Remembering Scotland's lost Saxone factory
It was the biggest shoe factory in Scotland, and employed more than 1,000 workers in its prime.
The Saxone plant in Kilmarnock was a major employer until the 1980s, with the firm thriving for decades in the town.
1. An army of workers
The Saxone shoe factory in Kilmarnock employed 1,000 workers by the late 1940s, the ultimate expression of the area's shoemaking tradition.
2. A shoe fit for all
Saxone, which also had a network of 180 stores across the UK, made every pair of shoes in five fittings, a key to its success on the high street. The company also pioneered the use of vulcanised rubber soles to help keep feet dry.
3. Honest British workers
Saxone advertised its shoes as being "made of honest British leather by British workers at Kilmarnock", and the company also specialised in a high-fashion range for the European market.
4. A good place to work
The firm was praised for its good relationship with its employees, who regularly earned annual bonuses.
5. Going the distance
Saxone claimed its shoes would last three times longer than any other brand.
6. The last steps
Saxone's giant brick factory closed in the mid-1980s after it was bought by the Sears group, and was later demolished. Within a decade, the company's network of stores had become unprofitable and also disappeared.
Images: copyright JPIMedia. Article by Alison Campsie for The Scotsman.
