Sanders

Sanders & Sanders Ltd. was the brainchild of brothers William and Thomas Sanders, of Rushden in Northamptonshire. William Sanders was taken on as an apprentice in the shoe and boot trade in London, before returning home with the intention to set up a shoemaking business with his brother.

The brothers had their own workshop in the centre of Rushden by 1973, with five workers to cope with the high demand. Eventually as the orders began to increase, William and Thomas expanded their factory and employed more craftsmen, moving the premises to Spencer road on the outskirts of Rushden.

Machinery started to become more advanced and the introduction of Charles Goodyear’s ‘goodyear welting’ machine sped up the process of shoemaking for the company. When the First World War began, the demand for boots was at its peak, and Sanders & Sanders Ltd. were producing almost 6000 pairs of boots for the army per week. The high demand for boots still continued after the war ended in 1918, and 5000-6000 pairs of boots were being delivered all over England.

Sanders & Sanders Ltd. suffered one of what William Sanders described as the ‘biggest blows’ they’d ever had when his brother Thomas discovered a fire at the factory in 1924. Sanders took what he could get from the safe, while the fire consumed the rest. The cause of the fire was never discovered, but the brothers profited through misfortune and rebuilt the factory in a more contemporary style with the latest machinery installed. The factory was extended so the whole shoemaking process was under one roof. A year after this, William Sanders retired and left the business to his three sons; William, Thomas and Leslie. Today the business is being run by the fourth generation of Sanders, and produces over 2000 pairs of fine quality shoes and boots weekly.

The Sanders & Sanders factory still remains on Spencer road, exporting to over 30 countries worldwide.

Sanders & Sanders is a new brand to us this season. With a range of formal styles such as the Fakenham, a classic brogue with a durable Goodyear welted sole. The Aintree Derby boot is also a smart shoe which would look stylish and sophisticated when paired with jeans and a shirt. For a more casual look, try the Hi-Top Chukka boot, a suede silhouette with a crepe sole unit and lace-up fastening. Other styles include the Jude and Alfie brogues.

Shop our full range of Sanders & Sanders Ltd. footwear on our website here or at our Sunderland store.