Hawkins boots - much like Doc Martens

j · Jun 21, 2005

I found a pair of Hawkins boots at a thrift store (good shape, $3.50) that look exactly like the Doc Martens of the same style (the 8 holes) but the leather looks a little better and they have a half-insole. They are made in Northampton, where Docs were made before they moved production to China. I have just never heard of this brand before. Has anyone else?

Mods: Leave in MC please.

faustian bargain · Jun 21, 2005

dude, don't you have like a magical +3 Shield of Non-Forum-Switching, or a ring of invincibility, or something?

j · Jun 21, 2005

I have a big glass of shut the hell up....

Tokyo Slim · Jun 21, 2005

http://www.gt-hawkins.net/ Looks like it was purchased by Wolverine in 1999 and is now sold almost exclusively in Japan and Korea.

"We are pleased at the opportunity to add Harley-Davidson footwear to our roster of consumer brands," said Masahiro Miki, President of International Trading Company. "I am confident our efforts to market Harley-Davidson footwear in the Japanese market will produce the same high degree of success achieved with our licensed footwear brands - G.T. Hawkins, an English brand of high quality men's shoes, and Vans action sneakers."

Bic Pentameter · Jun 21, 2005

I found a pair of Hawkins boots at a thrift store (good shape, $3.50) that look exactly like the Doc Martens of the same style (the 8 holes) but the leather looks a little better and they have a half-insole. They are made in Northampton, where Docs were made before they moved production to China. I have just never heard of this brand before. Has anyone else?

Mods: Leave in MC please.

I assumed that Hawkins was the Japanese equivalent of Cole Haan. Â I purchased 2 pair of Hawkins shoes in 1995 in Japan. They were corrected grain, leather soled,and made in South Korea. Â I believe that they have gone down market since then, and offer even more corrected grain rubber soled wares.

As far as I could gather, their Northampton image was entirely manufactured, and not based in fact, but there is no reason why they couldn't be supplied by Loake, Alfred Sargent, or Doc Martin.

Bic

TEHesketh · Jun 21, 2005

Hawkins were a firm of traditional English bootmakers. Certainly up unitll the end of the '70s they were producing high quality all leather walking boots in the UK. No idea whats happened to them since though.

Rob

j · Jun 21, 2005

Thanks for the info guys. These look like they are a few years old and I'm pretty confident they were really made in England. I'm hoping they will break in to fit me because they are perfect work boots. Unfortunately I seem to be between sizes for Doc Martens and other similar English whole-size-only boots...

oursus · Jul 30, 2009

If you do indeed have a pair of Hawkins, please, for god's sake - don't use them as work boots.

Hawkins were a maker of Damn good boots - now no longer around, a good pair would quite literally last you a lifetime, withstanding many re-soles (if you can find someone with the skills in the colonies.. it is getting hard over here)

I bought a pair for an ex girlfriend 25 years ago, she had them until 5 years ago, when her daughter took them hiking around europe, and managed to lose them.

Get Smart · Jul 30, 2009

wow, cant believe I didnt see this thread before!!! What a find J...

Hawkins boots are rare as ****. A pair just sold on ebay recently for 161 GBP. Hawkins was one of the original "skinhead" boots when Doc Marten started to license out the airware sole. Originally came in 6, 8 and 11 eyelet models. The Hawkins factory in Northampton shut down in 1994.

Here are photos of the ebay pair that sold for 161 GBP, these are in oxblood, tho the original color is a dark brown. 11 eyelet model

Leather man · Jul 31, 2009

This is correct. Hawkins were a bona fide Northampton bootmaker and I wore their mountain boots for a number of years. They had real heritage and it was so sad when the factory closed.

What you've found will be good quality and will last you.

gracieusa · Feb 8, 2010

I'm sure the above is correct -- that they have closed. In the mid-80s the Hawkins company paired with Doc Marten to create a shoe called the Astronaut. It had 3-4 eyelets and was completely seamless. The most artistic oxford shoe I have ever seen. These shoes were made on 59 lasts in Wollaston, Northamptonshire UK. I bought them in the US in size UK 4. There must be a vintage shoe maven somewhere who sells these things. I wonder where...

gracieusa · Feb 8, 2010

I'm sure the above is correct -- that they have closed. In the mid-80s the Hawkins company paired with Doc Marten to create a shoe called the Astronaut. It had 3-4 eyelets and was completely seamless. The most artistic oxford shoe I have ever seen. These shoes were made on 59 lasts in Wollaston, Northamptonshire UK. I bought them in the US in size UK 4. There must be a vintage shoe maven somewhere who sells these things. I wonder where...

I. Gentantithesis · Feb 9, 2010

The former G.T. Hawkins factory in Northampton (2006). Hawkins made a variety of hiking and other field boots.

Leather man · Feb 9, 2010

Originally Posted by I. Gentantithesis

The former G.T. Hawkins factory in Northampton (2006). Hawkins made a variety of hiking and other field boots.

It breaks your heart.

cobblers · Oct 27, 2010

The picture shows the appointment to Her Majesty the Queen sign on the Hawkins factory that was in the next street to where I once lived.

Trickers is just down the next street. I believe scenes for Kinky boots were taken there.

Incidentallly I used to work for Crockett and Jones mfg ltd. High class shoemakers in Npton.

It really is saddening to know that thousands of skills have been lost, to progress.
Long gone are the days when a pair of shoes or boots lasted a lifetime.

Hawkins boots - much like Doc Martens

(stands for Jerk)

Distinguished Member

(stands for Jerk)

In Time Out

Senior Member

Active Member

(stands for Jerk)

New Member

Don't Crink

Senior Member

New Member

New Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

New Member

Classic Menswear Featured products

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Plain hem

Cuffed (1.5 inches or less)

Cuffed (more than 1.5 inches)

No preference, as long as the proportions work

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: