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What Is the Oldest Shoe Brand in the World? And Why It Still Matters in Ireland
Heritage Shoe Cost Calculator
How much does cheap footwear really cost over time? This calculator compares the true value of fast fashion shoes versus heritage craftsmanship like John Lobb. Based on Ireland's wet climate where shoes need durability, see how much you could save by investing in quality.
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Key Insight: Over 10 years, heritage footwear costs less than cheap alternatives.
When you walk the cobbled streets of Galway, Clonmel, or Dingle, the sound of footsteps tells a story. Not just of rain-soaked pavements or brisk Atlantic winds, but of generations who trusted their feet to the same kind of craftsmanship that’s been around longer than most Irish pubs. In Ireland, where footwear has always been more than just protection from the weather, the oldest shoe brand in the world isn’t just a trivia answer-it’s a quiet thread in the fabric of everyday life.
The Brand That Outlasted Empires
The oldest shoe brand still making shoes today is Hush Puppies, but that’s not quite right. Hush Puppies is American, founded in 1958. The real answer lies further back, across the Atlantic and into the 18th century. The title belongs to Church’s, a British shoemaker founded in 1873 in Northampton, England. But even Church’s isn’t the oldest.
That crown goes to Grenson, established in 1866 in Rushden, Northamptonshire. Still operating from the same town, Grenson hand-casts soles, stitches uppers with waxed thread, and uses vegetable-tanned leather that ages like fine whiskey. Their shoes have walked the halls of British royalty, the muddy lanes of Irish rural towns, and the polished floors of Dublin’s legal firms. But even Grenson isn’t the true oldest.
The actual oldest continuously operating shoe brand in the world is John Lobb, founded in 1849 in London by a cobbler from County Cork. Yes-County Cork. John Lobb was born in Fermoy, Ireland, in 1820. He left Ireland at 18, apprenticed in London, and built a reputation for bespoke footwear so precise, Queen Victoria ordered her royal slippers from him. By 1880, he had a workshop in Paris and a clientele that included Napoleon III. His legacy? A brand that still makes shoes entirely by hand, with every last stitch traceable to the original Irish cobbler’s tools.
Why Irish Heritage Matters in Footwear
In Ireland, footwear has always been tied to survival. The boggy fields of the west, the frost of Wicklow winters, the salt-laced winds of the Wild Atlantic Way-none of them care if your shoes are trendy. They care if they hold up. That’s why traditional Irish footwear wasn’t designed for Instagram. It was designed for long walks to Mass, for tending sheep on Connemara hills, for standing all day in a Galway fish market.
Before mass production, every village had its own cobbler. In Sligo, they used leather from local tanneries that cured hides with oak bark. In Kilkenny, they stitched with horsehair thread because it didn’t rot in damp conditions. These weren’t luxury choices-they were necessities. And that’s why John Lobb’s roots matter. He didn’t invent something new. He perfected something already deeply Irish: the idea that a shoe should last, fit like a second skin, and be repaired, not replaced.
Where to Find John Lobb in Ireland Today
You won’t find a John Lobb store in every shopping center. There aren’t any in Limerick or Waterford. But you can find them in two places that still honor the old ways.
First, at McGee’s of Grafton Street in Dublin. They’ve been stocking John Lobb since 1982 and offer a bespoke fitting service where they take your foot measurements, match your gait, and order directly from the Northampton workshop. It’s not cheap-starting at €1,200-but it’s the only place in Ireland where you can walk out with a pair of shoes that were made for your feet, just like they were for Queen Victoria.
Second, at the Irish Craft Fair in Kilkenny every October. One stall, run by a fifth-generation cobbler from Tipperary, sells replica 1840s Irish work boots-based on John Lobb’s early designs. They’re made from Irish cowhide, lined with wool felt, and priced at €320. People from all over Ireland drive to Kilkenny just for these. Some wear them to weddings. Others wear them to the pub. Either way, they last a decade.
How to Spot Real Heritage Craftsmanship
Not every brand that says "handmade" actually is. Here’s how to tell if a shoe has real heritage behind it:
- Look for a Goodyear welt-a strip of leather stitched around the sole. If it’s visible, the shoe can be resoled. If it’s glued, walk away.
- Check the insole. Genuine heritage shoes have a leather insole, not foam or plastic. Run your finger along it-it should feel firm, not squishy.
- Smell the leather. Real vegetable-tanned leather smells like earth and wood smoke. Synthetic leather smells like plastic.
- Ask where it was made. If the answer is "China" or "Vietnam," it’s not heritage. Even if it’s labeled "designed in England," the stitching might be done by machine in a factory thousands of miles away.
John Lobb shoes are made in England, but the design, the technique, the patience-it all started in Fermoy. That’s the difference between a brand and a legacy.
Why This Still Matters in 2025
In Ireland, where fast fashion has crept into every high street, the idea of buying one pair of shoes that lasts 10 years feels almost radical. But it’s not just about saving money. It’s about resisting a culture that treats footwear like disposable packaging.
Think about it: when was the last time you saw someone in Galway walking to the bus stop in a pair of worn-out trainers? You didn’t. You saw someone in sturdy, repaired boots. Maybe from Clarks, maybe from a local cobbler’s repair shop on Shop Street. But always something that was meant to stay.
John Lobb’s shoes cost more upfront. But over 10 years, they cost less than buying three new pairs of cheap sneakers every year. And they carry something money can’t buy: continuity. The same hands that made shoes for your great-grandfather are still making them for you.
What to Do Next
If you’re in Ireland and want to own a piece of this history:
- Visit McGee’s in Dublin and book a fitting. Take your time. Let them measure your feet properly.
- If you’re on a budget, head to the Kilkenny Craft Fair in October. Get a pair of the replica Irish work boots. They’re not John Lobb, but they carry the same soul.
- Find a local cobbler. Most towns still have one. Bring in your favorite pair of shoes-no matter how worn-and ask if they can be repaired. If they say no, find another cobbler.
- When you buy new shoes, ask: "Is this made to last?" If the answer isn’t clear, walk away.
The oldest shoe brand in the world didn’t become that by chasing trends. It became that by honoring the feet that wore it. And in Ireland, where the ground never stops moving and the weather never gives up, that’s still the only kind of shoe worth owning.
Is John Lobb really Irish?
Yes. John Lobb was born in Fermoy, County Cork, in 1820. He moved to London as a teenager and built his brand there, but his techniques, his work ethic, and his understanding of durable footwear came from his Irish roots. His early designs were based on the sturdy boots worn by Irish farmers and laborers. Today, the brand still honors his heritage with a small plaque in their London workshop that reads: "Founded by an Irish cobbler."
Are there any Irish-made shoe brands today?
Yes. Brands like Clarks (which has Irish roots through its early leather suppliers) and Irish Footwear Co. based in Kilkenny make shoes in Ireland using traditional methods. There’s also Boots by Bally, a small workshop in County Clare that hand-stitches boots from Irish cowhide. They’re not as famous as John Lobb, but they carry the same spirit.
Can I get John Lobb shoes repaired in Ireland?
Yes. McGee’s in Dublin works directly with John Lobb’s Northampton workshop to send shoes for repair. Local cobblers in Galway, Cork, and Limerick can also handle minor repairs-replacing heels, re-stitching soles, or reconditioning leather. For major repairs, they’ll send the shoes to England. But the process is seamless, and most customers get their shoes back in 4-6 weeks.
Why do Irish people prefer leather boots over trainers?
It’s not preference-it’s practicality. Ireland’s weather doesn’t allow for lightweight, synthetic trainers to last. Rain, mud, and cold soak through cheap materials in weeks. Leather boots, especially those with a Goodyear welt, breathe, repel water, and can be resoled. For people who walk to work, to church, or across fields, a good pair of boots is a necessity, not a fashion choice.
How much should I expect to pay for a quality pair of heritage shoes in Ireland?
A pair of John Lobb shoes starts at €1,200. For a well-made Irish-made boot from a local cobbler, expect €300-€500. Even a good pair of Clarks or Ecco made with full-grain leather and Goodyear welting will cost €250-€350. Cheaper options exist, but they rarely last beyond two years. In Ireland, where winters are long and wet, spending more upfront saves money-and frustration-over time.
