THE LEDGER: YOUR MASTER SOURCING LIST
For deep-dive journals and photographic studies of UK-made icons, visit The Edit. Here in The Ledger you’ll find our ever-expanding directory of UK makers with details on their origins, products and more.
These are short-form entries - distilled intelligence on heritage, provenance and why these brands deserve a place in your collection. As our field research continues, we’ll produce full photographic reviews in The Edit.
CROCKETT and JONES Northampton, England
The Heritage: Founded in 1879, this fifth-generation family business specialises in the highest quality welted footwear, utilizing over 200 separate operations per pair in their Victorian factory.
The Verdict: Professional elegance. Crockett & Jones offers a slightly more refined, sleeker silhouette than many traditional makers, making them the preferred choice for the modern city professional.
Core Products: High-grade Goodyear-welted shoes, boots and leather accessories.
CHURCH’S - Northampton, England
The Heritage: Family-founded in 1873, Church’s helped establish Northampton as the world capital of quality shoemaking. While now owned by the Prada Group, they maintain their historic production facilities in the St. James area of Northampton.
The Verdict: Every pair takes up to eight weeks to manufacture and involves over 250 manual operations. We specifically recommend the Goodyear Welted styles, which allow for the shoes to be stripped and rebuilt multiple times, a hallmark of fine English engineering.
Core Products: High-end Goodyear-welted shoes, boots, and leather accessories.
CORGI HOSIERY - Ammanford, Wales
The Heritage: Established in 1892 to produce thigh-high woollen socks for local coal miners, Corgi has evolved into a luxury powerhouse holding a Royal Warrant from the King. They still manufacture in the same Welsh town, using traditional hand-linking methods to ensure seamless toes.
The Verdict: The rightful heir to the throne. With Pantherella stepping back from UK manufacturing, Corgi is now the undisputed champion of UK-made socks. Their hand-linked toe is a critical detail - it means no ridge of stitching to rub against your toes, a comfort feature that cheap machines can't copy.
Core Products: Luxury cotton and cashmere socks and hand-framed knitwear.