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George Cox

George James Cox established the company in 1906 in Northamptonshire, England, home of the finest shoemakers in the world. The company has always combined the quality of the Goodyear Welted construction found in that region with a flair for originality, defining for itself a unique market position.

Over the years the company has built an increasing reputation for innovation, working closely with some of the most famous designers of each age. Having first produced "brothel creepers" in the early 1950's and extreme "winkle-pickers" in the 1960's, the company was thrust to the forefront when these looks were resurrected by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, manager of the Sex Pistols, becoming the uniform of a generation of punks in the 1970's. (Indeed for their "filthy lucre" comeback tour in 1996 the band again wore Cox creepers.)

While the products' success was built on the authenticity only possible by the use of the original lasts and patterns, the styles spawned a completely new look when harnessed with Dr. Martens soles, for which Cox became licensed manufacturers in 1973. This arrangement changed in 1995 when, for a short while, Cox designed specialist ranges sold exclusively by Air Wair, before deciding to go its own way completely. The rockabilly styles, which became synonymous with the London store Robot during the 1980's, remain an all time classic.

The close and longstanding relationships formed with innovative independent retailers, combined with an unrivalled variety of lasts and patterns, an inbuilt positive attitude towards continual product development, and home-grown creativity have proved mutually beneficial to customer and supplier alike, with distinctive ranges of George Cox footwear now to be seen in premier retailers around the globe.