Grenson

Founded in 1866 by William Green in Rushden, Northamptonshire. Grenson initially made shoes by hand in the houses of outworkers. In 1874, Green moved into his first factory which was one of the first in the world to use the Goodyear Welted method of shoemaking. Grenson continued to grow and prosper, and during World War I and World War II, they produced thousands of boots and shoes for the soldiers. In 2008, Grenson was acquired by Tim Little, who set about reviving the brand. He opened new stores, launched new collections, and partnered with high-profile designers. The brand is now one of the leading shoemakers in the UK.