Foster & Son, the Jermyn Street bespoke shoemaker founded in 1840, is expanding to Northampton, opening the first new men’s footwear factory the home of classic British shoemaking has seen in decades.
The new workshop will open on October 25, St Crispin’s Day, as part of a strategy to expand the sales of Foster’s top quality English bench-made footwear to global markets.
Richard Edgecliffe-Johnson, Foster & Son’s Chairman, said: “As bespoke shoemakers, we see a healthy market for English craftsmanship. Discerning customers around the world are increasingly looking for quality, heritage and authenticity: this investment will allow us to meet their demand for a premium product that sits alongside our traditional bespoke services.”
He added: “Northampton’s centuries-old reputation for the highest quality British shoemaking made it the obvious location for us. We are delighted to invest in British manufacturing and build a talented new team in the best Northampton shoemaking tradition.”
The new factory positions Foster & Son as the only London bespoke shoemaker with its own ready-to-wear production. Fosters is bringing a bespoke shoemaker’s eye to the design and making of ready to wear shoes, combining traditional craftsmanship with the most modern machinery.
The new facility is fully equipped and will commence production before the end of this year.
