CRAFTSMANSHIP
We are dedicated to creating proper footwear, handmade and built to last, for men and women. We take pride in designing unique and robust footwear for any occasion, which our customers work hard and play hard in. Our obsessive attention to detail has seen us create our own unique design DNA, with each shoe stamped with the Lancashire rose or our ballsy British White bull.
MEET MARV
FOUNDER
My name’s Marv and I’m proud to be the Founder of LANX. In a nutshell: I’m fascinated by sumo wrestling, like my peanut butter crunchy, once lived on a deserted Fijian island, and my life goal is to become Andrea Pirlo.
I’m proud to be a Northerner. My family are from Blackburn, Bolton and Preston — hardworking Lancashire towns — apart from my grandfather Alberto, who was from Italy.
Creativity runs in the family. After the war, my grandfather moved from Italy to Lancashire, and in 1971 my grandparents started making furniture in their garden shed. During school holidays, I’d help out where I could.
After uni I worked in events and marketing, eventually helping a few footwear brands with campaigns. I thought I’d have a crack at it myself but quickly realised making proper footwear takes serious skill, experience and contacts — so I parked the idea.
Then in July 2016, I changed my mind and set off on a six-month adventure to learn everything I could about making proper footwear, travelling between factories, designers and craftsmen along the way.
SOLE PURPOSE
2016 - 2017
The start of LANX traces back to 26.07.2016. Marv, LANX founder, received a letter that inspired him to roll up his sleeves and take a six-month adventure, the purpose of which was to have the best time of his life and to learn everything he could about making proper footwear.
In all he visited 10 countries, met some fascinating people and picked up countless shoe industry secrets along the way. Most of the shoemakers he visited were still making by hand, a traditional skill he found inspiring.
He returned home In March 2017, and after a swift half in the local pub, he got straight to work. He set about creating his own footwear, combining tradition with a modern edge.
Fast forward to May 2018 and LANX went live, offering a small collection of men's footwear.
MARKET YEARS
2018 - 2020
The early days were hard work but fun. Marv promoted LANX on market stalls, around the north-west of England, doing the hard yards, devoted to meeting customers and learning how to refine our shoes and perfect our service. Since then, we have grown steadily and now boast a small but dedicated team who believe that craft, quality and customer service underpin everything we do.
MANUFACTURING
We like to challenge the norm, take risks and make a statement. Although we take inspiration from English footwear past, we have a firm eye on the future and are busy forging our own piece of history. In addition to our own Lancashire factory and repairs workshop we are proud to work with other partner UK and overseas footwear factories. We are firmly invested in expanding our British manufacturing and working with some of the finest material suppliers in the UK and around the world. Our desire to manufacture products in Britain extends beyond footwear; with belts, bags, scarves and wallets made in Lancashire, socks made in Leicestershire and clothing sewn in the midlands. With much more to come.
VISIT
We are based in the quaint village of Whalley in Lancashire, located in the beautiful Ribble Valley. We are proud to come from this hardworking part of the world, which has a rich footwear history. Round here people are personable, passionate and upbeat. Lancashire is our home, but we still like to venture further afield and now boast a shop in Manchester’s buoyant Northern Quarter. We also attend some of the finest UK events each summer, delighted to meet our customers face-to-face.
COLLABORATIONS
If you're looking for a footwear brand that prides itself on quality and being approachable, respectful, proud, confident and ambitious, then look no further than LANX.
Welcome to our shoe adventure. Now let’s get ‘em worn…