The Timeless Appeal of Barker Handcrafted Shoes

Alongside the bespoke tailors of Savile Row and the artisans who weave Harris Tweed in the remote Outer Hebrides islands, British shoemakers have earned a reputation as masters of their craft. Among the best of these brands is Barker, a family-run workshop with more than 135 years of experience hand-making some of the finest leather footwear in the world.

Started in a garden shed by Arthur Barker in the late 1800s, Barker has stayed true to its roots as it has grown into an internationally renowned brand. Each piece of finest-quality European calf leather is inspected and hand-cut by master craftsmen in Barker’s Northampton factory, and soles are Goodyear welted (sewn, not glued) onto the uppers for superior durability. The six- to eight-week process of creating a pair of Barker shoes involves over 200 manual operations. Barker’s distinctive “Handcrafted” collection is hand-polished and finished with elevated details, including soles laser-engraved with the company’s origin story.

As Barker’s exclusive Canadian retailer, Harry Rosen offers a range of options for the season that can be found nowhere else. Double monk straps in luxurious suede will make a statement with jeans and a blazer, while a pair of Barker’s black leather oxfords will elevate any navy blue suit. While Barker remains among the finest shoemakers in Britain, prices start at $550 – a remarkable value for footwear of this quality.

For a limited time, Harry Rosen is offering customers the gift of a Barker shoe care kit with the purchase of any regular priced Barker Handcrafted or Barker Black shoe. Valued at over $200, each Barker kit includes a shoehorn, a natural horsehair brush and applicator brush, neutral wax polish, black wax polish and a duster, all the better to keep your Barkers looking new for decades to come.