Handcrafted footwear brand Bridget Sandals is embarking on a bold new chapter of growth as it prepares to fully occupy its Hope Road, St Andrew, location and broaden its product offerings to include, for the first time, a men’s line.

Speaking with the
Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jonathan Buchanan spoke to several of the exciting developments on the horizon.

“We have expanded our line to include men’s sandals, which is something that we have never done before. We’re also going to include leather belts and wallets along with a new range of handbags, purses, clutches and some other unique items as we move forward. The line is definitely going to be expanded, so it will be exciting times ahead, with the men also having something to look forward to from Bridget Sandals,” he told the
Business Observer.

“A lot remains in store for all our loyal clients which have been with us for the last 30-40 years as well as all those new ones that are going to come to the new location…they will all be in for a wonderful treat,” Buchanan further said as he hinted at upcoming plans for the company founded by his mother, Bridget Brown, more than four decades ago.

The company will mark the official opening of its Hope Road complex with a soft launch later today. Full operations — including retail and manufacturing — are expected to be consolidated at the location starting September 1, 2025. Although its B&B manufacturing division has operated from Hope Road in recent years, the move aims to bring all aspects of the business under one roof.

The long-standing Abbeydale location, which served as Brown’s residence and has housed the brand’s retail outlet for decades, will be reverted to personal use.

Spanning over 37,000 square feet, the Hope Road complex has been under development for the past eight years and is set to usher in a new phase of growth for the company. Its handmade women sandals priced from US$100 is now distributed from five outlets in the Caribbean and at select locations in the United States.

Seeking to expand into new markets and reach more clients globally, the company, Buchanan said, is now actively working to bridge other areas of commerce, including expanding its digital footprint.

“We currently do not have a very large online presence, so we’re working to ramp that up. We’re also preparing to start international shipping, which is something we’ve never done before,” Buchanan explained. “We want to deepen our connection with customers in the Diaspora and across the Caribbean where we’re already well known. The goal is also to further expand into the US, Europe, and even Asia as we move down the road much later.”

According to Buchanan, the company, led by CEO Brown, has thoughtfully developed a robust strategic plan to support these initiatives. “She has some targets and will be working feverishly to achieve all of them while ensuring that product quality and excellence is maintained.”

Since acquiring the prime Hope Road property in 2013 for over US$1 million, the company, Buchanan said, has continued to make significant capital investments as it sought to modernise and scale its operations.

The latest move, therefore, signals renewed momentum for the business, which has long earned a strong reputation for its handcrafted quality and timeless styles. With increased space and growing customer demand, Buchanan also said the brand will continue to maintain its unique craftsmanship and authenticity — traits that have defined its identity over the years.

“We have a lovely product and we do have a very loyal client base. Everything is made in-house and we won’t cut any corners as we strive to make the highest quality sandals, and that is one thing we won’t change even as we move to this bigger space. It is a guarantee that everything will remain 100 per cent leather and handmade. The whole purpose of seeking to move from Abbeydale in the first place was because we have for a while outgrown that space, and as such, moving to this bigger location will certainly allow us to increase our productivity,” he said.

On September 1, 2025, Bridget Sandals’ Hope Road location will become the flagship outlet housing both retail and factory operations.

Sandals, belts and wallets made from leather are cited among the items making up the new men’s line.

Various styles of Bridget’s women handmade sandals