From Teddy Boys to Punk Fashion, 'GEORGE COX' Has Always Been at the Side of British Subculture

It's no exaggeration to say that the most famous rubber soles in the world are 'GEORGE COX'. The reason is that GEORGE COX is the origin of the rubber sole.

This time, we talked with Koji Nagatomi, Asia Development Manager of Hit Union Co., Ltd. GEORGE COX, about how the rubber sole was born and the history it has traced.

Converting a Former Swimming Pool into a Factory

"GEORGE COX began in 1906 in the UK. The founder was George James Cox. While working at a beer factory, he started making shoes as a side business. Initially, he was selling black and brown derby shoes and oxford shoes.

"Later, in the town of Wellingborough, which is near Northampton where shoe making is thriving in the UK, he converted a building that used to be a swimming pool into a shoe factory and named the factory Castle Works."

Creeper Soles, Crepe Soles, and Rubber Soles All Refer to the Same Thing

The rubber sole was first manufactured in 1949. It is said to have been during the era of George Hamilton Cox, who took over the company from James. Let's hear about the story that has been handed down.