International trade
The UK footwear trade is characterized more by imports than exports, with the annual value of arrivals from European Union countries amounting to 2.7 billion British pounds in 2020. China ranked as the main import partner for footwear to the UK, at a value of nearly 1.17 billion U.S. dollars that year. Over the years, the EU has gained primacy over non-EU sources as an import partner of the UK for footwear. Similarly, the EU is the leading destination for UK footwear exports.Retail & brands
For UK footwear retail, 2020 was not the best year driven by COVID-19 pandemic. Footwear and leather goods sales declined that year, compared to the year before, both in terms of sales value and quantity bought, by about 26 percent each. The index number of footwear sales per week in the UK had decreased significantly in 2020 and dropped to an index point of 78.9.Some of the most popular global footwear fashion brands originate in the UK, such as Dr. Martens, Hunter Boots, and Clarks. The iconic British brand Dr. Martens, active in markets outside the UK, has seen its worldwide sales skyrocketing to over 672 million British pounds in 2020. The brand was acquired by the London-headquartered European investment company Permira in 2014.
