British footwear brand, Chatham launched its exclusive Made in Britain men’s collection at Moda last month (August 2015), which is to be manufactured in a new purpose built factory at Chatham HQ in Exeter, Devon – the first boating shoes to be made in Great Britain. The Exeter factory will begin production of the Made in Britain collection later in 2015, for shipping in January 2016 in time for the spring summer season.
Made in Britain features four styles, each in a choice of colourways, all named after British Prime Ministers – Churchill, Peel, Balfour and Pitt. Churchill and Peel feature contrasting upper and sole, and are made with premium British KUDU leather, sourced from a tannery in Leeds.
Philip Marsh, Managing Director of Chatham, says, “Producing an exclusive footwear line here in Exeter is a significant milestone for the brand. Chatham is a British brand, a British family business, designing, developing, sourcing and now developing here in Great Britain. We’re all about British style and traditional craftsmanship, made from the finest premium quality leathers, it’s the perfect fit.
“From a business perspective it will offer greater flexibility for trade buyers, and will open up the export market for us through the USA and Asia, where demand for British products continues to soar.”
