Berwick 1707

Berwick 1707 was founded in 1991 in Almansa, a town in southeastern Spain with a long-established tradition of shoemaking. The company's name commemorates the Battle of Almansa, a pivotal engagement in the War of the Spanish Succession that took place on April 25, 1707. In this battle, Bourbon forces led by James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, defeated the forces supporting Archduke Charles of Austria's claim to the Spanish throne.

The Duke of Berwick, an illegitimate son of King James II of England and Arabella Churchill, achieved prominence as a military commander in French and Spanish service. His victory at Almansa proved decisive in securing the Spanish throne for Philip V of the Bourbon dynasty. Almansa developed a strong historical connection to the Duke of Berwick, and the town honors his military achievements. The company adopted "Berwick 1707" as its name to pay tribute to this historical event and its connection to the town's heritage.

The selection of Almansa as the manufacturing location reflects the town's established reputation for shoe production, drawing on generations of local shoemaking expertise and tradition.

Berwick 1707 employs Goodyear welt construction for all footwear production. This method, patented by Charles Goodyear Jr. on January 24, 1871, involves nearly 200 manual operations executed by skilled craftspeople. While machines assist in certain processes, artisans contribute directly to each pair, maintaining the handcrafted character of the production.

The Goodyear welt process involves attaching the upper, lining, insole, midsole, and outsole through a distinctive stitching method. A cork filling is applied between the leather layers of the midsole, which gradually molds to the wearer's foot shape through use, creating a custom fit over time. This construction technique provides durability and allows shoes to be resoled when they show wear, extending the functional lifespan of the footwear.

All components used in Berwick 1707 footwear are manufactured within the company's facilities in Almansa before being assembled in designated production sections. This vertical integration allows the company to maintain quality control throughout the manufacturing process.

Berwick 1707 sources leathers from European and American suppliers, with the majority of raw materials originating in Europe. The company emphasizes compliance with environmental standards and quality controls established within the European Union for all materials used in production.

The footwear line includes options for both leather and rubber outsoles, providing customers with choices suited to different wearing conditions and preferences. The primary collection focuses on traditional dress shoe leathers meeting European quality standards.