Start-rite

Start-Rite
Company typePrivate Limited company
IndustryConsumer goods
Founded1792
HeadquartersNorwich, England
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
James Smith (Founder)
Hugo Adams (CEO)
ProductsShoes
Websitestartriteshoes.com
T-bar sandals from Sonnet (Start-Rite Shoes' subsidiary in the United States), dating from approximately 2000.

Start-rite is a brand of children's shoes. The shoemaker, purportedly Britain's oldest and one of the first manufacturers in Norfolk,[1] was established in 1792 in Norwich, England, by James Smith.[2][3] His grandson, James Southall, gave the firm its current name; it rose in prominence during the 20th century thanks in part to an iconic poster, reading Children's shoes have far to go,[2] which was displayed on the London Underground for 20 years from 1947.[4] Controversy exists around the origins of the image in this poster. It has been attributed to artists Andy Wood,[5] William Grimmond, Joe Wilkinson of Stanley Studios, Susan Pearce, Nancy Gardner[6] and to the company's own advertising agent.[2]

  1. ^ "Start-rite ends UK production". BBC. 25 September 2003. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Barrow, Becky (14 July 2003). "Start-Rite toddles off to India to cut costs". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  3. ^ "About us" page on the company's website
  4. ^ Windsor, John (8 August 1992). "In the footsteps of the Start-rite twins". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  5. ^ Start-rite logo
  6. ^ "Designer of Start-Rite logo celebrates 100th birthday at Leamington care home". www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-23.