Herring is basically the cheapest welted shoe brand in the UK, however it is not low at all, because it is a select shoe shop with private label made by shoe factories in Northampton.
![](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Herring.jpg)
Royal Collection is the top line of Herring which is made by Alfred Sargent and priced at £395. I bet this is the best price you can get for a pair of Alfred Sargent.
![](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Herring-Henry-Royal-Collection.jpg)
And this collection uses oak tanned soles which are probably from English tannery J. F. Baker. This is already a great value for the price, but there is something more, the branded shoe tree is complimentary!
![Herring Branded Shoetree](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Herring-Herring-1966-Tree-Beech-wood-7019-3756-1-e1370854210913.jpg)
Unfortunately, this collection has been cancelled by Herring.
We have seen this situation everywhere, Alfred Sargent was also making private label for A Fine Pair of Shoes, and the collaboration ended earlier. Now, it’s Herring’s turn.
![](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alfred-Sargent-for-A-Fine-Pair-of-Shoes-1024x456.jpg)
Alfred Sargent even has little interest in his own brand, and styles haven’t been updated in a long, long time.
![](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alfred-Sargent-Handgrade.jpg)
It all started when Chay Cooper left to join Crockett & Jones.
![Chay Cooper and Paul Sargent](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chay-Cooper-at-Alfred-Sargent.jpg)
After Alfred Sargent stopped making private labels, Carlos Santos filled up. But this was also a clear change in style and taste.
![](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Carlos-Santos-for-Herring.jpg)
Herring’s premium collection is now made by Cheaney, just like Wildsmith brand in its last few years. At one time, Wildsmith was also made by Alfred Sargent.
![](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Wildsmith.jpg)
We can compare the extremely similar styles of Herring and Alfred Sargent. On the left is Herring’s Henry II and on the right is Alfred Sargent’s Keats.
![](https://u1e353.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/image-187.png)
Lasts are different and Keats is close channeled Goodyear construction. But these are just choices made by Herring maybe for differentiation or different price points.