Our Story
1970’s
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN THE HEART OF THE COTSWOLDS
Cotswold shoes are named after one of England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Cotswolds, where numerous golf courses are dotted around the landscape. It’s no wonder that the Cotswold brand started off as a range of stylish, comfortable golf shoes.
In 1976, the brand was born.
1980’s
OUTSTANDING WATERPROOF PROTECTION
Cotswold golf shoes became highly popular, becoming the must-wear brand for amateur and professional golfers around the world. The shoes combined stylish design on the outside with total protection from moisture on the inside. These shoes not only mastered dryness, but had replaceable spikes giving a secure stance for any keen player.
1990’s
BEST IN BRITISH COUNTRY FASHION
The 90’s brought in an element of fun into the style with uppers showing a mix of suede and leather, all treated to repel water. This was an era of sharp, distinguished, sleek yet simple looks for footwear. Bold monochrome styles gave authority yet still embellished the softness of a smart, country brogue. It was not long before a lifestyle range of Cotswold shoes was born.
2000’s
ICONIC FOR BRITISH FESTIVALS
With its wide landscapes and open fields, the southwest has always been the place to go for live music and festivals, and if you’ve ever been to one, you will know that wellingtons are an essential accessory to pack. In 2005, Glastonbury Festival famously had six hours of uninterrupted rain and spectacular thunderstorms! Cotswold came to the rescue of muddy festival goers arriving at the site in Pilton, Somerset with 1,000’s of wellington boots. Since that time, the Cotswold wellington has been a fun favourite festival welly for the whole family.
2010’s
DISCOVERING THE BEAUTY OF THE COTSWOLDS
With its famously vast landscapes filled with beautiful rolling hills and hidden trails for the whole family plus pet dog to explore and discover, there became a clear opportunity for the Cotswold brand to develop its own range of waterproof hiking and walking boots and shoes. The brand now hosts a varied range of hill and trail hikers as well as classic leather walking shoes ideal for casual hiking or dog walking through to longer distances and backpacking. We also rebranded the Cotswold shoes logo to fit with our updated style.
2017
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL AREA
Around forty employees of Cotswold Shoes walked 15 miles in the Cotswold to raise money and awareness of Cotswold-based charity, the Hollie Gazzard Trust. The Trust helps to reduce domestic violence through creating and delivering programmes on domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships to schools and colleges. The Trust has also created the Hollie Guard app which aims to protect lone walkers by turning your smartphone into a personal safety device. For more information visit: https://holliegazzard.org/
2020
Whilst 2020 was a hard year for most of us we also had some good and exciting things happen. We introduced our Wychwood recycled hiker to our range, where 85% of the upper of the shoe is made from recycled plastic bottles.
We also started our partnership with the National Forest in the hopes to plant thousands of trees with your help. In just 4 months of 2020 we planted the equivalent of 1074 trees which is incredible so many thanks to everyone who purchased something in 2020.
TODAY
FOR EVERY WALK IN LIFE
Today, Cotswold has an impressive portfolio of Lifestyle, Hiking, Wellington and Slipper styles suited for the way of life of people living in the beautiful Cotswold’s area, for every walk in life.