Manufacturers in Northamptonshire are exporting £20mn worth of footwear to Japan every year, Northampton Herald & Post reported on 8 April.
According to the British Footwear Association, more than 300,000 pairs of footwear are sent annually. Their value has risen 45% over five years, thanks to the high demand for luxury and the strong pound.
Once the shoemaking capital of the world, the area is home to brands such as Church, Cheaney and Grenson, which have a reputation for making quality, handmade shoes, thereby helping to maintain the area’s excellent reputation for shoemaking.