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Loake is a classic English footwear manufacturer based in Northamptonshire, the traditional home of the British shoemaking industry. It is one of the few companies to have survived the decline in UK production and currently employs 120 people. Estimated production capacity is 6,000 pairs of shoes a week, 30% of which are exported all over the world.

History
Loake was founded in 1880 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, by three brothers, Thomas, John and William Loake.

For the past 130 years the company has been family-owned and has specialised in premium men's Goodyear welted footwear, an intricate construction that has origins that can be traced back over 300 years. Loake has always been a prolific and important domestic footwear manufacturer. The company supplied shoes and boots to the British army during the First and Second World Wars, and more recently has been a supplier to the British men's Olympic team and the Royal household. It estimates that in total it has produced over 50 million pairs. Even when in 1929 there was a devastating fire at the Kettering factory, production resumed within a week.

A number of Loake designs have a place in youth culture history. Examples are the Loake Loafer and Loake Royal Brogue, which were the footwear of choice of Mods and Northern Soulboys in the 70s and are still in production today.

Loake continues to make classic, English footwear in the traditional way. Each pair of Goodyear welted shoes takes eight weeks to produce and involves some 130 skilled craftsmen, up to 75 shoe parts and approximately 200 different operations.

The company has many high profile customers, including international actors, musicians and sportsmen. Collaborations have included work with British clothing brands Ben Sherman and Topman, and also sports giant Puma.

Loake was awarded a Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Queen in 2007.