A Life in Shoes: Cliff “Spyder” Edwards
A Life in Shoes: Cliff “Spyder” Edwards After nearly 50 years at Loake, this month we say farewell to Cliff…
The Case for Leather Trainers at Work
There was a time when the distinction between work shoes and weekend shoes was clearly drawn. Polished Oxfords belonged in…
Oxford – A discerning gentleman’s guide to a city break
If you’re planning a weekend break, Oxford is a must for your list. Steeped in history, oozing academia, and quietly…
How to Care for Hand-Painted Leather Shoes
Hand-painted shoes are unique in the way they are finished. Beginning with a blank canvas of natural leather base, our…
Five of the Best: Men’s Work Shoes
It’s time to sharpen your pencils and polish your shoes; it’s not just the kids going back to school, a…
Five of the Best: Men’s Loafer Styles
Today, loafers and slip-on shoes are recognised as an easy-going, transitional style that offer a great alternative to lace-up shoes.…
Fire at Wood Street
If the current situation that we find ourselves in tells us anything, it’s that community and the goodwill of people…
Loake, Leander & Legacies with Cameron Buchan
Cameron Buchan is a full-time athlete with British Rowing hoping to secure a seat for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.…
How to Polish Fine Leather Shoes
We are often asked what the best way is to care for and polish leather shoes. There are, of course,…
How to Care for Leather Shoes: A Complete Shoe Care Guide
A well-made shoe, properly cared for, will age with character rather than wear. With the correct care and attention, a…
Sole Options
Goodyear Welted footwear is traditionally constructed with a leather sole. In recent years however, other materials have begun to grow…
How to care for suede
Most people have a reasonable understanding of how important it is to look after leather shoes and it’s relatively easy…
A discussion about “Made in England”
In response to growing consumer interest in the provenance of the products they buy, Andrew Loake gives a frank and honest account of Loake’s position on the “country of origin” question.
Shoe Lasts & Styles: Part 2
In Part 2 of our focus on last shapes and fit, we take a look at the most popular contemporary…
Shoe Lasts & Styles: Part 1
A shoe last is the foot-shaped former over which the finished upper of the shoe is shaped during the manufacturing…
Shoemaking Operations: Part 2
This is custom heading element 5. Sole Stitching At this point of the process, the sole is stitched to the…
Shoemaking Operations: Part 1
A pair of Loake Goodyear Welted shoes takes up to eight weeks to make. Some 130 skilled craftsmen, up to…
Goodyear Welting Explained
Perhaps surprisingly, the Goodyear Welt has nothing to do with car tyres – it’s a particular type of shoe construction,…