The Factory


About Us / FAQ
UK MANUFACTURE

Located on the doorstep of the famous Rendlesham Forest, Jadd Shoes is a complete English shoe factory, designing and making every product in house.

We are renowned UK specialists in stitchdown construction footwear, a seemingly simple construction requiring highly skilled labour intensive processes. Some of the key production techniques we have developed ourselves, and add to the refined finish and increased durability unique to our shoes. These closely guarded secrets of our manufacture ensure you get the highest quality footwear of its kind in the world; the Jadd standard.

OUR HERITAGE

Since 1998 when we invested in our first manufacturing machines, we went from making individual pairs of shoes in a small back room of the family business shoe repair shop, to the start of what would become the full shoe manufacturing facility in place today. As our production capabilities have grown, we have been able to fulfil business-to-business transactions as well as selling direct to the consumer.

Some of our customers have included Oliver Sweeney, Clarks International, Carréducker, and several Northamptonshire factories/brands who supply their own uppers and materials for us to make to the Stitchdown construction in our specialist factory. We also collaborate with NPS Solovair to combine our classic designs with their choice of materials and their famous soft suspension soles. We also export our own branded products to the EU, and East Asia.

What is Ox-Reverse suede?

This is the best suede available. The full thickness of the leather is used, and as the name suggests, the leather is specially finished and reversed so the smooth full grain side is inside the boot, and the rough side is finished to a fine nap as the suede side. Most suedes are made by splitting the leather, using the smooth half for smooth leather shoes, and the leftover split is turned into suede. This split is much weaker than full grain leather, so it is often backed with resin or other synthetic materials to add strength, but at the cost of limiting breathability. By using ox-reverse suede for our footwear, the natural qualities of full grain leather are maintained with full breathability, suppleness, and durability.

What is Crepe rubber?

Genuine crepe is created from natural plantation rubber. It's a traditional shoe soling material and perfectly suited to Desert boots. It responds to temperature, becoming softer when warm, and harder when cold. During the summer months, the crepe transforms into a soft cushioned sole, and the leather insole permanently moulds to the shape of the bottom of your feet. This is when your shoes become the most comfortable and crepe soles come into their own as the perfect summer sole. Crepe is a lifestyle sole, and when it's soft from warmth, it will wear quicker. It can also be very slippy on wet smooth surfaces, and should be kept away from oil and solvents (take care at the petrol pump!). Typically we receive shoes back for a resole after 2-3 seasons of wear.

Can you repair shoes?

As long as they're branded 'JADD', we will accept shoes back for repair, putting them back onto their original lasts for a full factory finish resole.

The cost of a full crepe or Vibram unit replacement is £75, plus postage. Please contact us to arrange this.

Alternatively, we use easily recognizable rubber soles in our footwear which can be repaired by any high street repair shop who can also offer a more cost effective half sole or heel replacement service.

I have a favourite pair of shoes. Can you copy them?

Whilst this is in our capability to do so, the cost would be prohibitive. Naturally we would suggest investing in a pair of our shoes which have been developed and extensively tested over a long period, and we're sure they'll become your new favourites.

Do you do ladies shoes?

We consider our styles to be unisex. We can reproduce our desert boot down to a ladies size 3 D fitting.

Do your shoes have a shank?

As of August 2020, all of our footwear is fitted with a tapered beechwood shank to help with arch support. The shank itself cannot be seen or felt inside the shoe, but you will see a raised area on the sole in the waist area where the shank is sandwiched between the insole and the sole. Wedge type soles do not require a shank.

Do your shoes need breaking in?

Yes! We use firmer and thicker materials in our shoes which means there will be an initial break in period of a few weeks whilst the shoes conform to your feet in flexing areas, and at the heel. Your new shoes should feel good when standing, but we wouldn't recommend going for a 5 mile walk on the first day. Instead, rotate your new shoes often with your old ones until they are broken in.
The advantages of building a shoe like this are lasting comfort and durability. It's a trade off between a shoe that feels comfortable out of the box but then begins to collapse and lose all structure, becoming uncomfortable and unwearable after as little as a year, or building a shoe which requires an initial break in, then will stay in that shape and offer good service for years to come; short lived comfort vs. lasting comfort.

Do you ever have a sale?

No. Most of our products are made to order, otherwise we'll make a small stock of our most popular lines to reduce dispatch times. Because there is never surplus stock, we never need to have a sale. Also, our prices are extremely competitive given the quality of materials and craftsmanship, so the retail price is already the best possible price; one of the many benefits of buying direct from us, the manufacturer.

There is a hair on my new shoes.

Horse hair brushes are used during finishing.

How do I look after the leather?

For suede, use a soft brass bristle brush for suede, and a suede gum rubber, to remove surface dirt. For all other leathers, use a neutral coloured dubbin or leather balsam to keep the surface of the leather looking smart. Dubbin will also add water resistance. The leather edges of the soles can be restored using a wax shoe polish of similar colour to the original finish - natural, black, brown.

How long will it take to receive my order?

Orders are typically dispatched within 14 working days of ordering to allow for manufacturing time. We try to keep a small stock of the most popular sizes in each style, so your order could be processed the same day if this is the case.

How much is delivery?

UK - Free, Europe - £10, Rest of World - £22

I'm ordering from outside the UK. Will I have to pay tax?

We are not VAT registered so there is no added tax to our retail price displayed online. You may be required to pay import tax and duty depending on your country outside of the UK.

If you are asked to pay customs but you refuse the parcel, the parcel will be returned back to us but we will not refund your postage.

Returns

If the shoes don't fit or you've changed your mind, send them back in resalable condition for a refund or exchange. We ask that you cover return postage costs with tracking. A refund or exchange will be issued on receipt of your returned goods.

If you are ordering from abroad and are asked to pay customs but you refuse the parcel, the parcel will be returned back to us but we will not refund your postage.