Northampton is a town and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is the county town of Northamptonshire and the administrative centre of the unitary authority of West Northamptonshire. The town is situated on the River Nene, 60 miles (97 km) north-west of London and 50 miles (80 km) south-east of Birmingham. Northampton is one of the largest towns in England; the population of its overall urban area was recorded as 249,093 in the 2021 census.
Dr. Martens also known as Doc Martens, Docs, or DMs, is a footwear and clothing brand, headquartered in Wollaston, Northamptonshire. Although famous for its footwear, the company also makes a range of accessories including clothing and bags. The footwear is distinguished by its air-cushioned sole, upper shape, welted construction, and yellow stitching. The Dr. Martens' design studio is in Camden Town, London, England. The company manufactures in the UK, China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
A cordwainer is a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather. The cordwainer's trade can be contrasted with the cobbler's trade, according to a tradition in Britain that restricted cobblers to repairing shoes. This usage distinction is not universally observed, as the word cobbler is widely used for tradespersons who make or repair shoes.
H. J. Mulliner & Co. was a well-known British coachbuilder operating from Bedford Park, Chiswick, West London. The company which owned it was formed by H J Mulliner in 1897 but the business was a continuing branch of a family business founded in Northampton in the 1760s to hire out carriages. In December 1909 the controlling interest in this company passed to John Croall & Sons of Edinburgh. Croall sold that interest to Rolls-Royce in 1959.
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear.
Stuart A. Weitzman is an American shoe designer, philatelist, and founder of the shoe company Stuart Weitzman. Weitzman has designed footwear for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
Church & Co Limited, branded Church's, is a luxury footwear manufacturer that was founded in 1873 by Thomas Church in Northampton, England. In 1999 the company was bought by Italian luxury fashion house Prada.
John Lobb Bootmaker is a business that manufactures and retails a luxury brand of shoes and boots, mainly for men but also for women. Leather goods such as wallets and belts are also available. Founded in 1849 by John Lobb (1829–95), the business has been in operation since 1866 in London and circa 1900 in Paris. John Lobb's son William took over the business, and after he died in 1916, the firm was led by Betsy Lobb.
Pickering Phipps is the name of three related men – father, grandson and great grandson – who were residents of Northampton, England in the 19th and 20th centuries. The first began the Phipps Brewery in Towcester in 1801. The company survives today as Phipps NBC.
Feiyue is a Chinese shoe brand founded in Shanghai owned by Dafu Rubber Co., Ltd. The brand was acquired by Feiyue International, a subsidiary of BBC International LLC in 2014.
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is a public museum in Northampton, England. The museum is owned and run by West Northamptonshire Council and houses one of the largest collection of shoes in the world, with over 15,000 pairs, which was designated by Arts Council England as being of local, national and international importance.
Wildsmith Shoes is a high-end English handmade footwear manufacturer, founded in London in 1847 by husband and wife team, Matthew and Rebecca Wildsmith. They based their business on making and repairing boots for the Household Cavalry.
Sir Edward Rayne was head of H. & M. Rayne, one of the foremost British manufacturers of high-end and couture shoes. With a Royal Warrant to both the Queen and Queen Mother, Rayne shoes were worn by high society and film stars.
WREN'S is the brand name of a British shoe polish, first launched, produced and sold in England in 1889. It is the only remaining recognized shoe polish brands to exist through three centuries. The founder of the brand was William Edward Wren.
Arthur William Barratt was a British shoe manufacturer and socialist activist, who founded Barratts Shoes.
John Judge was a British trade unionist, who was prominent in the Leeds labour movement, and briefly served as president of his union.
R.E. Tricker Ltd, which trades as Tricker's, is a British footwear company established in 1829 by Joseph Tricker in Northampton.
Peal & Co manufactured English shoes from 1565 until 1965. The once successful British firm catered to a variety of notable individuals and moved locations several times over the years before it was purchased by Foster & Sons. Brooks Brothers uses the marque today for boots and shoes manufactured in England, typically Northampton, and sold in their stores.
Sedgebrook Hall in Chapel Brampton is a building of historical significance. It was built in 1861 by Henry Philip Markham, a prominent citizen of Northampton and was the home of several notable people over the next century. Today it is a hotel which provides accommodation and restaurant facilities and caters for special events particularly weddings.
Manfield and Sons or Manfield is an English shoemaker founded in 1844. Company was founded in Northampton, England by Philip Manfield.
