The decline of a British stalwart
Russell & Bromley was born from a marriage in 1873, when shoe-maker George Bromley wed Elizabeth Russell, the daughter of a leather manufacturer. They merged their businesses and opened stores across the south-east, and then expanding into the rest of the country.
In the middle of the last century, the brand decided to switch their focus from affordable everyday shoes to a luxury-adjacent offering, and in 1947, opened a store on New Bond Street while closing others in poorer coastal regions. This remains true today; Russell & Bromley’s 37 boutiques are mostly found in the capital, in major regional hubs or in rich commuter towns. Prices, similarly, have remained relatively high, with shoes and boots usually costing between £200 and £450.
