Tips by Jalal

CHECK OUT the Barker Shoes’ 135th anniversary collection at Latif Shoe Select in Moda Mall.

My favourite – a pair of tanned, rosewood calf leather shoes named ‘Bourne’ – had attractive brogue perforations and a blue innersole. They would work well with cobalt blue trousers or a suit.

Shoemaker David, who flew in from England for the recent launch event, said the handmade masterpieces, using the most carefully selected leather, featured thin comfortable insoles and each pair took six weeks to make.

Good natural light is a prime requirement for leather grading, colour matching and consistently good stitching. The uppers are shaped on last by hand and many other traditional shoemaking methods are still employed including slow natural drying and polishing.

The brand has been making shoes in the Northamptonshire village of Earls Barton since 1880 and the local football team’s nickname, of course, is The Cobblers, a reference to the town’s historical shoe-making industry.

This season that club won League 2 having enjoyed a remarkable season, staying in an automatic promotion spot since mid-November.

2016/17 will be the first time Northampton Town have played in the third tier of English football since 2009 while this is the first title won by the club since 1986/87.

A champion team and a champion shoe!