Northampton's shoe industry, which dates back 900 years, continues to thrive, with luxury manufacturers like Edward Green and Crown Northampton still producing footwear in the town. The industry's enduring success is built on skilled craftsmanship and a reputation for quality that attracts customers worldwide.
A Historic Hub of Shoemaking
During medieval times, Northampton hosted parliaments and great councils due to its association with the Crown. By the 19th century, the East Midlands town had become the shoemaking capital of the world, a status it maintains today.
Julie Smart, a production manager at luxury shoemaker Edward Green, told the Express that footwear remains a top purchase for overseas visitors. "If you say you've been to Northamptonshire [and you're asked] 'What have you bought?', the first thing people are going to say is shoes," she said.
Quality Through Traditional Methods
Edward Green, established in 1890, employs around 50 skilled workers who follow meticulous processes. The company imports hides from calves reared in Italy and France because the UK "can't provide enough leather for industry," Smart explained. She noted that British cattle are fed quickly and left out in fields longer, leading to growth marks and tick bites, whereas cattle abroad are fed slowly and often kept inside.
Each pair of Edward Green shoes starts at £1,000, with custom-made pairs costing £3,200. The manufacturing process includes leather selection, clicking (cutting leather pieces), pattern placement, and skiving (removing excess material). An internal identification disc records the shoe's size and serial number, allowing for repairs even decades later.
Adapting to Changing Tastes
While Edward Green focuses on traditional shoes, other manufacturers like Crown Northampton cater to younger generations with hand-welted luxury sneakers. Founder Chris Woodford, who learned shoe design at 16, sources bark-tanned leather from Devon and shell cordovan from Japan, with pairs costing between £200 and £1,000.
Woodford, whose great-grandfather Ernest set up E. Woodford & Sons in 1908, manages around 25 employees and plans to launch an "academy" to train future shoemakers. He also intends to start a festival called Shoe Town next May to celebrate Northampton's cobblers, hoping it will be interactive so visitors can watch artisans at work.
