About Us

Frank Jones

Frank Jones was for many years one of the world’s leading authorities in Footwear Manufacture. In a career spanning almost 60 years, Frank has lead projects and worked in many different countries and environments. This has included working at SATRA, the world renowned footwear research organisation, at a major shoe manufacturing company in Kenya setting up a dedicated management training facility, as well as doing footwear manufacturing consultancy work in South Africa, Canada, France, New Zealand and the USA. He was latterly Head of Footwear at Accrington and Rossendale College in England.

Noble Footwear

Noble Footwear was founded by Frank Jones in 1996 and for many years provided consulting, training and advisory services to governments and organisations all over the world.

Noble Footwear carried out work in the UK and USA, Poland, Slovenia, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, Mauritius, China, Egypt and India and had contacts and influence in many other places as well.

The Pattern Cutters Handbook

It was while working at Noble Footwear that Frank decided to address the huge gap in documented knowledge for the Footwear Industry. There was no high quality training material focused on Footwear Pattern Cutting.

Over many years, he worked on this and finally created his renowned Pattern Cutting Handbook, bringing together the best footwear pattern cutting expertise from his many contacts all over the world and editing it into an easy to read and understand format.
The current and final version of the book is version 3.

Hand Shoemaking

Towards the end of his career, Frank spent a lot of time working with and supporting people in the ‘re-emerging’ hand shoemaking industry. He established strong relationships with bespoke shoemakers all over the world, ran training courses and provided start-up assistance to many people.
He became particularly close to Western and Cowboy hand-made boot makers in the US and to Orthopaedic shoe makers, both of who’s skills often go unrecognised.
He was awarded a one-off lifetime achievement award by members of the American hand shoemaking industry in recognition the contribution he made.

Bespoke Shoemaking

On one of his many travels around the world, Frank met up with Tim Skyrme in Australia. Tim Skyrme, is a highly regarded Australian craftsman and teacher of hand shoemaking and Frank had long since gained enormous respect for his skill. Tim created Bespoke Shoemaking to help his hand shoemaking students. It took 10 years to complete and remains one of the best practical guides to hand shoemaking in the world today. Tim has granted Noble Footwear exclusive rights to the ongoing publication and distribution of Bespoke Shoemaking.

Retirement

Frank is now retired, but his legacy goes on in the shape of his book, the Pattern Cutters Handbook and Tim’s book Bespoke Shoemaking

The very many people they and their books have helped and continue to help develop careers in Footwear are testament to a life well lived.

Both books will remain available at Noble Footwear.

Mike Jones