Made in England - Loake Shoemakers Blog

In response to growing consumer interest in the provenance of the products people buy, Andrew Loake gives a clear account of our position on the country of origin.

There has been a noticeable increase in the number of customers wanting to understand where products are made. As access to information has improved, so too has the desire to support local manufacturing and traditional industries. This is something we very much welcome.

However, determining the origin of a product is not always straightforward. Within the footwear industry, it can often be unclear.

Approximately 99% of all footwear sold in the UK is now produced overseas. It is also worth noting that, within the EU, there is currently no legal requirement to label goods with their country of origin. As a result, many brands do not indicate where their products are made, including many “British” brands.

At Loake, we take a different approach. We believe footwear should be clearly marked with its country of manufacture – so we ensure that it is. Every Loake shoe is clearly marked with its country of origin. This applies both online (on each individual product page) and within the product itself.

We have also taken steps to ensure that this information is more visible (stamping this information on the linings rather than under the tongue) allowing customers to make informed decisions based on their own preferences.

For those wishing to support British manufacturing specifically, our English-made collections are clearly identified.

Our Manufacturing

We are extremely proud of our heritage, and of the fact that we continue to manufacture shoes in our original factory in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

Alongside this, we also operate our own factory in India, established to provide additional production capacity.

The majority of our Goodyear welted shoes – including all of those in our Export Grade and 1880 Classic collections – are made in Kettering. Other collections are produced across both of our UK and Indian factories, depending on the style and construction, with all development work, design and specification remaining firmly based in the UK.

We chose to establish our own factory in India rather than outsource production, ensuring that the same standards, materials, and processes are maintained. Every detail is specified, from the materials used to the number of stitches per inch, so that consistency is upheld across both locations.

Where the same styles are produced in both locations, they are made to the same design and specification. This approach allows us to offer a range of footwear at different price points, while maintaining consistent standards of design and construction.

Beyond Goodyear Welted Shoes

While our core focus remains traditional Goodyear welted footwear, other constructions, such as moccasins, boat shoes, and trainers, are produced in our Indian factory, where we have the specialist capability required for these styles.

All products are clearly labelled with their country of origin, ensuring complete transparency.

Made in England

For those seeking footwear made in England, our premium collection, produced in Kettering, represent our highest standard of our manufacturing. The Loake 1880 collection in particular offers Goodyear welted shoes made in England, reflecting our heritage and long-standing approach to traditional shoemaking.

Across the wider range, we produce footwear in both our UK and Indian factories, allowing us to offer similar styles across a broader range of price points while maintaining consistent standards of design and construction.

These styles can be identified within each product description, or by browsing our Made in England category online. Where a shoe is made in England, it will always be clearly stated.

Andrew E. Loake