Since 1880, Loake Shoemakers has produced some of the finest footwear in the world from our Wood Street factory in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Running shoes manufacturer, family business from the beginning, we are proud of our history and heritage as a traditional shoe maker. Scroll down to find out how it all started, the big moments in our journey, and some of the events we've celebrated or overcome along the way...  

“My family has been making traditional English shoes longer than anyone can remember. Back in 1880, my great-grandfather William and his brothers John and Thomas opened the first Loake factory. Five generations and over 140 years Loake's association with beautifully handcrafted footwear lives on today.

As the current custodians of Loake, we are incredibly proud of our ancestors' commitment and the legacy they worked so hard to build. For this reason, we are proud to continue producing Goodyear Welts in the same factory built in 1894. "

In addition to our UK Goodyear welt shoes, we also design and manufacture a range of shoes in various constructions outside the UK. This allows us to offer a complete shoe cabinet for every occasion. We now export to over 50 countries and have become a global favorite for discerning customers.

Each pair of Loake Goodyear Welted shoes takes 8 weeks to produce, involving approximately 130 skilled craftsmen, as many as 75 footwear parts and 200 different operations. We believe there is no better way to make shoes.

Loake was founded by brothers John, William and Thomas in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The business started in an annex of Thomas Loake's home at 62 King Street.

Locke moved to Wood Street in Kettering and it can still be found today. In the early days, the factory was known as a unique boot factory. With a floor area of ​​about 20,000 square feet and a capacity for more than 300 workers, it is considered one of the best and most advanced shoe factories in the country.

The famous Goodyear building for which we are known is a traditional and complex process with origins dating back more than 300 years. Using only the highest quality materials, we estimate that over 60 million pairs of Loake goodyear welt shoes have been produced since we started.

The Loake family business has been making traditional footwear since 1880. The construction of our famous Goodyear welt is a complex process that takes up to eight weeks to complete per pair. We still believe there is no better way to make a gentleman's shoe, using only the best materials and the highest level of technology. In addition to our Goodyear welt shoes, Loake designs and manufactures shoe collections that use a variety of constructions. This allows us to provide a complete shoe cabinet for almost any occasion.

our process

Click (cut)

This is the name of the process of cutting the leather part of the shoe upper. The name "click" comes from the sound made when the blade is removed from the leather by hand. While we source the best leather from the best suppliers - all leather has its flaws. It takes a very skilled artisan to work the leather to avoid blemishes and marks while minimising waste while always cutting to the correct grain (the direction the leather should be cut to maintain the pattern shape.

Finish

The "closure" is where the various parts of the upper are sewn together. There are many stages in this operation. For example, the thickness of the leather is "shaved" (reduced) to avoid bulkiness, and the edges of the leather are stained, burnt or folded to improve the appearance. Bullock punches and eyelets are also added at this stage of the shoemaking process.

lasting

The upper is pulled over the "last" and attached to the insole at the toes, sides and seat. Before lasting, the upper is "grinded" (conditioned) in a special room where temperature and humidity are controlled to let as much moisture into the upper as possible before the lasting process. This makes the leather more pliable and makes it easy to mold into the shape of the last.

Welt sewing

A "welt" is a strip of leather sewn onto the upper and insole, where the sole will also be sewn. Because welt shoes are sewn together rather than glued together, skilled artisans can disassemble and repair them—meaning they can last for years if you take good care of the upper.

Sole stitching

During this process, the sole is stitched to the welt (the strip of leather stitched to the upper and insole). The sole features two separate threadlock seams for maximum strength. Before that, the space between the welt and the sockliner was filled with cork, which provided extra comfort as it sculpted the wearer's foot and provided the shoe with excellent insulation and flexibility.

Edge trimming

The edges of the sole are trimmed to shape before being dyed. This is a highly skilled operation that can be performed "freehand". Not only did the shoes have to look the same, but the craftsman had to make sure not to trim too much. Afterwards, they will be waxed, ironed and polished.

Sole dyeing

The sole is then dyed and polished. These will be stamped and wheeled at a later stage to add finishing details and give the sole a neat, eye-catching finish. Again, this is all done "by hand" and requires skilled craftsmen with years of artistic experience.

polishing (dressing)

The final grinding, dressing and polishing operations are time-consuming and must be done entirely by hand. Once this is done, the shoes are lace-up and boxed and ready to be handed over to the new owner.