Lonsdale is a UK-based apparel company created in 1960 that specialized in boxing and martial arts clothes and equipment. Lonsdale was purchased in 2004 by the British bargain retailer Sports Direct and is currently mostly made in China. Before being acquired by Sports Direct, Lonsdale was based in St Helens, Merseyside. The company's original factory produced over 100 different styles of shoe and was the largest manufacturing facility of its kind in Europe. Lonsdale shoes were originally designed for boxers but found other fans among people who wanted athletic shoes that were comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The company's founder, Bill Lonsdale, came up with the idea for his first shoe after visiting a school where some of the children had no footwear due to poverty. He decided to make a shoe that would fit well and be affordable so kids like these ones wouldn't miss out on enjoying the outdoors because of their lack of money. The Lonsdale Boxing Boot was an immediate success and today there are more than 100 brands that have adopted the Lonsdale design template. After gaining popularity with sportsmen and women, Lonsdale opened new facilities in Liverpool and Hong Kong to meet the increasing demand for its products. In 2004, the company was acquired by Sports Direct for £12 million.