Crockett & Jones

Based in Northampton's historic shoemaking district, the company produces its entire range of Goodyear welted footwear in its original factory location. Each pair requires up to eight weeks to manufacture through over 200 specialized operations. The brand has gained cultural prominence through its official partnership with the James Bond film series, supplying footwear for multiple films including Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time To Die.

James Crockett was raised by his grandfather Henry Marshall, who operated a boot and shoe manufacturing business in Northampton. In 1879, six years after Charles Jones married James Crockett's sister Annie, the two men formed their partnership with £100 each from the Thomas White Trust. Their first factory housed 20 employees and established the foundation for what would become one of Britain's enduring footwear manufacturers.

By 1891, the company had relocated to a new factory on Magee Street, where production continues today. The current factory building was constructed in 1912 with a steel structure that has remained functional for over a century. Crockett & Jones became the first footwear manufacturer in the United Kingdom to install the new Goodyear Welting Stitching Machine around 1910, initially causing workforce disruption before being successfully integrated into production.

Crockett & Jones specializes exclusively in Goodyear welted construction, a method where the upper leather, lining leather, and welt are stitched to ribbing bonded to the insole, with the welt then stitched to the sole. This construction allows for resoling while maintaining the shoe's structural integrity. The company produces 100 percent of its Goodyear welted shoes in its Northampton facility, maintaining direct control over product development and quality standards.

The manufacturing process involves over 200 individual operations and takes up to eight weeks per pair. Key steps include welt sewing, where operators stitch the welt to the rib attached to the insoles, and sole construction, where cork filling and wooden shanks provide structural support before the soles are stitched to the welt. This traditional approach requires a highly skilled workforce to execute the precision operations necessary for consistent quality.

The company organizes its offerings into three primary collections, each targeting different market segments and construction standards.

As of February 2024, Crockett & Jones reported annual turnover of £34.1 million with net assets of £37.6 million and cash reserves of £15.8 million. The company operates 11 flagship retail locations and employs approximately 50 retail staff members alongside its manufacturing workforce.

The business remains entirely family-owned after five generations, placing it among a small group of heritage brands including Hermès, Fendi, and Armani that maintain family control. This ownership structure allows for long-term planning and investment in traditional manufacturing methods while adapting to contemporary market demands.