What do Church’s, Dr Martens, Eveden and Aquascutum have in common? Answer. All these iconic international brands have a base in Northamptonshire. These well-known names have a strong history in Northamptonshire and are all still playing an active role in the local economy, employing significant numbers of staff locally.
The county’s connection with the production of leather and footwear is well known – reflected not least by the nickname given to the local football team, ‘The Cobblers’. There is a wealth of history behind this industry and much of it can be seen in museums across the county. Today, Northamptonshire continues to be a world leading location in this sector, with a highly skilled workforce, practical business accommodation and strong transport links to the rest of the UK, and the world.
Church’s Shoes, famous for the level of craftsmanship used to produce every single pair of shoes, began in the late 1600s when a lone Northampton man called Stone Church began making shoes. His skills were passed on through four generations of shoe makers before Thomas Church and his three sons founded Church’s Shoes in 1873. Church’s branded footwear is still manufactured at their St James factory in Northampton, which is possibly the largest single unit in Europe manufacturing high quality handmade shoes.
Jeffery West and Cheaneys are two other well-known footwear brands in the county, which create high-quality leather shoes, inspired by the shoemaking and leather heritage of Northamptonshire.
Dr Martens, one of Britain’s most recognisable ‘cult’ brands, also began its journey in Northampton when, in 1911, Benjamin Griggs set up his own independent business producing boots. In the 1950's he acquired the exclusive rights to produce Dr Maertens Air Cushioned soles, designed in Germany. Soon the name became anglicised to "Dr Martens" with the first pair of Dr Martens’ boots being made at Wollaston on 1st April 1960. Recently, the company has seen a revival in the popularity of its boots and as a result the business has seen profits grow.
However, it’s not just footwear that’s fashionable in the county; lingerie brand Eveden has been based in Desborough since 1989 and luxury fashion brand, Aquascutum – an iconic company famous for inventing the first waterproof cloth and introducing the stylish ‘raincoat’ concept that continues to be worn today – has its factory based in Corby.
So next time you see a classic Church’s brogue, iconic pair of ‘DMs’ or waterproof raincoat – just remember it all started in Northamptonshire.
