Thank you for visiting our online store! We are manufacturers of Gothic shoes and boots and a wide range of Winklepicker shoes and Winklepicker Boots
About Us
Our Origins
London Retro Footwear has evolved through three generations of shoemakers.
It all started off with my grandfather who began his shoemaking career as an apprentice sewing machinist back in 1960 in East London when winklepickers were the only shoes any fashion conscious styler would be seen in.
His skills were passed to my father who was strongly involved in designing and manufacturing the original Goth and Punk shoes and boots also known as Pikes back in the late seventies and early eighties.
London Retro Footwear is not only steeped in shoemaking heritage but we've also been at the forefront of the London alternative and retro fashion scene for over 60 years .
Our Process
Stage one :Pattern cutting
Once a design or style is agreed it is discussed with our Pattern Cutters. Pattern cutting is the initial design and development phase and as any established Pattern Cutter will tell you, “If a pattern is not perfect when it leaves our pattern room, the shoes or boots will not be perfect when they leave our factory.”
Stage two::Clicking (Cutting)
The Clicking Department is the first stage of production where the shoe’s or boot's uppers are cut. The ‘Clicker’ is a highly skilled operative, whose name derives from the ‘click’ sound made when the knife is removed from the leather. The cutting room mixture of experienced hands and trainees. The younger members begin cutting lining leather, leaving the experienced clickers to focus on cutting the upper leather, whilst slowly passing on their years of expertise.
Stage three : Closing
At the next stage of production, the uppers are ‘closed’. Closing involves many different operations such as,preparing the leather, machine stitching pre-prepared sections together to form the upper and fitting eyelets,preparing the zips and buckles to be used for the boots or shoes. The Closing Room machinists are highly skilled requiring excellent hand and eye coordination.
Stage four : Preparation
Preparation of the ‘bottom’ part of the shoes or boots is the fourth stage of production. The insoles are cut and soles are prepared for attaching to the uppers . At this stage the appropriate lasts are selected to be matched with the closed uppers.
Stage five : Lasting & Making
The lasting process is where the shoe or boot begins to take shape. The upper of the shoe is tacked to the back of the last to ensure the back height is correct. It is then pulled over at the toe and side lasted by hand . It is vital for the Toe Laster to ensure that the shoe upper is fitted accurately to the last.The leather pulled under the last is roughed to allow the adhesive to adhere the sole to the boot or shoe.Pressure is then applied to the sole to finish the manufacturing process.
Stage six : Quality control and packing
Although the highly skilled manufacturing process is now complete...the final quality check is a vital stage in the factory before sending your shoes or boots.When we are satisfied the shoes are ready to pack all the stages are complete and your Retro footwear will soon be on their way to you.
Designs inspired by yesteryear.
All our designs at London Retro Footwear are inspired from shoes and boots worn by modernists,teddy boys and rockers back in the fifties and sixties and the goths and punks of the seventies and eighties, so much so we are now a leading supplier to the film,TV and theatre productions here in the UK.
We aim to keep our designs as original as we can while incorporating modern shoemaking techniques to make our footwear more durable and to stand the test of everyday wear.
Please feel free to contact us if you require help with placing your order. Information on sizing and shipping is provided at the bottom of the page but if there is a specific question you would like to ask our email is admin@londonretrofootwear.co.uk