Crockett & Jones has been a stalwart institution of Northampton—England’s famous shoemaking town—since 1879. In relation to the brand’s 143-year existence, a 25-year anniversary of having a store on London’s famed shoe-strip Jermyn Street might seem like not the biggest thing ever in comparison. For Crockett & Jones, however, it’s an important landmark in the company’s history.
As Crockett & Jones tells it, opening a store at 69 Jermyn Street was the apex of a long rebound for the company. In the 1970s, things were looking dire for C&J, to the point that their cash flow problems had the Jones family considering liquidation of the company. Jonathan Jones, four generations down from co-founder Charles Jones, led Crockett & Jones’ push towards financial stability through a strong wholesale program and a renewed focus on high quality craftsmanship in making men’s dress shoes.
By the 1990s, C&J was carried by a number of world-class retailers (including, now in the underserved US, Division Road, who’s turning out incredible stuff), some of whom were located on Jermyn. The London street has long been renowned as the go-to place for all kinds of men’s apparel and accessories, and is today the home of other distinguished shoe brands’ flagship retail locations, including Tricker’s and Edward Green. Crockett felt it was time to make the leap into operating their own direct-to-consumer retail shop, and in 1997 they opened their flagship store on Jermyn Street, the first of many locations that would open elsewhere in England and worldwide.
To mark the occasion, Crockett & Jones has some truly special pairs they’re releasing in Horween Hatch Grain Shell Cordovan. The first two are the latest iterations of C&J’s Cavendish tassel loafer, both made on the 375 last, in Dark Brown and Whiskey. While both of these pairs are dropping on Friday May 27th, the pair that’s really revving our engine will be releasing later this year. In October, C&J will be dropping a Coniston in this Dark Brown hatch shell, built on the 375 last, and boy does it look good. Be sure to sign up for C&J’s email notifications for when these things finally arrive.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone, Crockett & Jones! We’re excited to see what the next 25 years and beyond yield for you.
