Every year, Crockett & Jones releases a seasonal collection that blends new ideas with the brand’s long-standing traditions of English shoemaking. For the Crockett & Jones SS26 lineup, the Northampton maker heads to the Italian coastline for inspiration, unveiling a relaxed but thoughtful collection that leans heavily into warm-weather loafers and travel-ready comfort.
Set against the backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this year’s campaign highlights a new concept for the brand: the Travel Loafer, alongside additions to their popular Summer Suede line.
As always with Crockett & Jones, the emphasis remains on product — quality of materials, thoughtful development, and the kind of reliability that has kept the brand at the top of English ready-to-wear shoemaking for over a century. After visiting the factory and getting my first few pairs (unboxing to come soon), I can really attest to their level of attention to detail and ‘quality-first’ mentality that becomes evident upon wear.
The Travel Loafer
The biggest introduction for Crockett & Jones SS26 is the new Travel Loafer collection, featuring two familiar silhouettes reimagined for comfort and mobility: Harvard 2 and Richmond 2.
Both models are designed around the idea of effortless wear — the sort of shoe you can take from airport lounges to summer evenings without giving much thought to your feet.
These loafers are made from soft milled calf leather, a material chosen specifically for its flexibility and comfort. Unlike traditional structured loafers, the leather requires virtually no break-in period, making them wearable straight out of the box.
Construction details include:
- Goodyear welt construction
- Flexible City rubber soles
- Flexi-welts for increased movement
- Extra-flex shoulder insoles for comfort
- Unlined
The result is a shoe that maintains the structural integrity Crockett & Jones is known for, but with a level of comfort aimed squarely at modern travel.
It’s essentially a Goodyear-welted loafer designed to behave like a casual slip-on, which is an interesting development from a brand historically associated with more traditional footwear.
What is odd, though, is that nowhere is it marketed as unlined, yet it is clearly so. Maybe the word ‘travel’ is supposed to replace the word ‘unlined.’
The Summer Suede Collection Expands
The Summer Suede concept introduced in recent seasons returns for SS26 with additional colors and styles.
Two new versions of Salcombe 2 join the lineup in Dark Brown Suede and Ocean Suede, complementing previous offerings like Pistachio, Desert and Snuff suede.
Salcombe 2 remains one of Crockett & Jones’ most relaxed loafers. It features:
- An unstructured construction
- Wholecut upper with raised apron seam
- Lightweight leather lining
- Gum-colored wedge rubber sole
The gum sole gives the shoe a casual, almost Mediterranean feel — something that pairs easily with summer tailoring, linen trousers, or even denim. This sole is also incredibly comfortable. Like Nike-level comfortable, if not more so.
The simplicity of the design is part of its appeal. Salcombe has always been a loafer that leans into ease rather than formality. You can wear it with everything non-formal.
Introducing the Sorrento Penny Loafer
Another new addition to the collection is Sorrento, a short-vamp penny loafer designed to be Crockett & Jones’ most casual interpretation of the style. This might be the winner of the lineup for me! I just can’t tell which color I like best.
Made on the 391 last, their shortest loafer last, the Sorrento features a noticeably shorter vamp, which gives the shoe a more relaxed and contemporary appearance. And probably why I like it so much. They knocked the pattern out of the park.
Key features include:
- Unstructured construction
- Flexi-welts
- Lightweight ribbing
- No toe stiffener
- Shoulder insoles for flexibility and durability
Sorrento is available in Desert, Pistachio, and Pastel Blue suede, all of which reinforce the light, easygoing nature of the shoe.
In many ways, this is Crockett & Jones leaning further into the softer side of summer footwear — something that works particularly well when paired with warm-weather wardrobes.
Still Made in Northampton
While the collection leans more casual, the foundation remains unchanged.
Every model in the SS26 collection is made in England at the Crockett & Jones factory in Northampton, using the same Goodyear-welted construction that has defined the brand for generations.
Even when exploring softer constructions and travel-focused designs, Crockett & Jones continues to maintain the durability and longevity that has built its reputation over the last 144 years.
My Take
For Spring/Summer 2026, Crockett & Jones is clearly focusing on comfort, versatility, and relaxed elegance. Some might call it very ‘non-British’, but I like to call it ‘British Evolving.’ And it is good to see Crockett & Jones continue to push that boundary.
The new Travel Loafer concept feels like a natural evolution for a brand known for quality construction, while additions to the Summer Suede lineup reinforce the easygoing nature of warm-weather footwear.
If anything, this collection shows Crockett & Jones continuing to adapt — introducing softer, lighter designs while still maintaining the craftsmanship that made the brand what it is today. And I find it impressive the way they have done so. I love all of their new suede colors, the gum colored soft rubber sole, and the casual loafer styles.
And frankly, if you’re travelling anywhere near the Amalfi Coast this summer, a pair of these loafers probably wouldn’t be a bad idea! Let me tell you that the sole is among the most comfortable that I have ever tried!
Learn more here: https://us.crockettandjones.com/
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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