Christine's Shoes & Accessories is situate at 7 High Street, Criccieth (opposite the Post Office)and was originally opened by Christine & Gordon Smith in 1977. After 37 years in the business they retired and closed the doors early in 2014. A short time after closing down Christine's sister, Sue, decided to take on the shop and re-opened the doors with new stock on the 9th June 2014. The shop continues to stock the same companies, but with a few more on board.
Here are the main brands :
RIEKER / REMONTE
Founded in the Black Forest region of Southern Germany in 1874, Rieker originally produced shoes for the affluent citizens of Northern Italy. The company soon gained a reputation for quality and has built itself into a household name in Central Europe. The company has been family owned for 5 generations and its commitment to quality and style has ensured continuous growth for 30 years.
This hugely popular brand produces shoes and boots which are not merely decorative, fashionable, products. Their functional features mean they offer much more than that. Every shoe incorporates special construction and utilises lightweight and elastic components to achieve special anti-stress features.
Those features are :
- Minimum weight
- Optimum shock absorption on varying surfaces
- Maximum reflexibility
- A construction that devotes space to areas where the foot expands through the day
Rieker shoes and boots are different from athletic shoes because the design of athletic shoes is mostly for short-term, high performance. The performance of Rieker shoes is not only measured by how fast you run or how high you jump, but how good you feel in everyday life.
ALSO, our stunning range of REMONTE ladies’ shoes are lovingly crafted with comfort and style in mind. Whether you’re looking for a pair of cosy lace-up shoes or summery sandals, our sister brand has a shoe for every occasion. Remonte shoes are available in a variety of colours and styles, so it’s easy to find a pair to suit any outfit. With a wide range of sizes, including wide-fit and extra-wide fit, we can guarantee you’ll find the perfect fit for you here at Rieker.
GABOR
Gabor shoes were founded in Germany in 1949 by Joachim and Bernhard Gabor, and is now run by Joachim Gabor’s son, Achim. Since their creation, Gabor shoes have become globally celebrated for their comfort and style. Gabor has something on offer for every season and, thanks to technically advanced manufacturing techniques, superior levels of comfort and quality come as standard. Gabor shoes are never designed for style over substance, but rather both in equal measure. Crafted from the finest materials and cushioned for extra comfort.
JOSEF SEIBEL
Josef Seibel is one of Europe's longest established shoe manufacturers. Built to the highest quality, Josef Seibel footwear offers the highest level of comfort for all day, everyday wear.
The collection hosts a combination of top-quality materials and hand-crafted elements, designed with sustainability and the perfect fit in mind. Removable insoles, genuine hand stitching and lightweight soles all provide endless comfort in every Josef Seibel shoe. High aesthetic standards and modern design come together to create a comprehensive selection of beautifully versatile footwear.
FLY London
FLY London was created in London in 1994 with its production based in Portugal. Its design philosophy has been to create original fashion products using traditional techniques in an unexpected way. Bound for the fashion market, Fly London is uncompromising in its style and design. Its logo 'Fly London is more than a brand, it’s a lifestyle. Don’t walk, fly!'
MOSHULU
Though I still have a large amount of Moshulu slippers, some men's and ladies footwear, as well as some accessories in stock, I am disappointed to report that the Company have decided to no longer supply the small independent shops and want to concentrate on their own online business and shops. As one of those small independents, I am truly disappointed at their decision.
CAPRICE
Caprice are world renowned for their comfort footwear and leading innovative comfort technology. Their products are protected by several registered European patents, which are the technical conversions of their central idea of “Walking on air”. Caprice customers will appreciate the combination of high fashion and comfort and wellness, which are essential features of Caprice products.
ARA
Ara are a company that develops, manufactures and distributes shoes all over the world. Their company headquarters are in Langenfeld/ NRW/ Germany. They have been family owned for over 60 years.
For more than six decades, Ara Shoes have been developing versatile footwear of the highest quality - always remaining true to their philosophy that every shoe should be as unique as its wearer. The brand stands for the unusual combination of comfort and modern designs. With Ara, you will find shoes that are simultaneously attractive and comfortable to wear. Every shoe is the result of a labour-intensive production process involving up to 130 stages. Only the best materials, which have been tested for hazardous substances, are employed. The high quality that you associate with the Ara brand is tested and documented by independent institutes.
H B SHOES
Since 1964 HB Shoes has been a by-word in London for exquisitely designed Italian shoes. Originally based in Bond Street, HB pioneered the introduction of artisan Italian footwear to the best shoe shops in London, and later throughout the UK and Ireland. HB now source footwear from other European manufacturers, but their pride in design, quality and fit remain the hallmark of their stable of brands. HB Shoes offers premium footwear for the fashion conscious wearer. Their premium quality shoes are made from the highest quality leathers and true to their heritage, are still handmade in factories in Italy and Spain.
PADDERS
For over 100 years. Padders have been renowned for their quality shoemaking, coupled with a forward-thinking strategy and considerable investment in technology and innovation, which makes them one of the UK’s longest serving suppliers of premium footwear. All of their shoes are designed with customer comfort in mind, with
Camel Active – is an international lifestyle brand for Men and typifies casual and modern shoes. Regardless whether vibrant cities or broad landscapes, Camel Active elicits a desire to discover new cultures and faraway lands. In doing so, camel active meets the demands of modern men and women who love to get out and about. Inspired by journeys to far-flung lands, Camel Active creates modern casual wear which combines natural, high-quality materials with functional elements and fabrics.
You can find Camel Active products in selected specialist retailers and in more than 50 countries.
START-RITE
With 220 years of experience and expertise, Start-rite are dedicated to creating quality, durable, stylish-fitted footwear designed especially for children of all ages.
Now in an eighth generation family business, Start-rite has been trusted by generations of parents to care for their children's feet. With a heritage dating back to 1792, they retail through a network of over 400 independent and multiple retailers across the UK and internationally, so it's never been easier to find their products
RICOSTA
In 1955, Ricosta became a registered brand (Rieker and CO STAbil). Roland Riker lead the company in independence and established RICOSTA as the brand for modern shoes for children and teens. In 1977, Roland Bieger took over as Managing Director, and in 1978, the PEPINO brand was introduced. Our ‘fine shoes for small feet’ conquered the training shoe market. In 1994, RICOSTA become the world’s first shoe manufacturer to injection-mould non-toxic, light polyurethane soles (PU soles) directly to the uppers without using adhesives. The patented process was seen as pioneering achievement in the shoe industry.
Ricosta and Pepino (our little ones) shoes cover a wide range of sizes, from EU 18 to 43. Since the width of your child's foot also plays an important role, we have a variety of styles to accommodate your needs. Our shoes are created with you in mind, with great designs and useful features. Breathable high-tech materials such as the SympaTex® membrane, offer 100% waterproof footwear but allowing an optimal foot climate. Here moisture is transported to the outside, but at the same time no moisture penetrates inside. Made with German precision, our children’s shoes combine durability, comfortability and style. They are manufactured to a high quality; made with soft breathable leather and a light flexible PU sole.