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Loake Shoes
The Loake shoemaking tradition began in 1880 when brothers Thomas, John and William opened a factory in Northamptonshire in the heart of the English shoemaking industry. The aim was to provide the most handsome, comfortable and durable gentlemen's shoes possible. The three Loake brothers were among the first to see the benefits in bringing some of the most highly-skilled shoemakers in the area together under one roof, each man with his own bench and set of tools, working together to produce shoes of exceptional quality.

The present factory, in Wood Street, Kettering, was built by the brothers in 1894. Today, five generations later, Loakes continue to be family owned and to pride themselves on the outstanding quality that only traditional skills and a family heritage can achieve.

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'.

Sanders Shoes
Sanders and Sanders Ltd was established in 1873 by brothers William Sanders and Thomas Sanders of Rushden, Northamptonshire. They had a vision of offering outstanding quality footwear to discerning members of the public. They selected the finest English hides, the best local oak-bark tanned soles and began to design and make boots.

The company is currently in the fourth generation of family management, employing over 100 craftsmen. Sanders and Sanders Ltd is committed to quality and supplies a wide range of customers across the world.

In particular its uniform products are famous amongst Police, Military and Security forces worldwide. Officers in Her Majesty's Brigade of Guards will be familiar with Sanders Uniform George Boots! Of interest to many is the fact that they have an extensive range of wide fittting and even extra wide fitting shoes and boots.

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