Solovair
MakerAbout
Solovair is a British footwear brand manufactured by NPS Shoes Ltd in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, England. Founded in 1881 as the Northamptonshire Productive Society, a worker cooperative of five shoemakers, the company originally produced boots for the British Army. In 1959, NPS began manufacturing air-cushioned sole boots for R. Griggs & Company under the Dr. Martens brand, a partnership that continued for 35 years until the mid-1990s. The company trademarked the Solovair name in 1994 and continues to produce boots using Goodyear welt construction at their original South Street factory location.
About
Solovair is a British footwear brand manufactured by NPS Shoes Ltd in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, England. Founded in 1881 as the Northamptonshire Productive Society, a worker cooperative of five shoemakers, the company originally produced boots for the British Army. In 1959, NPS began manufacturing air-cushioned sole boots for R. Griggs & Company under the Dr. Martens brand, a partnership that continued for 35 years until the mid-1990s. The company trademarked the Solovair name in 1994 and continues to produce boots using Goodyear welt construction at their original South Street factory location.
The brand manufactures boots and shoes using traditional Goodyear welted construction methods with air-cushioned soles. All Solovair footwear is made in England using bovine leather sourced primarily from European tanneries, with the exception of Horween Chromexcel leather from the United States. The company operates from a factory that has been in continuous use for over 130 years, employing over 200 discrete manufacturing processes across six departments.
Products
Solovair produces several footwear collections including the Classic Collection, which features the 8 Eye Derby Boot, Astronaut Boot, and Gibson Shoe. The Steel Toe Collection offers Derby Boot and Gibson Shoe styles with steel toe caps for industrial use. The Lifestyle Collection uses thinner, lightweight soles with high-grade calf or Horween Chromexcel leather. A Vegan Collection provides Goodyear welted footwear with non-leather materials and vegan-friendly air-cushioned soles. Products are available in various leather finishes including Hi-Shine, Greasy, Gaucho, and Rub-Off leather types.
Manufacturing
Solovair boots are manufactured at the NPS factory in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, where the company has operated since 1899. The factory uses Goodyear welt construction, a method patented by Charles Goodyear Jr. in 1871, which involves sewing a welt (strip of leather, rubber, or synthetic material) to the upper and insole using a chain stitch. The outsole attaches separately via lock stitch, and the cavity between inner and outer soles is filled with a flexible compound that molds to the wearer's feet. This construction provides durability, allows boots to be resoled, and offers thermal insulation. The factory employs over 200 skilled processes across six departments to complete each pair of boots.
References
"The incredible story of the Northamptonshire shoe company", Northants Live
"The Goodyear Welted Method", NPS Solovair Official
"History", NPS Solovair Official
"Our Leather Explained", NPS Solovair Official
