Not surprised with Edward Green; and Trickers haven't made really great shoes for years, all of their good double soled models have been discontinued, and all the remaining ones are ugly. Northampton shoe firms have fallen way behind, and they have so much competition now from abroad that make better shoes. Lobb and C&J will survive because they have big names, the rest are in trouble. Barkers is another one on the rocks. It is sad that heritage brands are at risk, it should never have come to this.

fun videos to watch that talk about this subject
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1. Shoesnob podcast on youtube #6 (I think)
2. The bloke who sits in his backyard at a table on youtube (recent video)

Last edited by The_Shooman (2023-11-22 19:45:45)

Church's now charge £1000 for shoes with not very good leather. Shannon and Grafton models of old are gone. I bought plain black Oxfords in calf leather from the factory shop years ago when they were a good buy..

John Lobb are even more expensive. Chapels that I got in their factory shop are now £1500.

Crockett and Jones are still sound but no handgrade brogues to replace Clifford's. Pembrokes are dear for what they offer and are not handgrade.

Once these factories go they will not come back. The skills will disappear and start up costs would be prohibitive

Very sad news about Trickers. Whilst not a customer I hate to see any British brand suffer.

I had a version of Pembroke made for me 14 years ago and they are still going strong. I call them my campaign shoes as they're double soled and have a storm welt, so they get regularly worn throughout the foul weather months.

I have both hand grade, including Clifford, and regular C&J shoes and haven't spotted a quality difference. Thankfully, Jonathan Jones is very much an arbiter of good taste and doesn't go off piste like Church have done.

They have just introduced a new Horween Cordo full strap that I'm yet to see in the flesh but sounds promising.

My understanding, from a reliable C&J source, is that they're not making shoes for so many other brands now. Their factory capacity is eaten up by their own shops.

Unseen ‘ The smart trainer is now accepted business wear so is starting to really hurt formal shoe wearing. I've been in meetings recently with investment banks and private equity firms where everyone had them on in the client side.’

I’m not surprised, you hardly see anyone wearing leather shoes now and when you do they are usually fairly ghastly. Maybe it’s a British and American thing as when I was in Paris recently, although sneakers were prevalent, there were still quite a few men wearing leather shoes. In fact people were generally better dressed than the British who seem to be engaged in a race to the stylistic bottom.

If wearing leather shoes would cast you as a fuddy duddy in business circles Unseen I hope you strike a blow for Ivy by wearing canvas sneakers!

Fact is that trainers are more comfortable than leather shoes, although I’m sure that Shooey will have a different view on this. But everything is about comfort these days, hence the local traveller community women where I live going to the supermarket in their pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers.

But then there are mixed views of the long term effects of constant trainer wearing amongst the foot community. Some experts say that continually wearing soft, cushioned shoes weakens your feet, makes them more prone to injury and brings on conditions like Plantar Fascitus, leads to spreading and fallen arches.

Personally if I’ve got walk to any distance on pavement then I reach for the Paraboots, if it’s just an evening out then loafers are fine. Trainers are for running, the gym and loafing about at home.

Last edited by FlatSixC (2023-11-24 01:08:08)

I miss Woolworths stick on soles. They were inexpensive and available in various shoe sizes - no trimming required. A cheap forerunner to Topy. Still going strong on my Bexley shoes.

Half soles in leather from the cobbler are a false economy though.

Last edited by Kingston1an (2023-11-24 05:51:37)