Loake 1880
This British family business has been making shoes since 1880. In the same year, the first Loake factory was opened by John Loake, together with his brothers Thomas and William. John is the great-grandfather of Andre Loake, the current managing director of Loake. Today, five generations and 130 years later, Loake is still known for its refined and handcrafted footwear.
Goodyear welted
Are you looking for a pair of shoes that can be resoled and repaired time after time? Then you are probably looking for a pair of Goodyear-welted shoes. The 1880 collection from Loake has been made with a Goodyear welted construction for generations. This technique, where the welt is a piece of leather that is sewn around the shoe and where the upper and outsole are attached, is one of the most durable ways to make a shoe. Other techniques are the blake stitch (cheaper, faster) and Norwegian welt, also known as Storm welt (more robust, but often less elegant).
Oxford vs Derby shoes
You've probably seen the terms oxfords or derbys before. Oxford shoes are often slimmer in shape, more elegant, and often well-suited for wearing with a suit or formal outfit. The fit of this type of shoe is often a bit tighter because you have less flexibility with the lacing. Derby shoes, on the other hand, are often slightly wider in construction. One of the most famous models is a blucher. The characteristic of a derby shoe is that the eyelets are attached to the top of the instep of the shoe. They also call this "open lacing".
