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Grenson Shoes
Grenson Shoes
WILLIAM GREEN & SONS LIMITED or Grenson Shoes ltd was founded by William Green. He was born in 1835 and, at the tender age of four, he and his recently widowed mother moved to Rushden in the county of Northamptonshire, in the heart of England. William learned his trade helping his mother to handcraft boots at home until 1860 and then in his own house until 1866.
William's products soon became renowned for their consistency of craftsmanship and materials; and his 'outworker contract' soon attracted the best craftsmen in the area. William realised that if he was to expand his business, keep his costs under control and remain true to the contract the best option was to build and equip his own factory; 'Greens Yard' was opened in 1874 and was amongst the first to adopt the recently invented Goodyear welt method of construction.
In 1895, the company moved to larger premises on the present Queen Street site to accommodate increasing business. So, when William died in 1901 he left a solid foundation on which the company has been able to build throughout the 20th century.
The 'Grenson' identity (a compression of Green & Son) was introduced in 1913 and became one of the first brand names to be registered in the UK. The company also started dealing direct with retailers and, as a result, the now famous Grenson In Stock service was conceived to ensure the rapid fulfilment of orders from both domestic and overseas markets.
The crash of 1924/25 affected Grenson as much as everybody else, although the company held true to its principles by honouring all contracts, even if it meant trading at a loss. As a result, it was resolved to move the quality of our footwear and the Grenson brand further up-market. This decision proved very wise as the company suffered comparatively little during the Depression, whilst over half of the shoe manufacturers in Northamptonshire went bankrupt.
In the early 1950s Grenson quickly adapted to changes in public taste, for the shoe now became the predominant form of footwear, unlike the pre-war period when boots were by far the most common choice. Whilst Goodyear welted production was, and still is, at the heart of Grenson's business, the company has continued to explore ways in which comfort and appearance can be further enhanced with the introduction of innovations such as the Grens-in Sole to provide soft, underfoot flexibility.
Manufacturing techniques have also changed, albeit that the vast majority of our shoes are still handcrafted. Similarly, changing lifestyles has meant that innovation in design and use of materials has kept our range modern whilst retaining the heritage and craftsmanship that is encapsulated in the phrase: 'Grenson - England's Master Shoemakers since 1866'.
Grenson Rose
Grenson's flagship Rose range of Goodyear Welted shoes have been made for much the same way since the process was invented in the 1870's. This range includes timeless classics and some very contemporary designs.
These shoes are made from the finest leathers in Rushden using traditional shoemaking methods.
Feathermaster
Every shoe in the Feathermaster range was designed in England and made with comfort and quality in mind. Grensons use the softest kid, nappa and calf leathers available and combine them with soles that "give" from the moment you try them on.
Styles with Italian names are manufactured in Italy.
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Grenson Shoes
