Loake

How ethical and sustainable is Loake?

The men’s shoe brand Loake has successfully passed our Ethical Benchmark in our Shoes & Trainers: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table, and can be considered an excellent ethical shoe brand. This also means that Loake is eligible for Ethical Accreditation, and by applying, it could see its position as a sustainable shoe brand on our Ratings Table increase even further, as it acts on advice on consultation provided by The Good Shopping Guide.

The Good Shopping Guide has researched and rated Loake in relation to 15 ethical criteria relating to the Environment, Animals and People.

About Loake

British shoemaker Loake Brothers Ltd. was established in 1880, is still family-run, and is based in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

The business was started in 1880 in a shed at Thomas Loake’s home on King Street in Kettering, by his brothers John, Thomas, and William. The heart of the English shoe manufacturing sector is in Northamptonshire. The Loake brothers constructed a new factory in 1894 and relocated it to Wood Street, where it is still located today. The Unique Boot Factory was the initial name of the facility. At the time, it was regarded as one of the best and most modern shoe factories in the nation.

Men’s Goodyear-welted shoes with conventional construction are Loake’s speciality. Some models can take up to 8 weeks to complete from start to finish during construction since they require 130 experienced personnel, up to 75 shoe parts, and more than 200 separate procedures.

In 1997, Loake decided to outsource around two-thirds of its closure operation—the stitching of its uppers—to India due to the loss of British manufacturing, and market conditions, and to keep up with other British shoemakers. A privately held Indian business with a manufacturing close to Chennai is a partner in a joint venture with Loake.

Loake’s environmental impact

Loake has an Environmental & Sustainability Policy which gives a short summary of various areas of Environmental Impact (energy, packaging and waste) and gives some small detail on the company’s approach to sustainability. As a medium-sized company, this is sufficient for a top rating.

Does Loake make shoes using Sustainable Materials?

Loake has some shoes made with recycled plastic, but this range is not large enough to give this brand a top rating in our Sustainable Materials ethical research category.

Does Loake make Vegan shoes?

Loake does not sell any products labelled as Vegan but has satisfactory leather accountability in its Animal Welfare Policy.

When it comes to protecting the rights of workers, Loake has a comprehensive and detailed Code of Conduct.

How could Loake improve its Ethical Rating on our Shoes & Trainers: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table?

Loake has proved that it is a good ethical and sustainable shoe brand with its good Environmental Policy, but it could improve its Ethical Rating even further by manufacturing and selling Vegan shoes and shoes made with Sustainable Materials.

If your shoes and trainers brand values ethics and sustainability, why not check out The Good Shopping Guide‘s Ethical Accreditation? Increase customer and investor confidence and stand out from the greenwash.