About Loake Shoemakers: Loake Brothers is a family-owned English shoemaker founded in Kettering, Northamptonshire in 1880. They are best known for Goodyear welted brogues, Oxfords, derbies, loafers and boots, with lifestyle trainers and casual styles alongside. The 1880 Collection is made at their Kettering factory; other ranges are built overseas to Loake designs. With care and the occasional resole, a well-fitted pair should give you years of wear.
Loake men’s shoes are made in UK sizes and generally come up true to size. Most styles are made on an F (standard) fitting, and the Goodyear-welted leather soles take a few wears to soften and mould to your foot. We stock from UK 6.5 (EU 40) to UK 12 (EU 47).
A traditional construction method stitching the upper, insole and sole together via a welt, allowing the sole to be replaced without harming the shoe.
A lighter, more flexible construction used on some Loake styles, stitching the sole directly to the upper and insole.
Loake’s premium ranges are made in Kettering, Northamptonshire, in the heart of English shoemaking country.
Most Loake styles fit true to size for a medium foot, though Loake themselves say they can feel slightly more generous than high-street brands and the fit depends on the last shape. We would start with your usual UK size and check the last notes for the specific model if you are unsure.
F is Loake’s standard width fitting and G is their wide fitting, with roughly a quarter of an inch more girth in the same size. A G fitting is not the same as going up a size, so if the length feels right but the shoe is tight across the ball of the foot, ask us about G.
New Goodyear welted Loakes feel firm at first, especially with a leather sole. We would wear them indoors for short spells over the first few days rather than taking them straight out for a full day. Most customers find they soften and mould to the foot within a handful of wears.
Yes. Loake’s UK-made Goodyear welted styles are built to be repairable, and Loake offer a factory refurbishment service at their Northamptonshire works. That is one of the main reasons we recommend getting the initial fit right rather than sizing loosely to skip the break-in.
Use a shoe horn, brush off dry dirt after each wear, and give the leather a regular feed with a good wax polish. Try to let them dry fully between wears, and avoid soaking them; if they do get wet, stuff them with newspaper and leave them away from direct heat.
They do. Loake use more than 30 different last shapes across their range, so a brogue and a loafer in the same size can feel quite different. The last name is shown on each product listing, and we are happy to talk you through the shape if you are ordering without trying them on.
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