong, breathable grain — not a split or a coated finish.
Hand lasting
Every upper is pulled over a wooden last by hand so the shape holds for years, not weeks.
Repairable soles
Stitched-and-cemented construction means a worn sole is a resole, not a bin.
A real finish
Toes are burnished and creamed by hand until they hold a mirror shine.
Come and try a pair on
Four showrooms across the Western Province, and islandwide delivery for everyone else.
Find a showroom Shop online