As the longest established shoemaker in England, we are today announcing a new chapter of strategic investment and creative leadership designed to protect our Northampton craft at source while expanding our international presence through closer integration with Turnbull & Asser.
James Fayed, Chairman of Turnbull & Asser, and renowned designer Roberto Menichetti have jointly invested in Tricker’s, acquiring a majority stake through their investment vehicle Blu Heartknot UK Ltd. Alongside this investment, Menichetti will also lead Tricker’s creative direction, in parallel with his role as Creative Director of Turnbull & Asser.
This partnership brings together two pillars of British menswear and craftsmanship: Turnbull & Asser, the historic Jermyn Street shirtmaker, and Tricker’s, the Northampton shoemaker founded in 1829 and synonymous worldwide with hand-crafted country boots and robust brogues.
We will continue to manufacture in Northampton, safeguarding our end-to-end shoemaking expertise and supporting the long-term sustainability of British craft. The investment will strengthen the foundations of the business - from training and skills transfer for the next generation of craftspeople to the most advanced technological improvements in production, ensuring Tricker’s remains a benchmark for British shoemaking for decades to come.
Roberto Menichetti brings a rare combination of deep technical design intelligence and proven experience revitalising historic brands. Born in the United States and raised in Italy, Menichetti began his career in Paris alongside Claude Montana, later joining GFT before being selected to join Jil Sander in the 1990s. He went on to spearhead Burberry’s creative turnaround, modernising its most iconic codes and later served as Creative Director at Céline, as well as consulting for prestigious houses including Cerruti and Ballantyne.
Under Menichetti’s creative leadership, Tricker’s will pursue a clear, product-led agenda: preserve the signatures that define the house - its hand-made construction, traditional shoemaking expertise and quintessential English character while advancing comfort and everyday performance for the modern customer. This includes a renewed focus on fit, long-wear comfort and subtle technical refinement, achieved through disciplined evolution rather than cosmetic change.
Tricker’s iconic boutique on Jermyn Street will continue to be the brand’s London flagship and home, as it has been since 1938. In addition, Tricker’s will be integrated into Turnbull & Asser’s retail world, bringing Northampton-made footwear into a broader wardrobe context alongside one of Britain’s great shirt-making and outfitting houses. Tricker’s shoes and boots will be offered in Turnbull & Asser boutiques in London and New York, including Turnbull’s Jermyn Street flagship and its New York townhouse on East 57th Street.
Martin Mason, Managing Director of Tricker’s, said:
“Tricker’s has always stood for substance - the integrity of our materials, the discipline of our processes and the pride of making in Northampton. Roberto’s arrival marks an important moment for the brand. His deep understanding of style and comfort will ensure that the shoes crafted here continue to feel relevant for years to come. Ours is a product with emotional investment: a story worth telling and one people want to hear. By sharpening our brand essence, shaping compelling narratives and forging emotional connections across both physical and digital channels, Roberto will help guide Tricker’s toward a future that is authentic, resonant and enduring.”
James Fayed, Chairman of Turnbull & Asser and Director of Tricker’s, said:
“Britain’s heritage houses remain globally admired because they are built on real capability: skilled hands, authentic provenance and a refusal to compromise. Tricker’s is a national treasure, not a logo, but a living factory and a body of knowledge. Our responsibility is to protect that legacy and give it the conditions to thrive for decades to come.”
Roberto Menichetti, Creative Director of Turnbull & Asser and Tricker’s, said:
“Tricker’s is an extraordinary story, built over time by skilled minds and hands capable of uniting necessity, good taste, and innovation. This is how its style has been passed down to today - remaining recognisable, solid and elegant. It is precisely this vision, able to anticipate real needs, that led Tricker’s to be the first to create footwear designed for the outdoors, defining an identity that still stands as a point of reference. Entering Tricker’s historic building in Northampton is an intense experience. In the people, in their hands, and in the love and care with which each shoe takes shape, emotion becomes feeling. You don’t see only history, but a future that continues to live. To safeguard Tricker’s means giving continuity to a timeless identity: looking ahead without losing its essence. The future has an ancient heart.”
