“Sing it loud and sing it strong!” The men in the crested black blazers and neatly ironed grey trousers are doing just that. They continue singing about a little village, lying on the hillside by the sea. Each time the men begin the next verse, you can hear it in their collective voices. They’re not just singing about their home town. They’re brimming with pride doing it.
Their home town – and the one referenced in their song – is Flimby by the Irish Sea. And the men singing so proudly are the Flimby male voice choir.
But unlike their regularly scheduled singing sessions on Tuesday nights, this time, the well-dressed group of vocalists are each lacing up a pair of burgundy red M730UKFs and are heading up the A596 and turning onto St. Helens Ln. This time, there is a celebration going on in the town of Flimby.
The tiny coastal community in the North of England is not only home to around 2.000 people but also to New Balance‘s iconic Made in UK program. And for forty(!) years, the factory has preserved the art of craftsmanship and has domestically produced footwear staples that have become beloved by the sneaker community all around the world. A truly noteworthy achievement that the town of Flimby, its neighboring communities of Lillyhall and Maryport, as well as numerous international retailers are celebrating together inside the factory building.
There’s a saying in football (the American kind, in this case): ‘It’s not the Xs and Os, it’s the Jimmys and the Joes.’ This piece of NFL nomenclature states that even the best theoretical concept becomes useless if the players on the field can’t execute it. And in addition to rhyming beautifully, the saying also perfectly describes the role of the Flimby factory in the success of the New Balance Made in UK program.
The 40th anniversary is a celebration of the generations of highly skilled craftsmen and -women whose skill, meticulous eye for details, and search for technical innovation have put the village on the coast of the Irish Sea on the global footwear map. It’s their passion for their craft that has allowed the Made in UK stamp to become as synonymous with ‘superior quality’ and ‘top-notch execution’ as it is today.
40 years of manufacturing in the UK is a great achievement and testament to the skills, hard work and pride our associates give to produce our hand-crafted footwear which are loved by our customers.
Andy Okolowicz, Flimby Factory Manager
Today, NB’s Made in UK program is home to long-serving factory associates, with generations of families working together on the production line. Forty years into the game, Flimby continues to produce some of New Balance’s most sought-after models – including the 991, 1500 and 576 – on a hillside by the sea and delivers them to an audience of sneaker connoisseurs spread all around the globe.
Sing it loud and sing it strong, Flimby. Sing it strong!
BSTN is proud to carry selected pieces from New Balance‘s Made in UK lineup. Browse the hand-picked selection of Flimby’s finest via the button below!
