I'm English and maybe a little biased but I really do think our quantity and quality of shoe brands is unrivalled. Northampton is THE global shoe mecca. Well worth a visit.
This is such a great video and so informative. What a great line up of English shoe brands, the next step would be all the bespokes, but you may need to sell the house for that! Would be great to see a similar video on Spanish and Italian shoes. Keep it up! Adam from London.
I won 5 pairs of Cheaney and many other brands you mentioned in the video. Cheaney needs it place and deserves mentioning. Please include it your coverage when you do and update to the video/collection.
As a Northampton resident and a shoe enthusiast we’re proud of the history associated with the town. Grenson, crocket and Jones, trickers, cheaney, loake, barker and churches are all within 30 miles of each other. Some of the shoe factory tours are excellent and occasionally you can pick up some great bargains from their in-factory stores. I personally like the trickers boots and shoes (exception being the price). I have a few one off pieces as one of my friends designs boots for grenson. We are also famous for doctor martens too. Apart from shoe industry the town is a shithole. Shoes and princess Diana is the only good thing to come from little Northampton.
I am a member of the Northampton Enthusiasts group. I really enjoyed this video. I am fortunate to have 2 pair of C&J, 2 of Barker, 2 of Church's, 2 of Tricker's, 1 of Joseph M. Cheaney, 5 of Grenson, and 1 of Loake. Since I am a country dweller, I am particularly fond of the country brogues and brogue boots. Mt Tricker's Malton boots are the most delightful pair of boots I have ever worn, and the Grenson boots are the everyday work wear. I have had folks comment that my boots were mighty fine boots to be sauntering through the woods in. I tell them that that's exactly what the boots were made for. I like Adelaides and longwings, too. Don't get me started on AE and Alden, or I'll have to go on for several more paragraphs. Best regards. I am enjoying your videos, and your enthusiasm.
Excellent video. Thanks for making this informative, easy to understand, to the point. I am deep in the Trickers hole because I like how solid and comfortable they feel, and I’m more of a if it broke don’t fix it guy. But I’ve always wondered about other British shoe makers. I’m gonna give the other brands you mentioned a try next time I look for a pair. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Love this channel. High end men's shoes...are exquisite. This guy knows what he is talking about...and helps a layman like me understand the high end shoe business better. (No offense...but doesn't this guy look like he could be Gene Hackman's son?). Lol. No offense meant. Great channel.
NIce little programme - thanks, looks like you've got big feet, congratulations and I'm sure everyone will feel very happy. Loakes these days for this Englishman btw. OK, I never got to buy the yacht.
Great video as always. Crockett & Jones does do bespoke using well known shoemaker Dimitri Gomez. You can commission them in their flagship Paris store.
Excellent variety of shoes presented, and great commentary...thanks. I recently purchased a pair of George Cleverley PTBs in tan hatch grain from “Mr. Porter” online. Great shoes and the Dainite soles are clearly marked Crockett & Jones although the Mr. Porter website states that the shoes were made in London at the GC workshop. Very confusing.
Interesting! I doubt we will know for sure. I also don’t think every style is made in the same house. The private label process is important and in the end, we should credit Cleverley with quality, design and execution of their shoes, so I get it. But I’d love to know.
The early Adams are likely made by alfred sargent. Look at the heel rubber, the diagonal line quarter tip is classic of AS.. Crockett use the keyed shape heel quarter. Crockett also don't do any bevelling on the sole, not even really on handgrade. Sometime in the production of George Cleverley they switched to largely just Crockett for their lowe end shoes. The early adams are probably an AS 724 last, comapre them to your cleverleys and you'll see they are very similar.
What about Joseph Cheaney Shoes in Northampton in England? Have you heard about them or own pairs of their shoes? Their shoes are pretty good of good quality as well.
It’s quite funny regarding Loake, I’ve actually found in terms of alignment and things being centred etc I’ve found my Loake shoes made in India to be much better than the 1880 made in England 🤷🏽♂️
Interesting and good to know. I’ve always said that quality of craftsmanship doesn’t depend on where it’s crafted. To me it’s more about materials. Don’t get me wrong I prefer to buy from the guy down the road, and the emerging brand in some respects, but craft is craft and there are excellent craftsman everywhere.
It would be good to get your take on Cheaney- better quality than Loake 1880 but not quite Crocketts either. Similar to Alfred Sargent I'd say. i have 2 pairs of Alfred's and about 6 of Cheaney and would definitely rate them higher than Barker too.
I’d say they’re much better than Loake 1880, closer to export grade in leather quality. I do agree that at first blush CJ seems a step above but I probably should wear them a few days before saying more because it’s very close.
One very fine Northampton shoemaker you haven't mentioned is Joseph Cheaney. The quality of their leathers is excellent and the shape of the lasts is very attractive and comfortable in the extreme. I have awkward broad feet and I monce spent a day walking all over Paris in a pair of Cheaney wing-tip brogues without getting any discomfort. Do yourself a favour and check their website.
I was wondering about John Lobb and John Lobb Paris....I was under the impression that John Lobb Paris is very different to the single John Lobb (bespoke?) shop in London.... Cheers Tony p.s as mentioned below, Cheaney is a good Northampton brand :-)
You’re right. John Lobb in London is a bespoke only house. I’m not aware they do any RTW. john Lobb Paris has a RTW line made in Northampton. They also do bespoke in Paris. Ive looked in the window at John Lobb London. A great place to drool over shoes but have yet to go in and try a pair.
@@wishoeguy Hi, thanks for the reply! Just finishing off watching your video. Been on my feet all day (10 hrs teaching) and my Tricker's tan monk straps have served me well - feet survived :-) Cheers Tony
It’s at the G&G website now because many of the dealers are no longer able to do MTO. You can do MTO direct. It’s the Thorpe boot on the M71 last. I just posted a video of an unboxing of the same boot but mine is hatch grain. The one I liked was shrunken kudu.
I would check around the dealer network to see if they have what you are looking for. Save the MTO fee and the three month wait. I’ve bought both mine from shopmehra.com.
One last comment. What do you think about Shipton & Heneage? I picked up a pair of wholecuts a few years ago. They were beautiful and well-made, however the sizing was was too big and I had to get rid of them.
Interesting. That’s not a brand I’m familiar with. The Facebook group Northampton Shoe Enthusiasts is a good place to ask the question. A lot of knowledge, both global enthusiasts and many folks who live and work in the area of Northampton.
Shipton & Heneage is a store for whom different brands makes cheaper versions of their regular shoes. They reduce the cost by using canvas lining. I have a pair made by Alfred Sargents and they’re really well made.
Thank you. I kept thinking I was missing a big one. I’ve never owned Cheaneys but all signs point to that they’re good shoes. A place I buy my tweed suits carries them and I took a pretty good look. They look nice. I would put them equivalent to Loake or Barker or Grenson. They have a wide range of shoes. All very well constructed and designed. Like Allen Edmonds or Alden in the US, they make solid Goodyear welted shoes designed to last forever. They’re not high end from a fashion or a construction sense, but very well made and comfortable shoes.
@@wishoeguy I own a pair of Cheaney chukka boots and while I haven’t had the chance to wear them outside because of covid, they’re high quality shoes with good finishing-think of what an AE would look like if they cared about quality control like they did in the 80s and early 90s. Based on what I have read online on forums, Cheaney provide CJ quality (leather) without the Alfred Sargent finishing (beveled waist) at a decent price. They also have a premium line with blind stitching and beveled waists.
Cheaney are in my opinion better than Loake and barker, not much lower than C&J, their imperial line is on par with C&J handgrade in my opinion (I own both) though if I had to chose I’d go C&J.
Sounds like a very interesting conversation we should have one day. I’ll look for the imperial line. I found some nice ones on Herring but only black and I took delivery of my one black shoe last week. Don’t need or want others. 😀
Generally I prefer Dainite, though I would say city soles are fairly generic and having a few pairs that are totally different I’d say it depends. My Church’s and TLB have amazing grip on wet marble and tile floors. My Crockett and Jones city soles feel softer as a sole. I feel like Dainite is the closest to leather. Both in look and feel. Hope that helps.
I am considering between Crockett and Jones or Trickers. Both are really good and have their own selling point!
ALL NORTHAMPTON SHOES ARE GREAT. AND THE BROGUE TRICKERS ARE SOMETHING ELSE
I'm English and maybe a little biased but I really do think our quantity and quality of shoe brands is unrivalled. Northampton is THE global shoe mecca. Well worth a visit.
This is such a great video and so informative. What a great line up of English shoe brands, the next step would be all the bespokes, but you may need to sell the house for that! Would be great to see a similar video on Spanish and Italian shoes. Keep it up! Adam from London.
Thanks Adam!
THE GARZIANO AND GIRLING😝
I won 5 pairs of Cheaney and many other brands you mentioned in the video. Cheaney needs it place and deserves mentioning. Please include it your coverage when you do and update to the video/collection.
I released a separate video and will do more once I buy some of their shoes.
The leathers on the inside of the C&J are absolutely amazing.
totally, a favorite aspect to be sure.
Great video!
Also to mention: Cheaney. Known for their Veldtschoen collection.
Excellent add. It was an unintentional omission.
Thank you! Found out some new brands! And usefull info about Loake quality 👍🏻
Really interesting and informative video. Thank you
As a Northampton resident and a shoe enthusiast we’re proud of the history associated with the town. Grenson, crocket and Jones, trickers, cheaney, loake, barker and churches are all within 30 miles of each other. Some of the shoe factory tours are excellent and occasionally you can pick up some great bargains from their in-factory stores. I personally like the trickers boots and shoes (exception being the price). I have a few one off pieces as one of my friends designs boots for grenson. We are also famous for doctor martens too. Apart from shoe industry the town is a shithole. Shoes and princess Diana is the only good thing to come from little Northampton.
I am a member of the Northampton Enthusiasts group. I really enjoyed this video. I am fortunate to have 2 pair of C&J, 2 of Barker, 2 of Church's, 2 of Tricker's, 1 of Joseph M. Cheaney, 5 of Grenson, and 1 of Loake. Since I am a country dweller, I am particularly fond of the country brogues and brogue boots. Mt Tricker's Malton boots are the most delightful pair of boots I have ever worn, and the Grenson boots are the everyday work wear. I have had folks comment that my boots were mighty fine boots to be sauntering through the woods in. I tell them that that's exactly what the boots were made for.
I like Adelaides and longwings, too.
Don't get me started on AE and Alden, or I'll have to go on for several more paragraphs.
Best regards. I am enjoying your videos, and your enthusiasm.
Thanks and great to see you in both formats. Best wishes!
Excellent video. Thanks for making this informative, easy to understand, to the point. I am deep in the Trickers hole because I like how solid and comfortable they feel, and I’m more of a if it broke don’t fix it guy. But I’ve always wondered about other British shoe makers. I’m gonna give the other brands you mentioned a try next time I look for a pair. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Great video of English shoes... Their quality is unparalleled.
The Gazianos are stylish! Very interesting review, thanks. Spain would be interesting too.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Love this channel. High end men's shoes...are exquisite. This guy knows what he is talking about...and helps a layman like me understand the high end shoe business better. (No offense...but doesn't this guy look like he could be Gene Hackman's son?). Lol. No offense meant. Great channel.
Loake is really a fine shoes maker. I have 2 pairs. On the higher end, Gaziano Girling is really good.
NIce little programme - thanks, looks like you've got big feet, congratulations and I'm sure everyone will feel very happy. Loakes these days for this Englishman btw. OK, I never got to buy the yacht.
Great video as always. Crockett & Jones does do bespoke using well known shoemaker Dimitri Gomez. You can commission them in their flagship Paris store.
Great to know! I’ll have to check that out. Thanks!
Loved this video as English made shoes are my thing 😁 Thanks for posting
Excellent variety of shoes presented, and great commentary...thanks. I recently purchased a pair of George Cleverley PTBs in tan hatch grain from “Mr. Porter” online. Great shoes and the Dainite soles are clearly marked Crockett & Jones although the Mr. Porter website states that the shoes were made in London at the GC workshop. Very confusing.
Interesting! I doubt we will know for sure. I also don’t think every style is made in the same house. The private label process is important and in the end, we should credit Cleverley with quality, design and execution of their shoes, so I get it. But I’d love to know.
Do you only wear them indoor? The soles are clean!
No. They were relatively new at the time.
Great video john.
Thanks
The early Adams are likely made by alfred sargent. Look at the heel rubber, the diagonal line quarter tip is classic of AS.. Crockett use the keyed shape heel quarter. Crockett also don't do any bevelling on the sole, not even really on handgrade. Sometime in the production of George Cleverley they switched to largely just Crockett for their lowe end shoes. The early adams are probably an AS 724 last, comapre them to your cleverleys and you'll see they are very similar.
Agreed
What about Joseph Cheaney Shoes in Northampton in England? Have you heard about them or own pairs of their shoes? Their shoes are pretty good of good quality as well.
Good call out. Another great Northampton brand
It’s quite funny regarding Loake, I’ve actually found in terms of alignment and things being centred etc I’ve found my Loake shoes made in India to be much better than the 1880 made in England 🤷🏽♂️
Interesting and good to know. I’ve always said that quality of craftsmanship doesn’t depend on where it’s crafted. To me it’s more about materials. Don’t get me wrong I prefer to buy from the guy down the road, and the emerging brand in some respects, but craft is craft and there are excellent craftsman everywhere.
It would be good to get your take on Cheaney- better quality than Loake 1880 but not quite Crocketts either. Similar to Alfred Sargent I'd say. i have 2 pairs of Alfred's and about 6 of Cheaney and would definitely rate them higher than Barker too.
Ah ok, just saw all the comments below- but will be good to get your take nonetheless.
I’d say they’re much better than Loake 1880, closer to export grade in leather quality. I do agree that at first blush CJ seems a step above but I probably should wear them a few days before saying more because it’s very close.
@@wishoeguy Good luck!
One very fine Northampton shoemaker you haven't mentioned is Joseph Cheaney. The quality of their leathers is excellent and the shape of the lasts is very attractive and comfortable in the extreme. I have awkward broad feet and I monce spent a day walking all over Paris in a pair of Cheaney wing-tip brogues without getting any discomfort. Do yourself a favour and check their website.
I have since picked up a pair of Avon’s. They’re very nice.
The first time I heard about Edward green was from Tom selleck as well. Haha
The name of the movie is “ killers “
I was wondering about John Lobb and John Lobb Paris....I was under the impression that John Lobb Paris is very different to the single John Lobb (bespoke?) shop in London....
Cheers
Tony
p.s as mentioned below, Cheaney is a good Northampton brand :-)
You’re right. John Lobb in London is a bespoke only house. I’m not aware they do any RTW. john Lobb Paris has a RTW line made in Northampton. They also do bespoke in Paris. Ive looked in the window at John Lobb London. A great place to drool over shoes but have yet to go in and try a pair.
@@wishoeguy Hi, thanks for the reply! Just finishing off watching your video. Been on my feet all day (10 hrs teaching) and my Tricker's tan monk straps have served me well - feet survived :-)
Cheers
Tony
Awesome! The metric all shoes should be judged by!
@@wishoeguy Indeed!
You mind if you can provide the website to the gaziano & Girling for that shoe you liked? Same patina and last, please?
It’s at the G&G website now because many of the dealers are no longer able to do MTO. You can do MTO direct. It’s the Thorpe boot on the M71 last. I just posted a video of an unboxing of the same boot but mine is hatch grain. The one I liked was shrunken kudu.
@@wishoeguy Looking to buy a pair from them GMTO...
I would check around the dealer network to see if they have what you are looking for. Save the MTO fee and the three month wait. I’ve bought both mine from shopmehra.com.
@@wishoeguy Thanks for the heads up.
One last comment. What do you think about
Shipton & Heneage? I picked up a pair of wholecuts a few years ago. They were beautiful and well-made, however the sizing was was too big and I had to get rid of them.
Interesting. That’s not a brand I’m familiar with. The Facebook group Northampton Shoe Enthusiasts is a good place to ask the question. A lot of knowledge, both global enthusiasts and many folks who live and work in the area of Northampton.
Shipton & Heneage is a store for whom different brands makes cheaper versions of their regular shoes. They reduce the cost by using canvas lining. I have a pair made by Alfred Sargents and they’re really well made.
@@neohshoes2409 thanks for sharing.
Any thoughts on Cheaney? They’re also a major shoemaker from Northampton
Thank you. I kept thinking I was missing a big one. I’ve never owned Cheaneys but all signs point to that they’re good shoes. A place I buy my tweed suits carries them and I took a pretty good look. They look nice. I would put them equivalent to Loake or Barker or Grenson. They have a wide range of shoes. All very well constructed and designed. Like Allen Edmonds or Alden in the US, they make solid Goodyear welted shoes designed to last forever. They’re not high end from a fashion or a construction sense, but very well made and comfortable shoes.
@@wishoeguy I own a pair of Cheaney chukka boots and while I haven’t had the chance to wear them outside because of covid, they’re high quality shoes with good finishing-think of what an AE would look like if they cared about quality control like they did in the 80s and early 90s. Based on what I have read online on forums, Cheaney provide CJ quality (leather) without the Alfred Sargent finishing (beveled waist) at a decent price. They also have a premium line with blind stitching and beveled waists.
Cheaney are in my opinion better than Loake and barker, not much lower than C&J, their imperial line is on par with C&J handgrade in my opinion (I own both) though if I had to chose I’d go C&J.
Sounds like a very interesting conversation we should have one day. I’ll look for the imperial line. I found some nice ones on Herring but only black and I took delivery of my one black shoe last week. Don’t need or want others. 😀
Here for the shoe porn, Mjölnir, and the lcars hologram.
I've never had a city sole and quite interested in getting some- may i ask what your experience is with them as opposed to Dainite ?
Generally I prefer Dainite, though I would say city soles are fairly generic and having a few pairs that are totally different I’d say it depends. My Church’s and TLB have amazing grip on wet marble and tile floors. My Crockett and Jones city soles feel softer as a sole. I feel like Dainite is the closest to leather. Both in look and feel. Hope that helps.
@@wishoeguy Many thanks- Crocketts seem to always win when it comes to softness.
Why show pages of text from websites instead of shoes?
I did show shoes in the end. I thought people might want the history of the brands and this brings it in one place.
English shoes are robust and wear well
Very true.