Sanders was founded by brothers Thomas and William Sanders in Rushden, Northamptonshire in 1873. The region's cattle breeding led to the establishment of many tanneries, and in turn the shoe industry. After participating in the war effort, Sanders' production stabilised, supplying the "Sanders Uniform" to police, army, and firemen. The iconic "Playboy" model popularised by Steve McQueen in “Bullit” was adopted by Sanders in the 70s after Hutton's bankruptcy, embodying their philosophy of pushing the boundaries.