The Boutique Store
for Gentlemen
Words: Paul Chapman
Andrew Ingman, from Ingmans cobblers, footwear and clothing boutique, is well known in Chesterfield. He’s been repairing shoes here for 33 years.
In keeping with an environmental ethos, their products are high quality, designed to last – no throwaway fashion here, and when your footwear gets worn or needs reviving, they’ll provide a high-quality repair, to bring them back to life.
...it’s about being able to reduce the amount you buy, reducing your environmental impact, your product miles, supporting local.
Check out their website, www.ingmans.co.uk, for a video showing what they can do.
You know you’re getting high quality when you’re visiting a cobbler who’s been acknowledged by one of the finest English Shoemakers, Barkers of Earls Barton Northampton, for their art – “Barkers see us as great representatives for their brand, we stock their shoes and we’re a trusted repair shop for them”.
The quality of the footwear particularly will no doubt cost more initially, but it’s about being able to reduce the amount you buy, reducing your environmental impact, your product miles, supporting local. Many of the products are UK brands, Andrew and his team are all local, so the income stays in the local economy. His design work is by Kelly at 13 Bends Design (who pens our cartoons), “keeping things local is important” he stresses.
Ingmans is based on Burlington Street, in one of the original Burton stores, a gentlemen’s outfitters, so it seems a fitting that Ingmans stock a fantastic collection of clothing; gent’s suits, shirts, t-shirts, polos, wax jackets, jeans, alongside their ladies' and gents' shoes. “It might be easier to say that the only thing we don’t sell is underwear”, jokes Andy.
They also stock luxury brands of handmade leather products. Cobb England, produce some of the finest wallets, belts, luggage you’ll find, “these products are designed to last a lifetime and made upstairs, you’ll struggle to find better craftsmanship anywhere”, says Andy. You can buy your Barkers, Loakes, Trickers and Church’s footwear and clothing UK brands such as Gibson, Guide London plus some fine European brand such as Mac jeans… plus of course their own signature Ingmans range of leather goods.
“Joseph Cheaney & Sons of London recently commissioned a handmade and hand-stitched briefcase, that is sold from their flagship store on Jermyn Street. We’re super proud of what we’ve done for them.”
I plan to catch up with Andy for a more in-depth chat about the business in the next edition, but in the meantime, call into 14-16 Burlington Street for a browse and to reacquaint yourself with a traditional cobbler and quality outfitters.