subject: Style And Sophistication For The Modern Man [print this page] Looking good is a pastime with which many of us are concerned. We all like to look our best, and one way of achieving this is by dressing in a classic manner, but incorporate a contemporary twist. Enter Barker shoes. Barker has been a leading manufacturer of formal fashionable footwear for a long time and has a well-established niche market.
They occupy a relatively exclusive market, boasting a fantastic reputation within the middle and upper classes. They are loved by professionals, by celebrity, and by the elitists. Much of their popularity is due to their traditional British take on footwear fashions. Their footwear is classic, and so they move from era to era with very little problem. For example, a pair of shoes made by Barker in the 19th century, if made now, would be equally sophisticated and distinguished today.
Barker shoes have their roots in Nottinghamshire, England. This area is home to the British footwear industry, and is renowned throughout the world for its excellent build quality, expertise and finery. Of course, this means that a pair of Barkers does not come cheap, an average pair setting you back by around 200. However, they are certainly worth the money, and with care, a pair of Barkers will last many years, if not decades.
Barker began manufacturing footwear in the early 20th century, hence they originate from a time when manufacturing was about making quality products, rather than mass produced items that wear quickly and have a high turnover of use. Barker retains much of this traditional craftsmanship, and this is one of the many reasons why the company continues to prosper, even during these difficult financial times.
However, it is not just the exquisiteness of the shoes that sets this brand apart, they are also known for their highly engineered designs. These shoes are intended to be extremely comfortable and supportive of posture, as well as being attractive. Barkers adapt and mould to the individual foot, and this gives them a comfort that is second to none.
Within the footwear industry, very few brands of footwear are able to boast quite the reputation of Barker. This brand reflects all the strength of manufacturing expertise upon which Britain was built, and which, unfortunately, we appear to be losing. However, Barker does a wonderful job in preserving this idealistic view of Britain, so much so, in fact, that the company exports their shoes across the world, excelling within the specialist, high-brow, footwear market.
Barker appears to be suffering from none of the problems affecting the majority of the economy, and their sales continue to increase year on year. Currently, they manufacture upwards of two hundred thousand pairs of shoes annually. This is an incredible achievement for a company whose humble beginnings originate is a small, industrial, part of the world.
