Grenson – Brand Focus

The newest brand to arrive at Mainline Menswear is Grenson, one of the most prestigious footwear brands in the fashion industry.

Founded back in 1866, it is also one of the oldest brands in fashion too. A man named William Green set it up in Northamptonshire and it is claimed he was the first producer of shoes to use the Goodyear welting construction method, something which has become prerequisite for any high quality British shoe designers since then.

The Goodyear Welt

The welt of a shoe is the strip of leather or else other material which is used as an outsole. This strip is attached to the sole of the shoe by stitching, following this it is reinforced by being filled with cork or sometimes other types of fillers. The benefit of having a shoe which is a Goodyear welt is that it can be repeatedly resoled, meaning it can last for years or even decades. It is also highly regarded for added qualities such as being water-proof and it requires skilled labour to make a shoe in this method and is a lot more time-consuming than a simple hand stitching method, therefore more valuable.

The first selection of Grenson’s esteemed shoes are now online at Mainline Menswear, see them here.

Today Grenson is loved for its high quality of craftsmanship and their renowned brogue design, but they have applied the same high quality design traits to other popular silhouettes such as the Chelsea boot and the chukka boot too.

What makes Grenson different from other brands on the high street is their rich heritage and their tried and tested techniques.They have operated from the same place in Northampton for 100 years now and still practice the art of making their shoes “from skin to box”.

William Green was taught how to make shoes by his mother and he began making men’s boots from the cottage they lived in. Like many boot-makers at the time he developed a small business from word of mouth, supplying locals with their footwear. He continued to do this until he reached the point of employing further craftsmen to help make his shoes and going out to try and sell to wholesalers. Before long his shoes were being noted for their quality and he was making ever more frequent trips to London to expand the growing list of stockists.

The name Grenson is simply an abbreviation of Green & Son- the original trading name during their early wholesale years. It is actually one of the oldest registered brand names in the UK. 

Grenson are well known for making quality brogues, take a look at the stand-out models for spring this year from the G-TWO collection, designed to be affordable to the everyday consumer:

Stanley

Available in two sole choices, one a lightweight rubber cleated version and the other a tough dark leather, the Stanley has a new sleek shape and is an elegant profile which could serve as a useful addition to any number of smart or laid-back outfits.

Marcus

A traditional desert style ankle boot with suede uppers made from genuine high quality leather. It features the same Goodyear welted sole as the shoe styles meaning that they can be re-soled time and time again to last much longer than a regular pair of chukka boots. Coming in dark blue, this adaptable pair of shoes will look natural when teamed with a pair of chinos as part of a staple summer outfit.

Dylan

Finished with an elongated round toe, the Dylan brogue offers a contemporary new edge to a classic design. Dylan is lighter than the Stanley and this design perfectly represents the brand in its modern guise, contemporary yet traditional. This classic wing-tip is given a modern new silhouette.

Jacob

Chelsea boots are extremely popular of late and Jacob is Grenson’s version of that style, coming in a tan brown. The versatile ankle boot with an elasticated side panel features the same decorated perforated design on the toe cap and a chunky double leather sole.