Quote: cod'ead "Even my trainers are by Norman Walsh, a footwear company that has now been sadly swallowed by Reebok. '" Not according to Companies House they haven't. The original company (Norman Walsh Footwear Ltd) was bought by the Crompton family in 1996, and they wound it up and relaunched as Walsh Sports Ltd which is still trading as an independent and still owned by the Crompton family... www.walshcasual.com/

Quote: cod'ead "Even my trainers are by Norman Walsh, a footwear company that has now been sadly swallowed by Reebok. '" Not according to Companies House they haven't. The original company (Norman Walsh Footwear Ltd) was bought by the Crompton family in 1996, and they wound it up and relaunched as Walsh Sports Ltd which is still trading as an independent and still owned by the Crompton family... www.walshcasual.com/

Apologies to the Walsh brand.

I bought my trainers in a job lot of deadstock footwear at a boot sale around 5 years ago. Most of the items were Red or Dead but was delighted to find the Walsh trainers fitted me perfectly. I even remember suggesting to another forum member that he try to seek out Norman Walsh becuase he was looking for some casual sports shoes that were not among the "mainstream" brands. At the time I bought them the linked-to sites did not appear on any search engine, the only one I could find was an Italian website with what appeared to be obsolete information. Historical information was sp and ended in the 1980s, Can't honestly remember where I ot the Reebok connection from but it was a few years ago.

I do hope that the current products have not compromised Walsh's original standards. Looking at the prices and styles, anyone would be stupid not to consider Walsh when next buying a pair of trainers.

Never heard of them, but they look proper boss. Very likely to be adding a pair to my shoe cupboard.

Dr Martens are now making some of their footwear back in Northampton – primarily the 'vintage' range.

Obviously not British, but if you want to avoid sweatshop labour, then Birkenstocks are still made in Germany (and Portugal).

From WikiUnlike many other audio manufacturers, ARCAM still manufactures many of its products in the UK, with the balance being made in the Far East. The engineering and design side of their products is managed in-house in Cambridge UK.'"

You're so down with the kids.

Just be careful where you buy them, after Ugg they are probably the most knocked-off footwear on the market, expecialy the web

It also kinda blows the theory that a company NEEDS to offshore its manufacturing to remain "competitive"

I order mine direct from the company in Germany – in essence, because they have a wider range of sizes/fittings, and it works out cheaper.

Innit.

I also get my Birkenstocks direct from Germany for the very same reason as Mintball, great shoes.

it's pretty much the only way to make sure you avoid that nasty, nasty capitalism. you can pretty much guarantee that somewhere along the line someone is making a profit at the expense of someone else.

Presumably you're aware that there is no direct link between capitalism and ethics and that one can exist happily within the ethos of the other (in some circumstances) ?

Now where did he say that profit and ethics were mutually exclusive, eh?

It often happens during televised football matches. The commentator praises the quality of a players shooting and the player then gets closer to the corner flag while trying to score a goal.

My lack of morals shames me and I want the dazzling glow of self-satisfaction that you have. What do I need to do to be more like you?