Quality and tradition. These are the hallmarks of any leather shoe made from luxury British footwear label Barker, a 135-year-old marque dedicated to producing the finest English footwear using treasured traditional shoemaking techniques. But that’s not to say the brand is stuck in the past. It recently launched an online store and has expanded into new markets, most recently in Hong Kong, where its top-notch products can now be found at Tassels, the city’s go-to expert in world-class men’s footwear. We sat with Alan Pringle, CEO of Barker, to found out the secret to the premium shoemaker’s longevity and success.

Tell us a bit about Barker.

Barker is a luxury British shoemaker with over 135 years of experience in crafting the finest English leather shoes. We use only the most carefully-selected leathers and all our products are lovingly handmade to appeal to discerning modern-day gentlemen.

In your 20 years as CEO of Barker, how has the company evolved and expanded?

When I first started at Barker, the company was solely run as a B2B-only business, it was all about wholesale operating mainly within the UK. Since then, we’ve entered the retail market, and now have four dedicated Barker stores. About five years ago, we also made a major push to digitise our brand by opening our online store.

These continuing initiatives saw Barker win two prestigious awards from the UK Chamber of Commerce – the Best Digital Communications Campaign and Best Business in Northamptonshire.

When did Barker enter the HK market?

Barker made its proper debut in Hong Kong by partnering with Tassels in 2016. We’ve only had about four or five seasons here so far so it’s early days yet, but we’re extremely pleased with the response.

What brought about the partnership with Tassels?

Tassels was pretty much the perfect partner for Barker. It’s already very well-established with a strong following of loyal customers not only in Hong Kong, but also farther afield in Japan, South Korea and China, which was helpful for us as a new brand entering these markets. Since then, I think our partnership has blossomed primarily due to the fact that both Tassels and Barker have a shared passion for offering only the best products possible.

Did Barker have to adapt its shoes for Hong Kong and other Asian customers?

Yes, absolutely. For example, heavy shoes don’t work particularly well in the Asian market because the weather is much warmer here, so we shed a lot of weight from our classic designs. We also introduced models with rubber soles as customers here prefer a stronger grip than traditional leather soles may offer.

What do you think is the secret to Barker’s long success?

I think the biggest contributing factor is adaptability. We refuse to rest on our laurels because the world is ever-changing, particularly when it comes to fashion trends. We’re constantly analysing the market to spot emerging needs. It’s why we went online, it’s why we manufacture collections specific to Asian tastes, and it’s also why we’re currently experimenting with a brand-new women’s shoe line as well.

We try to make shoes that will appeal to everyone. For example, our Professional Collection – which has just debuted at Tassels’ SOGO store – is an entry-level line that offers top-quality shoes at a reasonable cost. At the other end of the spectrum, we have our high-end Barker Black Collection, which features some of our most luxurious and meticulously crafted designs.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup