Thanks for the heads up on this Woof, I watched it last night on catch up! Great to see the Trickers factory still using the same techniques to date.

I am going to buy a pair of black grain derby shoes with Danite sole from a 100% Northampton maker this year. C&J currently looks the best option. Other thoughts welcome.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2019-02-23 01:53:01)

There used to be a very well informed and helpful chap in the Trickers factory shop. He has retired now. He said overseas sales kept them in business.

I have three pairs of Trickers - a cordovan plain toe (Robert Tramper), an Adelaide(Belgrave) with a hard wearing channeled sole and a split toe (Abingdon) in brown museum calf - an inexpensive alternative to the Edward Green Dover without hoopla about stitching the apron with a needle made from a boar bristle.

All bought at great prices from the factory shop. It’s not far from Derbyshire and not a bad day out. No well shod citizens in evidence, but a great shoe museum plus Church’s by the rail station, Crockett and Jones factory shop at weekends and now Edward Green factory shop.

I visited Northampton a few times when I lived in Leicester briefly, four or so years ago. The C&J factory shop was always interesting - never found anything I’d buy but I loved having to walk through the factory to get to it. I did get my suede chukkas from the Church’s factory shop however. The absolute highlight was a guided tour of the Cheaney factory - I happened to turn up at the right moment and managed to tack myself onto one being given to some wealthy American visitors.

I preferred Cheaney, around fifteen or so years ago, to C&J.  But I wound up selling them on Ebay to some London knob who insisted on e-mailing me every five minutes to see if I'd stuck them in the post.  I sold a pair of C&J to a Swede.  Pre-PayPal, using IBT, it was like pulling teeth without anaesthetic. 
Shooey may care to chip in on this one.

My first pair of 'American brogues' was bought from Blackman's in Brick Lane back in 1969. They were ,in fact, made in Northampton, England. Perhaps the best pair of shoes I have ever owned.
I've come fall circle and the last pair of 'American brogues' that I have bought were Alfred Sargent, made in Northampton.
I'm a fan of Northampton shoes.

I've recently been wearing brogues a lot. The weather's suited heavier shoes with leather soles.

MiE Loake Royals are great. I'd allowed them to languish unloved and unworn for a good few years but they've bounced back and softened up just enough perfectly.

The Church's brogues I picked up lately are just right in every way possible. In a different league than any of my other shoes. Maybe to any clothing I own. I've dated them to just after Prada took over, but before their influence was allowed to bite.

If you want to be on trend get yourself some Crocs. Whilst making our way home on the Tube the other night, after yet another evening of frivolity, we sat amongst a group of W Indian boys and girls who were all Croc’ed up. They were wearing a variety of colours, but the common theme was personalising them with pin badges so you get an effect like a fridge door covered in magnets.

Despite Crocs being one of the most loathsome shoes ever devised, I found it heartening to see young people adopting a hot trend and going for something different, a healthy sign. It’s one trend I won’t be picking up on though.

https://urbjournal.com/you-need-to-get-youself-some-crocs/

Silver shoes on Ebay.  So if you should want to look like a Cyberman...

I have to confess that in the last week I did wear a pair of crocs on a couple of occasions. I was working on my Mother in Law's farm and I borrowed her crocs (size 4 and I'm a 10) to stagger to the outside dunny.
I sometimes wear Salomon slides as well on my way to swim in the lake.
I think I get away with it because we are in the middle of nowhere and no one saw me. Ha!
I've hated Crocs since they came out but they do have their uses. Not in an urban environment, however.