Let’s look at the English shoemaking industry and see who are the key players and what their shoes sell for:
Alfred Sargent has recently gone really rather upmarket having for many years made fairly sensibly priced shoes of good quality in the traditional goodyear welted method. Super shoes and entirely made in England but you can expect to pay in excess of £300 for a pair of off the peg Alfred Sargent shoes now. alfredsargent.co.uk/
Barkers shoes make a super product with some uppers stitched together overseas with the final shoe construction taking place in their Northamptonshire factory. Shoes are priced between £200 and £500. barker-shoes.co.uk
Cheaney sold the Churches brand to Prade some years ago but continue to make high quality shoes under the Cheaney brand name. Their shoes retail for between £250 and £500. cheaney.co.uk
Italian owned Churchs shoes are made in England but are pricey these days at £350 to £500. church-footwear.com
Crockett & Jones have always made a stylish shoe. Their shoes are entirely made in England but be prepared to pay over £385 per pair. crockettandjones.com/
Edward Green are at the top of the price range with shoes ranging from £750 to £1,000 and therefore not for everyone. edwardgreen.com/
Grenson make some fairly radical styles these days as well as more traditional ones. Prices range between £200 and £500. grenson.com/uk/
The original John Lobb have sold off their off the peg brand name and is now owned by the Hermes group who are purported to also own the Australian brand RM Williams. Expect to pay over £800 per pair. johnlobb.com/uk/
Loake make the best value for money shoes in Northampton and these days produce some stunning designs, but then I am a little biased. Shoes retail for between £150 and £250. loake.co.uk/
Sanders remain a family owned business and continue to make their shoes entirely in their Northamptonshire factory. Shoes retail for around £200.
Tricker’s, another family owned business, make one of the best heavy country collection from their Northampton factory. Their should retail for £350+ trickers.com/
English shoemaking is flourishing.
