British Footwear Association Industry Profile

The British completed footwear industry consists of a number of distinct sectors, with some companies active across two or more of the sectors:

  • Branded companies:
     Higher value footwear typically provided with an instock service to retailers
  • Made to Order:
     Companies producing own label footwear to customers' designs with large production runs
  • British Goodyear Welted:
     A stitched construction method - the speciality of Northamptonshire firms
  • Safety:
    The supply of protective footwear bearing a CE Mark conforming to exacting specifications
  • Wellingtons:
    Suppliers of pvc/rubber moulded footwear for home and work
  • Slippers:
     Suppliers of household footwear usually made of textile materials
  • Designer wholesalers:
     Companies headed by a strong design and marketing team who outsource production
  • Orthopaedic/bespoke:
     Footwear made on individual lasts for special needs not met by mass production firms
  • Component producers and service providers to the above

    The UK footwear manufacturing industry is concentrated in 6 main areas: the counties of Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, the South West of England, the Norwich area, Lancashire and London. The UK is able to offer the following centres of excellence:

    • A wealth of exciting young designer talent, that draws on the production skills of established manufacturing companies to offer uniquely British street fashion footwear.
    • Companies with renowned brands of footwear in the medium and upper price ranges for mens, womens and childrens. From the highest quality handsewn dress shoe to military boots designed to withstand the harshest conditions, UK firms supply exciting and desirable footwear to companies all over the world.
    • Competitive Made to Order firms are able to help your product development and supply footwear to your specifications.
    • Internationally respected companies offering high quality Goodyear welted footwear for men and women
    • A full range of safety and protective footwear for men and women is made in Britain and is CE-marked in accordance with strict European and International standards.


    Some Stats

    Faced with intense competition from low cost imports, UK firms have been moving upmarket, and have exported record amounts of quality footwear.


    m pairs 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
    Manufacturers' Sales 105.6 103.1 91.7 88.9 82.8
    Exports 34.7 34.9 39.8 38.9 37.0
    Imports 216.3 212.7 242.0 247.7 260.03
    Domestic Supplies 287.3 280.9 294.0 297.8 305.8
    Import Penetration % 75% 76% 82% 83% 85%

    £m 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
    Manufacturers' Sales 1038 1249 1279 1233 1067.5
    Exports 438 474 565 563 517.1
    Imports 1307 1384 1588 1768 1754.8
    Domestic Supplies 1907 2158 2302 2438 2305.3
    Import Penetration% 69% 64% 69% 72% 76.12%


    Buyers Service

    We are pleased to help buyers from Britain and overseas source suitable suppliers from the UK industry. We can supply lists of companies and appropriate contacts tailored to the specific needs.

    We can help organise visits to potential suppliers and partners. In addition, we can book showrooms at a prestigious central London site for meetings with our members.

    Nicholas Parry-Billings, Head of Marketing would be pleased to help you.



    Market Research

    We offer a range of statistical publications to help with market research and familiarisation with the UK trade. We have statistics detailing production, import, export, consumer purchases, retail sales, family expenditure, industry costs and expenditure, employment and average wages.

    The Footwear Industry Statistical Review is the most comprehensive source of statistical information on the UK footwear trade. It has over 40 tables and gives information over a number of years to allow comparison of trends.

    Monthly and Quarterly statistical publications are available on subscription for timely monitoring of the major trends and detailed surveillance of import and export trends.

    Please contact Denis Bowen for further information.


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