NORMAN WALSH
STORY SO FAR
Founded in 1961 in Bolton by Norman Walsh (born 20 July 1931, Daubhill, Bolton). Walsh entered the footwear trade at 14, apprenticing at J.W. Foster & Sons in Bolton — the firm whose Foster brothers later founded Reebok. While at Foster's, Walsh made the 'Fosters De Luxe' track spikes for the GB Olympic team in 1948, the running shoes Roger Bannister wore to break the four-minute mile in 1954, and the boots worn by Nat Lofthouse in the 1958 FA Cup Final won by Bolton Wanderers. He launched his own brand in 1961, developed the Pennine Adder mountain running shoe in the late 1960s — widely credited as the first purpose-built fell-running shoe — and pioneered EVA midsole foam in 1971. The brand is the choice of generations of fell runners and Olympians and is described as the last British-owned manufacturer of traditional sports footwear, still operating from its Bolton factory.
DESIGNED BY
In-house Norman Walsh design team based at the Bolton factory. UK-based: Yes.
MADE BY
Per the brand's own 'Where Are Walsh Shoes Made?' page: Norman Walsh runs two production lines — one in its Bolton factory in Lancashire (the heritage / handmade line, using techniques retained over more than 50 years) and one in China (used to scale selected styles for the wider market). The brand markets itself as the last sports footwear brand designing and handmaking trainers entirely in the UK, while being transparent that some volume is produced overseas. No published volume split between the two lines.
TO BUY
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further research reading
https://normanwalsh.com/pages/our-story
https://normanwalsh.com/blogs/news/where-are-walsh-shoes-made-the-story-behind-our-uk-and-china-production
Region Made
