John Lobb Limited

What John Lobb Limited does

John Lobb Limited is a British bespoke shoemaker founded in 1849, operating as a privately held, family-owned business now in its fifth generation. The company operates from a single flagship location at 9 St James's Street, London, where it handcrafts bespoke footwear (shoes, ankle boots, long boots, and slippers for men and women), bespoke leather accessories, and bespoke shoe trees, and provides care and repair services. Customers are high-net-worth individuals seeking fully individualized products; the firm serves them through in-atelier consultations at its London shop and via an international travel program covering the USA, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

The underlying technology is traditional bespoke shoemaking craft, executed by a structured pipeline of ten specialized artisans (Fitter, Last Maker, Pattern Cutter, Clicker, Closer, Rough Stuff Cutter, Maker, Socker, Tree Maker, Polisher) using English oak bark tanned sole leather. Each customer's last is individually carved from maple, beech, or hornbeam based on precise measurements, and thousands of these personal lasts are retained on shelves to enable subsequent pairs to be reproduced without new fittings. The company holds Royal Warrants to HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and Esquire Magazine has described its shop as 'the most beautiful shop in the world'.

The business model is direct-to-consumer, with primary revenue from bespoke commissions (one-time purchase requiring a 50% non-refundable deposit, first pair delivered in 6-7 months, subsequent pairs in 3-4 months) and secondary revenue from ready-made accessories sold via e-commerce. Pricing for bespoke work is not publicly disclosed and is set during consultation. Marketing is intentionally low-key, relying on heritage reputation, Royal Warrant associations, and word-of-mouth through a discerning international clientele, with no public revenue figures disclosed.

Name

John Lobb Limited

Legal name

John Lobb Limited

Website

https://johnlobb1849.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1849

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

John Lobb Limited is a family-owned British bespoke shoemaker founded in 1849, handcrafting fully customized footwear, leather accessories, and shoe trees from its flagship atelier at 9 St James's Street, London, for high-net-worth individuals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bespoke Footwear and Leather Goods

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Boot Manufacturing (Work/Fashion/Western/Combat) (IMAOAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB), Handbags & Fashion Bags Manufacturing (IMAOAHAA)

Keywords

• Bespoke footwear
• Handmade leather goods
• Custom shoemaking
• Luxury leather accessories
• Shoe repair services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Footwear: Custom-made shoes and boots commissioned to each customer's specific measurements, style preferences, and material choices. First pairs take approximately 6-7 months, subsequent pairs take 3-4 months. Requires 50% deposit.
2. Bespoke Accessories: Handmade leather goods including attaché cases, belts, business card holders, shoe bags, glasses cases, wallets, spatts, and custom leather items commissioned to customer specifications.
3. Care and Repair Services: Repair and care services for John Lobb shoes and boots as well as leather goods from other manufacturers. Hand repairs conducted on original lasts to maintain fit and shape.
4. Ready-made Accessories: Pre-made shoe care accessories available through the online shop including shoe trees, care products, and leather goods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

John Lobb Limited handcrafts bespoke footwear (shoes, boots, slippers) for men and women at its 9 St James's Street workshop in London. Each pair is built on a custom last carved to the customer's measurements using traditional techniques by specialized craftspeople. The company also produces handmade leather accessories (belts, wallets, attaché cases, shoe bags, card holders) and provides lifetime care and repair services for footwear made by John Lobb and other firms.

Product overview

John Lobb Limited is a heritage British bespoke footwear and leather goods company founded in 1849, operating as a single unified brand focused on bespoke shoemaking. The product portfolio centers on hand-crafted bespoke footwear for men and women, encompassing shoes, ankle boots, long boots, and slippers across numerous iconic styles (Oxford Cap, Double Monk, Norwegian Slipper, Wellington Boot, etc.). This core footwear offering is complemented by bespoke leather accessories (attaché cases, belts, wallets, card holders, shoe bags, glasses cases), bespoke shoe trees, and care and repair services. The company operates a bespoke service model where every piece is conceived around the owner's needs and character, executed without compromise. International service is provided through representative trips to America, Europe, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's Shoes Individually hand-crafted bespoke men's shoes made using only the finest quality leather. Styles include Double Monk, Elastic Sided, Full Brogue Ghillie, Norwegian Slipper, Hilo, Single Strap Monk, Navvy Cut, Oxford Cap, V Front, and Half Brogue Oxford. Each pair is unique to its owner and built on a custom last.
• Men's Ankle Boots Bespoke men's ankle boots made using only the finest leathers. Styles include Battle Boot, Button Boot, Elastic Sided, Golosh Oxford Cap, Hilo Boot, Lace Jodhpur, Navvy Cut Boots, Step-In Boot, and Strap Jodhpur.
• Men's Long Boots
• Men's Slippers Bespoke men's slippers offering John Lobb's signature comfort for home wear. Styles include Albert Slipper, Bath Slipper, Grecian Slipper, Mule, and Pump.
• Women's Shoes Bespoke ladies' shoes designed akin to fine jewellery, to be admired, enjoyed, and treasured for a lifetime. Styles include 2 Hole Lace, 3 Hole Lace, 4 Hole Lace, 5 Hole Lace, Single Strap, Ghillie, Court Shoe, Double Strap, Elastic Instep, Elastic Sided, and Norwegian Slipper.
• Women's Ankle Boots Bespoke women's ankle boots crafted with the same care and attention as all John Lobb footwear. Styles include Elastic Sided, Button Boot, Golosh Oxford Cap, Hilo Two Hole, Lace Jodhpur, Navvy Cut Boots, Step-In Boot, and Strap Jodhpur.
• Women's Long Boots Bespoke women's long boots including Briar Boot, Field Boots, Greenly Boot, Riding Boot, Step-In Boot, Wellington Boot, and Ladies Zip Boot.
• Women's Slippers Bespoke women's slippers crafted with the same care and attention as all John Lobb footwear. Styles include Albert Slipper, Bath Slipper, Grecian Slipper, and Mule.
• Bespoke Shoe Trees Handmade wooden shoe and boot trees made to perfectly match each individual's last, ensuring shoes retain fit, reduce creases, draw out moisture, and maintain shape. Available as hinged or three-piece options for shoes, ankle boots, and long boots.
• Care & Repair Services Comprehensive care and repair services for all shoes and boots made by John Lobb and other firms. Bespoke shoes are repaired by hand upon the last on which they were made to ensure fit and shape are retained.
• Bespoke Leather Accessories Handmade leather goods crafted to the same exacting standards as John Lobb shoes. Includes attaché cases, belts, business card holders, shoe bags, glasses cases, hip pocket wallets, breast pocket wallets, spats, garter straps, and spur straps.
• Bespoke Footwear Commissioning Service Fully bespoke footwear service at 9 St James's Street where each shoe, boot, or slipper is entirely unique to its owner. Customers choose from customization possibilities including leather type, color, sole material, toe cap style, design details, and bespoke trees. First pairs take approximately 6-7 months, subsequent pairs 3-4 months.
• International Consultation Trips Service whereby representatives travel from London to see existing customers and measure new ones internationally. Current destinations include United States, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Quantifiable outcome

• First pair delivery: approximately 6-7 months; subsequent pairs: approximately 3-4 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Church's: British heritage shoemaker founded 1873 in Northampton (now owned by Prada); produces high-end Goodyear-welted shoes and historically held Royal Warrants — direct comparable as a heritage English luxury footwear brand, though at larger ready-to-wear scale.
• Berluti: French luxury bespoke and ready-to-wear shoemaker owned by LVMH; offers bespoke services, leather goods, and global flagship stores — direct comparable in heritage, bespoke craftsmanship, and HNW customer base.
• Tricker's: English heritage shoemaker founded 1829 in Northampton producing country and dress boots including Royal Warrant holders; comparable as a long-established British handmade footwear brand with royal patronage heritage.
• Crockett & Jones: English heritage shoemaker founded 1879 in Northampton producing Goodyear-welted shoes and boots; comparable as a long-established family-influenced British maker targeting the premium handmade footwear segment.
• Stefano Bemer: Italian bespoke shoemaker based in Florence, renowned for hand-welted shoes and a Florentine atelier tradition; directly comparable to John Lobb's bespoke-only positioning and small-scale artisan model.
• Bontoni: Italian luxury handmade shoemaker producing small-batch bench-made footwear for HNW clients; comparable as a small-scale European luxury maker with similar craftsmanship-led positioning.
• George Cleverley: British bespoke shoemaker operating from a London workshop since 1958; one of the closest direct comparables as a small, family-influenced London bespoke shoemaker serving an elite clientele.
• Gaziano & Girling: English luxury shoemaker producing handmade bench-made shoes in a Northamptonshire workshop; comparable as a smaller-scale heritage brand targeting HNW customers seeking handmade quality over mass production.
• J.M. Weston: French luxury shoemaker founded 1891 producing handmade Goodyear-welted footwear in Limoges; comparable as a European heritage handmade footwear brand serving similar HNW and luxury clientele.
• Edward Green: English luxury handmade shoemaker based in Northampton producing Goodyear-welted shoes and boots using traditional methods; directly comparable as a heritage British brand serving the same HNW luxury footwear market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/johnlobb1849
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/john-lobb-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about John Lobb Limited