THE TIMELESS CRAFTSMANSHIP OF SHOES MADE IN ENGLAND

ON THE ENGLISH SHOEMAKING TRADITION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO MAKE SHOES IN ENGLAND TODAY

THE ENGLISH SHOEMAKING TRADITION IS NOT A HERITAGE CLAIM. IT IS A LIVING STANDARD MAINTAINED BY PEOPLE WHO WORK WITHIN IT EVERY DAY.

FROM THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF CORDWAINERS, FOUNDED IN LONDON IN 1272, THROUGH THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE INDUSTRY THAT SUPPLIED ARMIES AND PRODUCED THE BENCHMARKS OF GLOBAL LUXURY FOOTWEAR, ENGLISH SHOEMAKING HAS ACCUMULATED KNOWLEDGE ACROSS CENTURIES. THAT KNOWLEDGE LIVES IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LEARNED IT FROM PEOPLE WHO LEARNED IT BEFORE THEM. IT IS NOT IN MANUALS. IT IS IN JUDGEMENT.

WHAT THE TRADITION PRODUCES

ENGLISH FOOTWEAR AT ITS BEST IS ARCHITECTURALLY CORRECT. RESTRAINED. EVERY ELEMENT PRESENT BECAUSE IT MUST BE. NOTHING INCLUDED BECAUSE IT COULD BE. THE PROPORTIONS REFINED OVER GENERATIONS OF PRODUCTION AND CRITICISM UNTIL THEY ARRIVED AT SOMETHING VISUALLY STABLE AND FUNCTIONALLY SOUND.

THE SAME LOGIC APPLIES TO A HANDMADE ENGLISH SNEAKER AS TO A BROGUE OR AN OXFORD. THE SILHOUETTE IS DIFFERENT. THE UNDERLYING DISCIPLINE IS IDENTICAL. LEATHER SELECTED FOR HOW IT WILL WEAR. CONSTRUCTION CHOSEN FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN YEAR FIVE, NOT HOW THE SHOE PHOTOGRAPHS ON LAUNCH DAY.

AT 1812, MADE IN ENGLAND IS A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE SHOES ARE BUILT. EVERY DECISION IN THE MAKING REFLECTS THE TRADITION THAT ENGLISH SHOEMAKING ESTABLISHED AND STILL MAINTAINS.