International trade
The UK footwear trade is characterized more by imports than exports. In 2022, the import value of footwear from countries outside the EU amounted to roughly 2.8 billion British pounds. This marked the second year in a row that imports from outside the EU were worth more than footwear imports from within the EU. The EU does, however, remain the the leading destination for UK footwear exports, although the value has fallen dramatically since 2020, by over 900 million pounds.Retail & brands
For UK footwear retail, 2022 showed significant growth, both in terms of sales value, with an increase of over one-third, and quantity bought, which rose by almost 26 percent. The index number of footwear sales per week rose above the 2019 baseline level of 100 for the first time in 2022, reaching 108.4.Some of the most popular footwear fashion brands in the UK include Dr. Martens, Hunter Boots, and Clarks. The iconic British brand Dr. Martens, also active in markets outside the UK, has seen its worldwide sales skyrocket to over one billion British pounds in the financial year 2023, well over double the revenue from the financial year 2019. The brand was acquired by the London-headquartered European investment company Permira in 2014.
