Loake Shoes - Brand History

The Loake shoe making tradition began in 1880 in Northamptonshire, the heart of the English shoe making industry. The present factory in Kettering was built in 1894 by the Loake family.
Today five generations later Loake is still family owned and like their fore Fathers are committed to maintaining the attention to detail required to create outstanding quality
footwear.

The term shoemaker today has a traditional tone referring more to a bygone era of shoe making, apt this is for Loake shoes with their heritage dating from 1880. Loake shoes or shoemakers have reference to the origins of English shoe making, the term shoemakers also called cordwainers - a cobbler or cobblers historically  known as a person who repairs shoes - a cordwainer would produce footwear in various forms being boots sandals shoes and clogs. The range of shoes would be made in traditional forms originally as in the case of Loake shoes, leather, others being wood, jute, felt and jute. The form of the shoe would often be a mix of more than one material, stitched together usually for durability and comfort, a tradition that remains at the heart of Loake shoes today.


At the core of Loake Shoes and most other traditional shomakers is the Last, the Last being the shape or form around which the shoe is made and formed. Loake shoes have a  heritage of archive lasts which today form part of their catalogue of styles of shoes. Some of styles of Loake shoes date back to the early part of the last century


Loake shoes, the Loake brogue is one of the more traditional styles from the Loake shoes archive. The Loake brogue is based on the traditional mens brogue which has its origins linked to the early country shoes of Scotland and Ireland. The Loake brogue retains the same style details of the original that being the brogueing - brogueing being the punched pattern detail usually along the seams - the punched detail allowing water drainage when used in its original form that of a country shoe for walking across bog and wet areas in the countryside. The brogue universally, as the Loake brogue has gained popularity amongst non country folk as a shoe worn during daily life, sometimes referred to as a wingtip or wingtips in America. The Loake brogue and other Loake shoes often feature a Goodyear welted sole which is made in England over an eight week process time with each shoe being made up of up to 75 shoe parts and 200 operations in the making of each pair of Loake shoes

Loake Shoes, the Loake boot or Loake chelsea boot has its origins form original chelsea boot or sometimes called the Dealer boot. As with the Loake chelsea boot the original chelsea boot had an elastic gusset to allow a close fit around the ankle. The chelsea boot originated from the Victorian era where it originated for use during horse riding, the elastic gusset was invented in 1837 and utilised in the design for Queen Victoria. Whilst still used for its intended use that of horse riding the Loake chelsea boot became more as town and city boot. During the 1960's the mods choice of footwear tended to fall into three mod styles, the brogue, loafer and chelsea boot, the Loake chelsea boot. The chelsea boot is now a classic style worn both as its intended use but also by the more contemporary man, the Loake chelsea boot.
  
Loake Heritage

Loake Shoes

The Venture Boot

The current trend for heritage and vintage inspired clothing collections are aptly catered for in terms of befitting footwear with the core Loake shoes range. The present styles catalogue offers archive styles of the finest order, the Loake brogue and chelsea boot sitting along side the currently favoured country Loake Burford boot. Whilst the fashion focus favours footwear with origins related more to a country and work background the demand also exists for a tailored clothing partner. One of the new shoe styles for Loake is the Loake Venture boot, this style is favoured by the more sartorial modern gentleman requiring a shoe that compliments his tailored apparel. A satin finish to the leather of this boot is partnered by a fine layered cut pattern and stitch detail, the Loake venture boot is available in both black and brown leather finish. As footnote for all the sartorial elegance this style may have the Loake venture boot also looks equally as stylish with a pair of jeans.