For men and women, there is a chunky buckle Monk shoe and the Dealer boot re-imagined in a Greasy Leather. For women, the strap-over Mary Jane is available in premium grained leather, while a contemporary men’s lace-up Gibson combines the styling of a hiking boot with a city shoe.
Explore the YMC x Solovair Autumn / Winter 22 collaboration here.
]]>1. Burgundy Rub-Off 6 Eye Brogue Boot, 2. Gaucho Crazy Horse Leather Belt, 3. Purple Hi-Shine Gibson Shoe, 4. Black Greasy Leather Card Cash Holder, 5. Black Patent Mary Jane, 6. Black Hi-Shine Dealer Boot, 7. Jet Black Cushioned Alpaca Socks, 8. Canvas tote Bag, 9. Black Leather Bookmark, 10. Burgundy Fleck Cushioned Cotton-blend Socks, 11. Green Leather Coaster, 12. Blush Pink Hi-Shine Monkey Boot, 13. Blue Striped Cotton-blend Socks, 14. Black Greasy 8 Eye Derby Boot, 15. Navy Hi-Shine Tassel Loafer, 16. Black Greasy Leather Belt, 17. Gaucho Crazy Horse Urban Hiker.
1. Gaucho Crazy Horse Leather Wallet, 2. Gaucho Crazy Horse Gibson Shoe, 3. Black Hi-Shine Tassel Loafer, 4. Black Hi-Shine 8 Eye Derby Boot, 5. Black Hi-Shine Leather Belt, 6. Black Fleck Cushioned Cotton-blend Socks, 7. Orange Striped Cotton-blend Socks, 8. Oxblood Hi-Shine 6 Eye Astronaut Boot, 9 Black Greasy Leather Card & Cash Holder, 10. Burgundy Rub-Off 3 Eye Chukka Boot, 11. Natural Beech Shoe Tree, 12. Black Hi-Shine Double Buckle Monk Shoe, 13. Care Kit
]]>Set in the beautiful LASSCO Brunswick House, the Oliver Spencer Autumn / Winter 22 collection includes a diverse selection of textural tactile fabrics such as terry cord, needlecord, and jumbo wale corduroy, alongside brushed organic cotton and ecological wools.
Explore the Oliver Spencer website here.
]]>London-based writer and photographer Charlie Thomas recently visited the NPS factory for the Robb Report.
Exploring our shoemaking process from start to finish Charlie was appreciative of the time and skilled craftsmanship required to make a pair of NPS made footwear.
Read more on the Robb Report here.
Photography by Charlie Thomas (@charliethomasuk).
]]>Les Indispensable Paris recently took the Solovair Sand Suede 4 Eye Gibson Shoe for a stroll in the french capital.
Read more on the Les Indispensables blog.
]]>T-Shirt by Studio D’artisan
Denim Jeans by Iron Heart.
Photography by Will Halbert.
]]>Visit the British Vintage Boxing website here.
]]>Although both brands are made by NPS shoes in our Wollaston factory and feature the Goodyear welted construction (a shoemaking technique synonymous with Northampton made footwear) there are several differences.
Gripfast was founded by Northamptonshire based White & Co who wanted to create hardwearing footwear that represents the very best of British and made to the highest standards. White & Co, like NPS Shoes, were a government contractor in the 1940’s and manufactured footwear for the British Army which further extended to a military contract for the Australian Army.
Gripfast was established in 1990 following increased demand for a slightly more rugged, extreme, edgier boot. Gripfast were steel toe cap boots and shoes made from high quality leathers on a UK army last and featured a 22mm Commando Double Sole with reinforced screws. Incorporating the traditional shoemaking techniques including the Goodyear welted method, White & Co experienced rapid growth for Gripfast particularly in the USA and Europe.
Times change and in 2003 White & Co found itself in a position where production had to cease but instead of closing all together they opted to move production to other Northamptonshire Goodyear welted footwear factories which is where the NPS Shoes and Gripfast chapter begins.
It was important to us that Gripfast footwear remained true to its roots therefore many of the original features remain including concealed steel toe caps, authentic storm “U” welt, resilient insulating air cushioning Commando soles and genuine galvanised screws that are hand inserted into each cleat.
Gripfast footwear by NPS shoes is made on the 5400 last, our widest last shape offering one of the broadest toe box shapes and also features in the Solovair Classic, Premium and Steel Toe collections.
Gripfast Derby Boots are currently made with 6, 10 and 14 eyelets from a choice of Hi-Shine, Greasy and Rub-off leathers.
In comparison, the technique used to fuse the welt to the sole is the same for Gripfast and Solovair. This process happens in the 'Levelling' room where temporary joins between the sole and the welt are made using a heated plate before a heat sealing machine permanently fuses the welt to the sole by rotating the footwear along a 700°C heated blade.
The difference at this stage in the shoe making process is that Solovair footwear feature the original Sole-of-Air sole with our signature sole suspension technology. The Solovair PVC sole is resistant to acid, oil, fat, petrol and alkali but doesn't feature galvanised screws like the Gripfast footwear.
The Solovair collection is made on several last shapes from an extensive range of leathers and finishes.
Design differences when comparing the Solovair Steel Toe Cap collection and Gripfast Originals are the two part back panel on Gripfast footwear, the storm “U” welt and spacing between the eyelets.
Shop the Gripfast collection here.
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More from Ben's visit to the NPS Solovair factory is available to view on instagram.
]]>In a recent interview with Air Mail, Grammy-winning musician and designer of Golf le Fleur Tyler Okonma (Tyler, the Creator) has included the Solovair Tassel Loafer as one of his favourite things alongside Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D. and Napoleon Dynamite.
Read the full interview here.
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The series sees the characters don a uniform for the first time following a new headteacher starting at the fictional school ‘Moordale High’. As part of this uniform a smart shoe is worn, a number of the main characters can be seen wearing our Black Hi-Shine Gibson Shoe in a number of scenes throughout the series.
If you haven't watched it yet, keep your eyes peeled!
The cast of Netflix’s “Sex Education.”
Netflix via Twitter
For our full range of Gibson Shoes, explore the Solovair Classic collection.
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This is why we are now offering an in-house re-sole service at our factory for your shoes and boots.
There are multiple factors which may affect the length of time before a resole is required including how often the footwear is worn, the environment they have been worn in, the gait of the customer and how the footwear has been cared for.
We thought we would take this opportunity to explain a little more about our re-sole service and the processes that it entails.
Step 1). Lasts are placed into the footwear to add stability for removing the sole.
Step 2). Once the last is secure the operator, using a knife will separate the sole from the welt.
Step 3). The new soles will be spotted in four places to temporarily fix the welt to the new sole.
Step 4). Once spotted the operator will take the footwear to the heat seal machine.
Step 5). Using a blade that has a temperature of 700 °C the operator will then fuse the sole onto the welt.
Step 6). Once sealed, excess material will then be trimmed before the footwear is taken to our shoe room.
Step 7). A quick buff and polish, the lasts are removed and the footwear is ready to be returned to the customer.
To book our re-sole service please click here
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Gripfast was founded by Northamptonshire based White & Co, who were experts in shoe design and manufacturing.
White & Co was a family owned business established in 1890, with a wealth of knowledge in footwear the company manufactured classic leather footwear along with sports shoes. White & Co like NPS Shoes were lucky enough to become a government contractor and in the 1940’s manufactured footwear for the British Army which further extended to a military contract for the Australian Army.
For approximately 20 years from the 1960’s White & Co began producing shoes for various Northamptonshire footwear brands under license.
Gripfast was established in 1990, manufacturing Goodyear welted steel toe boots using high quality leathers, the boots were manufactured on a UK army last with a 22mm Commando Double Sole, reinforced with screws. Popular amongst modern subcultures Gripfast has continued its growth in popularity around the globe.
The brand came about from two things. The first being a demand for a slightly more rugged, extreme, edgier boot. At the same time the company had become dependent on producing footwear for other brands and were looking to complement existing production with something a little different, whilst still concentrating on what they did best – Goodyear Welting. Gripfast provided this and they were soon making 1000 pairs a week. Markets rapidly developed in the US and Central and Eastern Europe.
Although times changed and unfortunately in 2003 White & Co ceased production, instead of closing altogether they opted to move production to other Goodyear welted footwear factories in Northamptonshire, which is where the link to NPS Shoes originates.
NPS Shoes have been manufacturing Gripfast on behalf of White & Co which has historically been distributed to the US market. In the not to distant future we will launching Gripfast to our customers worldwide.
Please look out for further announcements on our social media pages.
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To read the full article please click here.
For our full range of Astronaut boots, explore the Solovair Classic collection.
]]>With 90% of our manufacturing waste being recycled both within our business or externally, we are essentially almost there.
All components for our footwear are sourced from within Europe and where possible within the UK, helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
With the omission of Horween all our leather is sourced from Europe and all are from prestigious tanneries. No leather is wasted in the manufacturing of our footwear, in fact, all trimmings are recycled to create a by-product called leather board which can then be repurposed both within the company and externally to create additional leather based components for footwear or other industries.
NPS Shoes is conscious of the environment and is proactively looking into ecological recycled materials that will improve on our sustainability.
The ‘upper’ materials for our vegan range of footwear are made from a combination of recycled synthetic material and also plant based biodegradable matter. The materials we use are fully compliant to all European (REACH) standards, which are arguably the highest benchmark internationally.
All materials within our vegan range are free of any animal derived ingredients, including our adhesives which are ‘water-based’ with natural ingredients, such as latex.
All footwear at NPS Solovair utilises the Goodyear welted method. This process ensures that as long as the uppers are looked after, the soles can easily and cost-effectively be replaced, meaning that our shoes will last customers for many years.
Our renowned Solovair soles are fully recyclable and even the excess trimmings created during production are reused to create our Premium and Lifestyle soles.
Reducing plastic pollution is an integral part of every business and we are proud to say we have accomplished this with all our packaging including our distinctive shoe boxes which are made from recycled card and paper. Our mailing bags which are made from recycled materials are 100% recyclable and our tissue paper is free from toxic materials.
As a family owned business we pride ourselves on employing local craftspeople. We ensure all staff are paid a fair living wage and are all permanent employees. In fact, the majority of our staff have been in continuous employment for over 10 years with our longest serving employee currently in his fourth decade.
As we move into the future we will continue to work towards improving and streamlining our processes to become a more sustainable brand whilst continuing to maintain the high standards our customers have grown to know and love.
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All Solovair X Julien David designs were a recreation of our Classic Collection Monkey Boot, which is available in various leather finishes in sizes UK3-UK12.
Resulting in ultra-flexible and very comfortable footwear, it is clear to see why Stitchdown is a popular method of construction.
It may also be useful to know that should the time arise; all Stitchdown construction footwear is easy to repair and can be resoled. As long as the uppers are taken care of, it is easy to re-sole worn footwear. By heat sealing or bonding new soles to the existing welts, our footwear can last many years. Unfortunately we currently do not offer an in-house repair service. We recommend customers contact their nearest cobbler for repairs.
Replacement soles can be purchased from our Accessories Collection here. Please note, replacement soles need to be purchased x1 size larger than your standard shoe size to accommodate for sole trimming.
Please contact us if you require further assistance with sole repairs or refurbishment.
A last (see image below) is a three dimensional form resembling the human foot commonly made from plastic or wood for the purpose of footwear manufacturing. Last silhouettes vary in relation to the finished shoe or boot shape.
With the exception of a small selection of G-width NPS Essential Collection styles, all NPS and Solovair lasts have an F width fitting.
Due to the unique nature of our footwear production and last shapes, our sizing cannot be compared with other competitive brands. We strongly recommend customers follow our size guide/foot measuring process before purchasing to find an ideal fit. Please double-check measurements across different styles as size guides may differ.
Our comprehensive size guide can be found here. Alternatively, size guides can be referenced via the Size & Fit link found on each product page.
Our 409 last is a generous fit with a broad round toe and increased toe depth. A good option for the slightly wider foot.
Popular styles: Solovair Classic 8' eye, 11' eye and 20' eye Derby Boots
Our 493 last is a slightly more generous than average fit but has a shallower toe box compared to our 5400 and 409 last.
Popular styles: Solovair Classic 6' eye and 11' eye Astronaut Boot. Solovair Premium 6' eye Derby Boot
Our 2488 last has a round shaped toe with a standard fit.
Popular styles: Solovair Classic Gibson Shoe & Solovair Classic Brogue Shoes
Our 5400 last is our widest last shape offering one of the broadest toe box shapes in the collection. A good option for the slightly wider foot.
Popular styles: Urban Hiker Boot and all Solovair Steel Toe styles
Our 002 last shape features an almond-shape toe with slightly more width through the vamp and instep area.
Popular styles: NPS GLADSTONE and HEATH 6 Eye Derby Boots
Our 1813 last shape has round toe with a wide fit. This style may not be suitable for those with very narrow feet.
Popular styles: Solovair Casual styles.
Our 10885 last has a soft round toe and is the most traditional NPS Shoes toe shape, used for our formal footwear.
Popular styles: NPS Essentials Collection.
Both a Solovair retailer and specialist shoe-repair destination, Cobbler Next Door is a hidden gem within Minami-Aoyama, Minato-Ku, Tokyo. Launched in 2010, shop owners Masa and Cora introduced traditional British craftsmanship to Japanese locals, and shared their story with us.
With a flourishing career reselling UK-sourced vintage apparel and footwear, Masa's love for re-purposing worn items extended to footwear refurbishment. With encouragement from friends experienced in this field and located in the UK, Masa joined ranks with cobblers in the heart of Camden Town and Paddington, London to learn the trade. With six years of experience in hand, Masa returned to Japan accompanied by five industrial machines, (including a Goodyear welter) and set up shop.
Today, Cobbler Next Door stocks many Solovair Classic styles including bestselling 8'eye and 11'eye Derby Boot models. In-house Solovair sole replacements include the option of using genuine or alternative soles. Additional services are also on offer including Loake repairs and stiletto heel replacements for designer brands like Christian Louboutin.
For store opening times, general enquiries and repair quotations, contact the team using the links below.
Website: www.london-cobbler.com
Instagram : @cobblernextdoor
知る人ぞ知る東京南青山の名店、Solovairの正規販売店でもある、COBBLER NEXT DOORは、シューリペアのスペシャリストとして、2010年にオープンしました。
英国の伝統的な靴修理の職人の技を日本に伝えるオーナーのMasaとCoraが私たちとシェアするストーリー。
ヴィンテージアパレルセレクトショップを経営していたMasaは、長年にわたる英国買い付けのうちに、ヴィンテージシューズやブーツのリペアにも関心を持つようになり、その分野での経験を持つ英国の友人の勧めで、カムデンタウン、パディントンといったロンドンの中心街でシューリペアの経験を身につけることとなりました。
6年に渡る修行の成果を手に日本に帰国、グッドイヤーウェルテッドを含む5台のインダストリアルマシーンを工房に備えたショップをオープンさせたのです。
現在COBBLER NEXT DOORでは、ベストセラーである8ホール、11ホールブーツをはじめとした数多くのSolovairクラシックスタイル、別注モデルのストックを常備しています。
また、Solovair純正ソールでのソール交換やカスタムソール交換も、隣接工房で依頼が可能です。
クリスチャン・ルブタンをはじめとしたヨーロッパハイブランドのレディースシューズのリペア、Loakeなど英国シューズのリペアを得意としています。
営業時間やご相談など、詳細な情報は下記リンクにてお問い合わせください。
Cobbler Next Door / Solovair
3-5-3. Minami-Aoyamo,
Minato-ku,
Tokyo, Japan
SIMILARITIES
Both styles are manufactured using the same Hi-Shine leather which means the leather and general care for both styles is identical. To learn more about caring for your leather and footwear, read our shoe care tips here.
DIFFERENCES
There are both subtle and more prominent construction variations between both styles which include the below:
1) The heel panel on the Derby boot is decoratively stitched while the Astronaut style has an additional panel which is top-stitched.
2) The join design at the sides of the boots are varied. The Derby boot is a curved design, while the Astronaut is more angular.
3) The stitch colour for both boot styles is identical with the exception of the Oxblood version. The Oxblood Derby has black stitching whilst the Oxblood Astronaut has white contrast stitching.
LAST SHAPES
The classic 11'eye Derby boot is manufactured using our 409 last which has a standard fit with a round but deep toe shape. The Astronaut style however is manufactured using our 493 last shape which results in a standard fit with a round but slimmer toe shape.
WHY ARE THEY CALLED HAWKINS ASTRONAUT BOOTS?
In 1961, seven American astronauts (who collectively became known as the Mercury Seven, the Original Seven or Astronaut Group 1) were pictured wearing a trendy style of boots before their trip into space. The boots were manufactured by Northamptonshire factory 'Hawkins Inc', which was founded in 1850 by George Thomas Hawkins. Combining the famous factory name with the historic group gave way to the Hawkins Astronaut title. The boot style maintained its popularity throughout the '60s and became part of the iconic uniform for sub-cultural groups like the Mods and Skinheads.
In 1995, the historic GT Hawkins factory closed its doors after 120 years of trading leaving many brands developing adaptations of the classic look. Solovair's Goodyear welted Astronaut boot pays homage to the original Hawkins style. Availability includes a 6'eye and 11'eye model in a choice of leather finishes including Black or Oxblood Hi-Shine, Black or Brown Greasy and Burgundy Rub-Off.
The below images were shared via Instagram by @elsa_draws_stuff, @alipinali, @thebarberluke, @warriors.law and @christoffkowloon.
In the heart of Northampton’s Cultural Quarter is NPS Shoes brand new store. Opposite the Royal & Derngate Theatre, the shop is located within The Wine Connection at 11 Derngate.
NPS Shoes is committed to manufacturing both men and women’s Goodyear welted footwear which is 100% made in England. From small beginnings in 1881 to the present day, NPS Shoes has lived a product defining history. Northampton town is historically famous for quality-made footwear, and after the success of the NPS Factory Shop, a second store in the area appealed to the brand.
Northampton store manager commented “Introducing NPS Shoes to the town is an exciting move for us, we are one of the smaller shoe manufacturers in the Northamptonshire area but with 100% of our manufacturing still taking place at our Wollaston factory, we want to spread the word locally about our brands, as well as bringing something different to the town centre. Retail is extremely important to our business as many of our customers look at our footwear as an investment. We want to be able to offer them the support and advice they require in making their decision so customers leave us with a pair of shoes they can be proud of wearing and feeling as though they are part of the NPS family.”
The Northampton store is stocked with a large selection of footwear from the NPS and Solovair collections at 20% off the RRP value.
We were honoured to be featured on Nick Johannessen’s blog. In his own words, Nick is a a middle-aged Norwegian blogger into classic menswear, tweed, work-wear and cool things. He specialises in waistcoats, brogues, denim and outerwear. Nick has been crowned with the accolade as one of the 20 most stylish men on Instagram.
To read his piece on NPS and Solovair, please follow the link “Of interest: NPS Solovair, quietly making shoes since 1881”.
Website/ Blog: www.welldresseddad.com
Instagram : @welldresseddad
Facebook: Well Dressed Dad
Twitter: @WellDressedDadBlog
GQ magazine interviewed Serge Pizzorno from music band Kasabian to reveal his favourite styling pieces which rock his world. His go-to footwear choice included our Solovair 11 Eye Astronaut Boot, and we couldn't agree more! Featuring our signature soft-suspension soles for a 'walking on air' feel, historical style tributes and Goodyear welting for durability and longevity, you can't go wrong! What's your favourite Solovair style?
Shop our Astronaut style available in 6'eye or 11'eye models in our best selling Black Hi-Shine or Oxblood finishes by exploring our Classic Collection online.
Just over 18 years ago, Jason King bought a pair of Black Greasy 11'eye Derby Boots from the British Boot Company in Camden, London to celebrate the birth of his first child. Having worn the boots at least once a week since 1998, they were in remarkable condition.
Jason contacted NPS Shoes to kindly thank us for our wonderful product, acknowledging our quality materials and workmanship. We lept at the opportunity to invite Jason a personalised Factory Tour to see how our footwear is manufactured. Our tour is a unique experience, and for Jason, this was particularly special as he met several of the operators who manufactured his original pair of boots.
As a thank you for taking the time to share his story and visit our factory, we exchanged his wonderful boots for a brand new pair - how’s that for a boots-for-life guarantee!
If you have a great story about your Solovair/NPS boots we’d love to hear from you. Complete our Contact Us form, or find us on Facebook: Solovair-Official-UK, Twitter: Solovairuk or Instagram: Solovairuk.
Learn essential tips to extend the lifespan of your footwear by reading our blog: Caring for your Leather and Footwear
As long as the leather uppers are taken care of, Goodyear welting allows for easy re-soling. Read about Goodyear welting by reading our write up: The Goodyear Welted Method