The John Lobb brand is among the most renowned manufacturers in the British shoemaking hub of Northampton, a city that became famous as a core of the shoe industry in the seventeenth century. Although Hermes Group has owned the company since 1976, the factory remains committed to the traditional production process developed in the 19th century.
Technology is used, but sparingly. Specifically, the laser is not applied directly to the hides. Instead, lasers create plastic patterns, which are handed to clickers. Their title comes from the characteristic snap of the knife touching the cutting table. With special blades, they cut the hides manually.
Production is intentionally small, with only roughly 450 to 500 pairs made each week. This approach feels like near-bespoke manufacturing. Employees work on multiple models daily, instead of repeating one routine step like in assembly-line workshops. Every shoe is built with the Goodyear method, allowing the worn sole to be changed without damaging the upper.
Similar to Hermes, John Lobb uses exceptional materials, particularly from young French calf hides. Only 60% of each hide is suitable for cutting, while the remainder becomes minor leather goods.
The collection combines timeless classics with contemporary tweaks. The City II black Oxfords, for instance, were slightly reshaped. The Sennen model gained elongated straps and a thicker sole. The Lopez classic, introduced in the 1950s, now include a rubber sole and fresh shades. Newer icons include the Porth model and the Levah trainers, which are offered annually in different shades and textures.
Through its dedication to craftsmanship, John Lobb stands as a benchmark in world-class shoemaking.
https://shoppingguideaustria.at/fashion-herren/sartale-vienna
https://www.lodowisko.pszow.pl/forum/memberlist.php?start=9675&sid=8a8de0fbff8bba7e304585fec0688ec7
https://www.forum-hausbau.de/index.php?topic=33996.0;prev_next%3Dprev
https://fabricateurialist.substack.com/p/italian-knitwear-brands-part-2
https://www.fashionlistings.org/Womenswear/C44-1-0.htm