John Lobb Bootmaker

John Lobb Limited
Company typePrivate limited company[1]
IndustryShoemaking
Founded1849 (as a bootmaker)[2]
1866 (London shop opened)
FounderJohn Lobb
Headquarters9 St James's Street
London, United Kingdom
ProductsBespoke shoes, boots and accessories
OwnerLobb family[3]
Websitejohnlobb1849.com

John Lobb Bootmaker is a business that manufactures and retails a luxury brand of shoes and boots, mainly for men but also for women. Leather goods such as wallets and belts are also available. Founded in 1849 by John Lobb (1829–95),[4] the business has been in operation since 1866 in London and circa 1900 in Paris.[5][6] John Lobb's son William took over the business, and after he died in 1916, the firm was led by Betsy Lobb.[4]

The original London bespoke workshop at 9 St James's Street remains family-owned and continues to operate independently (as John Lobb Limited). In 1976, the French branch of the business was acquired by the Hermès Group, which has developed the John Lobb ready-to-wear shoe brand around the world. The two companies continue to maintain their bespoke shoe-making tradition, with the Lobb family's workshop in London and the Hermès-owned workshop in Paris.[7][8]

  1. ^ "Company information". Companies House. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. ^ "John Lobb Ltd". Royal Warrant Holders Association. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. ^ "The Family". johnlobb1849.com. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b McConnell, Anita (23 September 2004). "Lobb, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/61386. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. ^ By Royal Appointment. ITV3. 2012. Event occurs at 8:00pm. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  6. ^ Gov.uk, National archives
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dobbs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Robin Mellery-Pratt, John Lobb, Scaling a Craft-Based, 07/05/2014 in Business of fashion