Our History
The Denton family - making shoes since 1846
1920s - 1960s
1970s - 1990s
2000 - TODAY
Footwear is in our blood! Our footwear roots can be traced back to 1841. DB Shoes Ltd was founded in 1920 in Northamptonshire, after our grandfather and his identical twin brother returned from the 1st World War and started DB Shoes Ltd.
Today, we are best known for our manufacture of comfortable, quality footwear in a variety of extra wide fittings. Indeed, no other British company offers a greater range of fittings for wider feet.
Our Footwear Heritage
1841
THE TRADITION BEGINS
George Denton starts in the leather processing industry, and is described in the 1841 census as a currier.
1846
THE SHOE MAKERS
Benjamin Denton established as a currier and shoe factor.
1867
MECHANISATION
B Denton and Sons install a Blakes sewing machine - the first of its kind in the UK and the start of the industrialization of footwear manufacture with people moving from small workshops to mechanized factories.
1873
WILKINS & DENTON
Son George joins with Mr. Wilkin of London to supply the British army with boots.
1914 - 18
FIRST WORLD WAR
Identical twins Jack and Bill Denton go to war.
1920
DENBROS LTD IS FOUNDED
After returning from the First World War, Jack and Bill Denton launch Denbros Ltd.
1939 - 45
SUPPORTING THE WAR EFFORT
The company supplies 1.5 million pairs of boots to the front.
1944
STEEL TOE CAPS ARE BORN
Wilkin & Denton secure the rights to manufacture and distribute footwear with steel toe caps (invented by American Arthur Williams and company). This company develops the "Totectors" brand of safety footwear
1960s
DENBROS LTD CHANGES NAME TO DB SHOES LTD
1970s
DB and Easy B registered
DB and Easy B registered as trademarks.
1970s
A TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH
DB Shoes were the first factory outside the Clarks group to be permitted to use polyurethane injection moulding technology, transforming production methods.
DB Shoes continues to use this technology, making it the longest established polyurethane injection moulding operation in the world.
1997
A CHANGE OF DIRECTION
Charles and David Denton, also identical twins, buy out the other shareholders and start the process of transforming DB Shoes from a loss making business into the successful business that it is today.
2004
INVESTING IN WIDE FITTING SHOES
Wider Fit Shoes Ltd started selling DB shoes direct to the consumer via mail order and the internet.
BCC NATIONAL AWARD
The brothers win the outstanding business achievement award for rescuing DB Shoes and creating Wider Fit Shoes.
2017
DB SHOES WINS THE COMFORT/WELLNESS BRAND OF THE YEAR
DB Shoes Ltd wins the award for the Comfort/Wellness Brand of the year at the 2017 Footwear Industry Awards ceremony.
2019
DB SHOES WINS THE COMFORT/WELLNESS BRAND OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND TIME
DB Shoes Ltd wins the award for the Comfort/Wellness Brand of the year for the second time at the 2019 Footwear Industry Awards ceremony.
2020
DB SHOES CELEBRATE THEIR 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Proud to be producing footwear for 3 generations!
2020
DB SHOES WINS HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD
DB Shoes wins the "Highly Commended" award at the 2020 Footwear Industry Awards ceremony.
2022
END OF AN ERA -
UK PRODUCTION CEASES
We have manufactured shoes in Northamptonshire for over 100 years, but sadly have had to recognise that the support infrastructure is no longer available in the UK to manufacture the footwear demanded by today's consumer.
The company has imported shoes for many years to supplement its UK made range so though this is an end of an era for the family, for the business it is a continued adaption to the world it finds itself in. The majority of the company's employees have been re-trained in the future skills needed for the future direction of the business.
This transition ensures the company can maintain up to date styling, access to the latest materials and have access to the latest manufacturing techniques allowing it to develop the best range of shoes for its customers' needs.
Design, customer services, quality control and warehousing remain at its historic Rushden site.2022
START OF A NEW ERA
THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
DB Shoes invests in new systems, websites and digital technologies to inform and market its exclusively designed and developed footwear to consumers looking for wide fitting shoes across the world.
TODAY
The comfort and style of DB Wider Fit Shoes is increasingly being discovered by customers through out the world. Read some of the life changing comments the company receives showing how its shoes have given "the freedom to walk in comfort and the joy of living life to the full without thinking about your feet!"
THE PERFECT FIT FOR WIDER FEET
Our shoes offer style and comfort without sacrificing foot health. These wide fittings are not available 'off the shelf' from any other catalogue.
THE DB MARK OF QUALITY
Look out for the Denton Brothers (DB), Easy B or Da Bella logos in your local stores, which denotes a shoe designed and manufactured by us or one of our partner factories - your assurance of a top quality product