Red Wing Shoes history

In 1911 Beckman retired, with stockholder C.H. Boxrud taking over as president.

Then in 1912, the company added the black and brown "Chief" line, commonly known as "the farmer's shoe." In addition to the traditional welt construction of earlier farming shoes, the Chief featured specially tanned, manure-proof leather for longer durability.

Red Wing began fulfilling military needs with the onset of World War I, manufacturing in 1918 the regulation Munson United States Army Last, designed to "fit all feet" with maximum comfort and durability.

Introduced in 1919 as a farmer’s boot.

The Sweasy family of Red Wing has held a controlling interest in Red Wing Shoe since the 1920s.

After Boxrud died in 1921, Sweasy became president of Red Wing Shoe.

The Red Wing winged logo from 1928 is introduced.

In the 1930’s, a line of steel-toed boots was released to provide toe protection from injury that came with many new jobs related to construction and other risky professions.

By 1949, when William D. Sweasy took over as company president following the death of his father, Red Wing had proven its reliability in meeting urgent demand under tight supervision.

Record profits were achieved in 1952, largely attributable to the No.

In 1953 Pecos boots were the first to combine durability, comfort and western styling.

1960: The tagline "Finest in the Field" is first used on an Vasque sign.

The Irish Setter's landslide success was partly responsible for Red Wing's introduction of its Vasque outdoor division in 1965.

Another Red Wing Shoe style that stayed popular over the years, one of several models from this line even became popular in the punk scene of the 1970’s.

Meantime, Arlo "Ole" Jensen became company president in 1972, with Sweasy becoming chairman of the board.

1973: Red Wing targets the work market with a series of ads aimed at America’s skilled craftsmen.

1978: Vasque introduces the "SuperSetter", which featured a unique zipper over a fully gusseted tongue.

1984: Vasque advertises Style 807 with the headline "Not Just For Hunting Anymore." The ad marks another conscious effort to address both the work and hunt markets with the line "Today's working men are wearing them every day on the job as well as out in the field."

In May 1986 Wes Thies, retail division manager, outlined a twofold strategy in Footwear News.

In addition, the company moved toward work shoes made from lighter materials and softer leather. "Our consumers are saying, make it soft but tough," explained Andy Thompson, advertising and promotions manager of Red Wing, in a 1988 Footwear News article.

In August 1989, William Sweasy, Jr., became the first company executive from outside the Twin Cities area elected to chair the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota, representing an honor for Red Wing Shoe Company and its new leader.

In 1990 Vasque introduced Kids Klimbers, a line of hiking footwear for children, featuring a "variable fit child growth system" to accommodate quickly growing feet for an extra six months on average, and also incorporating children's tastes into shoe design.

Palmer Beebe, one executive instrumental in setting up Red Wing's international department, moved on to run Team America, an export business handling footwear for a consortium of United States companies. "United States footwear is underexported," Beebe claimed in a July 1991 Footwear News article.

In 1992 the company encountered astronomical expenses for worker's compensation insurance, a burden that prompted Red Wing--and other Minnesota companies&mdashø look at other states with cheaper policies for future expansion.

In 1993 Vasque launched its first line of sports sandals, responding to a popular trend during that time.

The Potosi plant was earmarked for production of a new Red Wings for Women product line, which was established in 1994.

A fourth division, the WORX brand, had been launched in 1998 and offered a line of moderately priced work shoes and boots.

By 1999 Red Wing Shoe offered more than 180 styles of shoes and boots and 120 shoe sizes and widths for men and women.

In April 2000 Red Wing Shoe reached an agreement to acquire the financially troubled Kaufman Footwear, a shoe company based in Kitchener, Ontario, that produced Sorel outdoor recreational footwear and Black Diamond industrial footwear.

In the difficult economic climate of 2001 sales fell to $342 million.

Overseas, in the meantime, Red Wing in 2002 launched its European-only Lifestyle line, featuring basic boots that had been turned fashionable by dressing them up with more colors and details.

At this request, a new ‘Irish Setter by Red Wing’ logo is introduced in 2004.

In May 2005 the company launched a new line of WORX-branded shoes aimed directly at restaurant employees.

In the meantime, Red Wing's international operations continued to expand with, for example, a Japanese office opening in 2006.

2010: Vasque introduces Exo-Flex™ technology, a ground-breaking combination of design and materials that revolutionized the rubber hunting boot market.

2011: The Vasque brand expands to include Vasque work products, featuring purpose-built work boots that combine the hunting DNA of Vasque with the legendary work boot experience of Red Wing Shoe Company.

2013: Vasque introduces RPM™ technology.

2015: Vasque introduces Rutmaster 2.0 rubber hunting boots, with enhanced ExoFlex™ technology.