Crockett & Jones Exemplary British quality

Northampton remains the `capital` in shoe manufacturing, with more than 150 years of tradition. An ideal location for tanning due to the plentiful supply of water and leather from local markets, in the late 19th century, it boasted over 2,000 manufacturers who maintained their workshops and crafts there. Although there are far fewer manufacturers concentrated in the area, the demand for English-made footwear remains high and indeed with increased sales.Northampton is also where Crockett & Jones began its historic journey. It was founded in 1879 by two brothers-in-law, James Crockett and Charles Jones, with capitals of just £100 each. Their first small factory housed twenty employees, and the two young entrepreneurs obtained a grant from the Thomas White Trust, which encouraged by its partnership, young men of `good character` with an entrepreneurial spirit and professional vision. Crockett & Jones, now run by the fifth generation of Joneses, remains a family business.

Great success and high sales led the founders to move in 1890 to larger premises, where the factory still operates today, while the second generation of two business people had already joined the company. However, due to the continued increase in sales, an extension to the five-storey building was added a few years later, creating considerable windows to allow the artisans to take advantage of natural light. Crockett & Jones was the first footwear manufacturer in the UK to install the new, at the time, Goodyear Welting Stitching Machine, which provided superior manufacturing of their footwear and sped up the manufacturing process, helping them to meet growing demand.The company`s growth did not stop during the First and Second World Wars either, as the factory managed to produce over 3 million shoes and boots for officers, and this was aided by the significant expansion of the factory that preceded it. By the time the 1970s arrived, although exports and demand at home were relatively high, the market was flooded with mass-produced shoes, much cheaper and poorly made in most cases. At this time, Crockett & Jones refocused on its brand, creating only the highest quality Goodyear-Welted footwear, placing it qualitatively above mass-produced competitors as well as English houses that had chosen to outsource some of their production to overseas factories.

To this day, Crockett & Jones remains firmly committed to producing 100% of its footwear in its factory in Northampton, maintaining total control over product development and quality. Their export achievement was rewarded two decades ago by the Queen, and in 2006, the first members of the fifth generation of Joneses joined the company. In 2012, the house became an official sponsor of the James Bond films, further cementing them into the heart of British culture. In 2013, they gained a royal warrant as official suppliers to the royal family.Five years ago, Crockett & Jones celebrated its 140th birthday since its founding, renewing the company`s commitment to quality and durability combined with handcrafted processes. It continues to wholly produce at least three collections a year and ironically winks at most "British Made" footwear on the market while manufactured in Italy, Portugal, and, in some cases, a Goodyear-welting factory in India.