RED WING SHOE CO.

Fall/Winter 2012 on display

Shoe sewing machine

9158 Handsewn Oxford

8105 Moc toe Oxford

Where it all happens...

Last week I had a meeting with Mr. Red Wing, in their recently opened showroom in Amsterdam. Enjoying a cup of coffee with Dutch apple pie Matthijs told me everything about the brand and the collection. The company was founded by Mr. Beckman a German immigrant, who owned a shoe store in the city of Red Wing, the city was named after a local indian chief. In his advertising he promoted himself as Beckman, The Shoe Man. As a prosperous Main Street merchant, he saw the need for durable and comfortable boots. In 1905 when he couldn't find boots to meet his needs, he started his own shoe company. And the rest is history. The fact that Red Wing doesn't only make work boots is something you see in the 8105 Moc toe Oxford, this shoe was built to meet the demands of the factory managers who needed a sturdy work shoe as they moved from their office to the factory floor. My personal favorite for this summer is the 9158 Hand sewn Oxford, this shoe combines classic oxford styling with premium Red Wing Camel Muleskinner leather and an "American Made" plantation crepe sole. Hand sewn with contrast "baseball stitching" and rawhide laces. These shoes are made in Maine - the traditional home of moccasin style shoes and is one of the oldest and most traditional methods of constructing a shoe.