Is anything good still maufactured in this country?

[Robert Poste's Child]

I wanted some good-quality, British-made boots for the winter. Morlands, the sheepskin boots that used to warm the feet of fighter pilots, are now apparently made in China - not that their website, which talks a lot about their heritage and use of traditional methods, tells you this. I'm told Doc Martens are now made in Indonesia, which may explain why the last few pairs I tried felt skimpier.

There used to be a world-class shoe industry in this country. If you want good-quality boots that are made in Britain and you can't afford bespoke, where do you go? Are traditional brands now just selling the idea of what they used to produce?

In the 80s shops like Church's, McAfee and Wildsmith sold similar shoes for both sexes. I suspect there are now more options for men than for women. Very disgruntled.

[steveo]

There ye go. My old boots on ebay as we speak

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271658404562?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

[Robert Poste's Child]

If they were in a three and a half I might almost be tempted.

[El Pibe]

Beer!!!!

[El Pibe]

here's a site for you...shoes....http://www.stillmadeinbritain.co.uk/shoes.html

[Robert Poste's Child]

Thanks. Calmer now.

Isn't that a depressingly short list, though? Thatcher's legacy just keeps giving.

[steveo]

Here's one that should cheer you up

Arm Holdings have one their chips in every iphone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_Holdings

[El Pibe]

Rolls Royce engines.

[steveo]

Airbus wings

[steveo]

Henry vacuum cleaners

Dysons are made abroad

[steveo]

Minis, Range Rovers, Jags, Aston Martins, Bentleys and Rolls Royces are all still made here but aren't British owned

[MrBen]

Great lighting:

http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/top/lighting

[DaveR]

http://www.hotter.com/gb/en/womens-boots

http://www.solovair.co.uk/

http://www.yull.co.uk/

[Jeremy]

ARM only design the chips and license the designs, they don't manufacture anything. (IP is nothing to be sniffed at, but if you want something physically made here, you'll have to look elsewhere).

All the things I can think of that are still made in UK have an image of "Britishness" which is key to the brand.

Cars - Bentley, Mini, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Land Rover (of course all foreign owned)

Guitar amps - Marshall, Orange

Bikes - Brompton, Pashley

[steveo]

The X Factor, Dr. Who, Top Gear, The Great British Bake Off, Downton Abbey and Sherlock

I did the cars Jezza

[El Pibe]

do the likes of cambridge audio, musical fidelity, Naim, Linn, rega and so on still make them here? I guess they must, the likes of pioneer and marantz have special editions that are made here don't they.

[El Pibe]

aren't all the indy 500 chassis made here by Lola?

[El Pibe]

It is a bit tragic, the great birth of the industrial revolution and we're scrabbling around for bits and bobs that aren't honda, nissan etc....

[Jeremy]

steveo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I did the cars Jezza

Apologies

> The X Factor

Apology revoked

[Robert Poste's Child]

Having been through all the shoe sites, it looks like hardly anyone's making decent quality shoes for women in this country, just for men. How are women supposed to break through the glass ceiling when they're wearing cr@p shoes all day? Has no one any idea how exhausting it is wearing shoes that are hard on your feet with no protection but a pair of tights, which probably haven't been made here either? Never mind ten years of stripper heels that you can't wear without causing actual damage to your feet and your achilles tendon. Really cross now.

[Siduhe]

Also this list/site here: http://www.britishfootwearassociation.co.uk/promotion/made-in-britain/

[steveo]

OK then Teletubbies

It'll be on somewhere in the world

Eh Oh

[Siduhe]

Can I just say this is a great/timely thread. Having snapped the heel off a much loved work/court shoe yesterday, I was wondering where best to replace it with something that doesn't have a stripper heel (as put above) but isn't a boring plain black shoe and Van Dal looks like a pretty good option for me. Will report back.

[Robert Poste's Child]

I think Hotter has a shop in Kingston. I dismissed them because they seemed cheap quality - which makes me wonder whether this is part of the problem, that other countries make things not only more cheaply but better. Perhaps I'll revisit it now I know they're made in this country.

As someone said earlier, it does seem like our thriving brands have a cast of 'British heritage' to them, which may be what the export market wants now that this country seems to be little more than a theme park for rich tourists. (Oh dear, make her a nice cup of tea, someone.)

I've emailed Solovair to ask if they might be thinking of adding any female styles or colours to their range as at the moment it's the basic Doc Martens styles and mostly men's sizes.

For warm boots I think Drapers (www.draper-of-glastonbury.com) and Celtic (www.celticandco.co.uk/footwear/womens-footwear/sheepskin-boots) may have some possibilities. I shall investigate further. I feel a crusade coming on.

[Otta]

Jezza already beat me to Marshall Amps, which immediately came to mind.

You can still get brit made DMs, but they're more expensive.