FOOTWEAR manufacturer Cheaney’s 130th anniversary celebrations in 2016 were followed by another great accolade, as they were presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, demonstrating how quality products made in England are recognised the world over.
The year also saw the company opening their first stores outside the capital, firstly in Cambridge and then in Leeds.
2017 has got off to an equally busy start, with the launch of their fifth London store, located on the vibrant Henrietta Street in Covent Garden, which is quickly becoming a shopping hub for informal and stylish menswear. With its contemporary design celebrating the art and craftsmanship of the shoemaker, the store has already been attracting attention from an array of international media.
As owners, and fifth generation shoemakers, Jonathan and William Church are justly proud of Cheaney’s Northamptonshire roots and the fact that the company still manufactures all of its shoes in its Desborough factory, where it employs over 160 skilled craftsmen and women.
As Joint MD, Jonathan Church says: “We see manufacturing everything under one roof as a huge advantage for us. Not only are we able to ensure that every pair of shoes is made to the highest standards, but it also gives us the agility to react quickly.”
It’s this agility that has helped them grow, as they have developed new ranges bringing Cheaney to the attention of a wider audience both in this country and around the world.
Cheaney now has seven collections ranging from the classic to the contemporary, with new collections including women’s footwear, Aviator – a new military inspired collection dedicated to Flight Lieutenant Joseph Humfrey Cheaney, and 1 of 1 – a customised range, which offers customers the opportunity to design their very own pair of handcrafted Cheaney shoes.
To find out more, see the website at www.cheaney.co.uk or visit one of their stores.
Cheaney’s new Covent Garden store