In the tradition of all fine craftsmen, the firm of John Lobb continues to make handmade shoes of distinction. Renowned for the quality of their products and still enjoying the patronage of the Royal Family since the mid-1800's, this firm of skilled bootmakers takes great pride in creating individual shoes for individual needs and expectations.

When a customer once telephoned the London office of John Lobb Bootmakers and demanded that one of their craftsmen be sent immediately to his hotel suite, Lobb obliged - even though all the man wanted was for the shoelaces on his Lobb shoes to be changed. Lobb also obliged when an engineer sent precise blueprints to be followed exactly in the making of his shoes. One gentleman always insisted on examining his Lobb shoes under a magnifying glass and yet never found any reason for complaint, for his shoes were always perfect, even 40 years on.

From Edward VII to Charles the Prince of Wales, the Royals have always stepped forward to meet the public in gleaming Lobb shoes. They've adorned the feet of such illustrious clients as the Shah of Iran, Hardy Amies, Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn. When the distinguished essayist and critic Max Beerbohm was interviewed on his death bed in 1956, his first inquiry was not to do with the state of the English economy, the theatre or his many friends in London society, but rather, "Tell me, is Lobb still the best bootmaker in London?" Lobb shoes and boots have been described in many men's journals as one of the secrets of the best-dressed men in the world. Robert Speaigh in 'The Angel in the Mist' writes with even greater acclaim, "Beautiful brogues, these ... Lobb of course, Lobb and Lock (the hatters) are the two last luxuries of noble minds".