The History of Red Wing Boots

 Charles H. Beckman was the original founder of The Red Wing Shoe Company in 1905. Having looked for a work boot for himself, he found that the footwear market had nothing to offer in the range of a work boot that was both hard-wearing as well as stylish. Thus, he took it upon himself to make his own; encompassing the American belief that if you worked hard enough, it was possible to achieve anything.

He then gathered the interest of another 14 local business men and investors within the town of Red Wing, Minnesota. Their objective - to create the best work boot on the market, and ones that were tailored to specific needs and demands. To ensure this, one of the key ingredients would be high-quality leather, which is why they teamed up with S.B.Foot Tanning, a local tannery who had been producing the highest quality of leather since 1887. With their expert knowledge and expertise, their leather was used to produce the original work boot which incorporated this high-quality leather, alongside laces and buckles to provide a secure, comfortable fit for customers.

Production of their boots increased to 100 boots a day by 1907, which had increased five fold by 1915 with 200,000 boots a year being made. The company's factory, which was located on the corner of Potter and Main Street was constructed entirely to meet the production process, with designated rooms to meet all of the manufacturing processes needs. A cutting room was established where the specialised craftsman had to work to precise measurements and ensure the heavy leather was of the highest of quality. Then, those in the fitting room would be responsible for providing the boots with their design features; e.g. the triple-stitch seam (a design feature that became a trademark of Red Wing boots). The boots would then be carefully packed and loaded onto horse drawn carts in their wooden crates before being distributed to river merchants who would distribute the boots to various retailers along the Mississippi River. During this period, Red Wing adopted their logo, which was true to the heritage of the company, commemorating Chief Red Wing who had led the inhabitants of Red Wing previously.

It was during World War I that Red Wings dedication to the workers and people of America became evident; as they altered the production of their boots to begin producing boots for those who were serving in the war. Then, in 1918, J.R. Sweasy took the Red Wing brand under his wing, becoming general manager before becoming president in 1921. He successfully guided Red Wing for thirty years, helping them through two World Wars and the Great Depression. He then passed on his knowledge and passion of the Red Wing company as it continued in the Sweasy family for a further three generations.

During 1928 a new logo was introduced, but still retained the same heritage of the first, with a red feather from Chief Red Wing's signature headdress becoming the predominant feature. The logo is much like the one we associate with Red Wing today.

Friday 29th October 1929, a day most American's are unable to forget, creating the name, Black Friday, when America entered the deep depression. However, J.R.Sweasy was in control as the company's president and with his continued dedication, they rode the storm. Making cost-saving changes, such as burning waste leather instead of fires, they were able to continue to shape the work boots industry. Most noticeably was the steel safety toe box work boot that was designed during this time, and created a design feature that is still seen today.

Red Wing recognised that there was many more sales available, should they be able to travel further and access different places. Hence, they introduced mobile sales to the company, allowing for workers to take the boots to various factories to allow the factory workers to buy Red Wing work boots. This is just one indication of how versatile the Red Wing brand was, and a foundation as to which allowed them the respect of the Army, with them returning to them for boot manufacturing during World War II. Red Wing were definitely up to the challenge, and went that one step further, producing 239 different sizes and widths for their Army boots.

This therefore provided the company with much respect from their fellow American's and enabled for further popularity, spreading the word of the brand's renowned quality all the way across America.

Enter the 1960's and Red Wing had to extend their premises to a second location just down the road from their original factory. This expansion is a clear sign of just how popular and in demand the Red Wing boots now were, which also resulted in them being able to introduce further advertisements to the company. They employed Norman Rockwell, an artist who was renown in America for being able to capture the mainstream life of America, creating a set of drawings for the company. These adverts contained real-life situations that American's could relate to, alongside slogans, such as; "Wear Red Wings, for comfort all day long."

During the late 1960's, the oil industry began to boom, and with their specialised boots, Red Wing were able to capitalise on this, expanding worldwide. From this time to the early 1970's the Red Wing Company saw expansion to Canada, Mexico, Europe and South America, as well as oil companies in the East. However, this expansion didn't mean a disregard for the quality and innovations of their boots as they continued to maintain their original philosophy; constantly endeavoring to make a better work boot. This is very clearly indicated in their Super Sole, which was created during this time and consisted of a urethane sole that was attached directly to the shoe, making for a more comfortable, durable boot.

By just 1985, they had begun to produce a whopping two million boots a year, a staggering 100 times more than was produced in 1915. Evidently, with such a vast increase, Red Wing were able to expand their factories and introduce night shifts. Furthermore, by 1990, the company had introduced 150 different styles to their collection, ensuring that every occupation and duty was catered for with their boots; allowing for every industry across the world to wear their shoes with pride.

To date, Red Wing continue the heritage of their brand, retaining much of what they did in 1905 as they do now. They are arguably one of the most respected and high-quality of work boot manufacturers across the world, and it is due to their dedication and hard-work that has lead to this. Furthermore, whilst they may have produced hundreds of boots worthy of being deemed the "Best Work Boot", they haven't just sat back on their heels to bask in their glory. Rather, they continue to try and create an even more innovative and exceptional boot; using the same craftsmanship as before, the same premium leather from S.B.Foot Tanning and their signature triple-stitch seam. They even continue to use some of the same machinery as was used in 1905, a sure sign that the past is just as important as the present and the future, as the past is clearly the defining feature of their boots, retaining the original American work mans boot.

Just as the Red Wing Shoe Company has endured year after year, for over a hundred years, Redwing shoes and boots are also unbelievably durable. Whether your job requires physical activity or you're an outdoorsy, athletic type, a pair of Redwing shoes will serve you well - protecting your feet, maximizing your performance, and also keeping you looking quite stylish.

Redwing shoes are not only good-looking, boasting a rugged charm, but they're about as sturdy as a pair of shoes get. Red Wing's specialty is work and hiking boots, but in all the company's years of experience, their line keeps growing. Redwing shoes have evolved with society. Instead of outfitting horseback riders, they now outfit motorcycle riders! From pull-on boots to steel toe boots to zipper boots, the options are endless.

They put care into every detail of crafting a pair of boots - from inspecting the leather to putting the final trims on a shoe, no part of the process is taken for granted https://www.lovetoshift.com/. Redwing shoes are made with expertise and meticulous attention to detail.

If you're looking for quality craftsmanship, technologically advanced, and not to mention great-looking, boots, the Red Wing Shoe Company is probably one of your better bets as it's been around the block more than a few times.