Clothing
+ Fashion		Jewelry +
Watches		Home +
Furniture		 Pottery 
+ Glass		Art +
 Photos 		Paper +
  Books  		Music +
Movies		Toys +
Games		Sports +
Outdoors		Ads +
  Signs  		Eras +
Themes

Shoes and boots are often worn to make a big fashion statement, as the chunky platforms and stiletto pumps of Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo so amply show. But shoes have another purpose—to help their wearer get a job done, comfortably and safely.

In particular, boots have long been put to work. Some of the first work boots were 19th-ce...

By the 1880s, more than 100 companies in Kansas were making boots for Texas cowboys. In Texas, Justin Boots was probably the best-known name. Long before it gobbled up Nocona Boot Company, Chippewa, and Tony Lama, Justin was making boots for ranchers, as well as six- to eight-inch lace ups for workers in other fields.

Wolverine got started around the same time. Established in Rockford, Michigan in 1883, Wolverine made a name for itself in 1914 with its six-inch lace-up 1000 Mile boot. During World War I, Wolverine made boots based on this model for the military—they're now sold in the company’s Garrison line. But Wolverine boots are not all work and no play—at the 2010 Winter Olympics, U.S. snowboarder Shaun White was seen stomping around in a pair of 1000 Mile boots following his gold-medal halfpipe win.

Red Wing came next in 1905, when Charles Beckman sold his first pair of boots for $1.75. Based in Red Wing, Minnesota, also home to Red Wing Stoneware Co., by 1907 the company was producing 100 pairs of shoes per day, and by World War I it was making countless No. 16 boots for U.S. soldiers. In fact, Red Wing has a long history of supplying work boots and shoes to the military—in World War II, it produced boots in 239 sizes and widths just for the U.S. Army.

Wesco came next in 1918. Based in Scappoose, Oregon, the West Coast Shoe Company was founded by John Henry Shoemaker (yes, that’s his real last name), and is still run by members of the Shoemaker family. Naturally, logging boots with spiked soles were the company’s first focus. In the 1930s, shipworkers favored Wesco’s boots, and by the end of that decade, Wesco favorites such as the Highliner, Jobmaster, and Boss had been introduced. More recently, Wesco has concentrated on non-conductive safety boots, including the Voltfoe.

One other bookmaker of note is Danner, which appeared on the scene in 1932, moving from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin to Portland, Oregon. Its Shipyard Boot was a mainstay for blue-collar workers in the 1950s and ’60s, when Danner began making boots for policemen and military personnel, as well as hunters and hikers.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all work shoes and boots Show & Tells

Interviews & Articles

Sex, Power, and High Heels: An Interview with Shoe Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack

I came to the Bata Shoe Museum as a cultural art historian with a strong interest in things that are made for immediate consumptio… [more]

The Best Cowboy Boots in Texas: Window Shopping with Author Jennifer June

Cowboys have been wearing cowboy boots since the 1860s, but the true cowboy period in the United States really only lasted about 2… [more]

Shoe Collector Jonathan Walford on Why Footwear Is So Seductive

I moved to Toronto in the early 1980s because I wanted to work at the Royal Ontario Museum, which had a costume and textiles depar… [more]

Our Bodies, Our Stilettos

Behold the power of the stiletto heel. Despite all the advances women have made, it's one fetish we can't seem to escape, a parado… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

All About Shoes

All About Shoes

From Canada's Bata Shoe Museum comes a visually impressive exhibit focusing on the history of the shoe from traditi… [read review or visit site]

Virtual Shoe Museum

Virtual Shoe Museum

This virtual museum from Shoe Icons Publishing showcases over 800 pairs of shoes and related reference information.… [read review or visit site]



Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 112 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
White's Boots Hathorn Rainier Oxford Sz 12 Yuketen Visvim Alden Red Wing Vibram1970s Red Wing Cork Rubber Soles Ankle Boots 777 Nm Brown Munson Men 10 D Sick Red Wing Heritage Beckman Boots 9016 Cigar Brown Size 8 (8.5) Made In UsaVintage 1974 Red Wing Moc Toe BootsVintage Deadstock 30's40's Work Boots! Men's 11 Nice Survivor Shape! Split SoleVtg Red Wing Irish Setter Leather Boots Usa Brown Dog Tag Crepe Soles Mens 8 DMens Vtg Worn Herman Blk Leather Engineer Work Steel Toe Biker Boots 10.5~1/2 EVintage Red Wing Irish Setter Sport Boots Men's Sz 8Wesco Work BootsVintage Red Wing Style 877 Crepe Soles Hunting Hiking 8" Boots Superb ConditionWorx By Red Wing Shoes Men’s 5482 9″ Waterproof Steel Toe Logger 10mWorx By Red Wing Men Size 10 1/2m Safety Eh Steel Toe Slip Resistant Boots 5525Vintage Red Wing Boots Irish Setter Crepe Soles Mens 8.5 D Work Hunting 875  Red Wing 877 Crepe Sole Work Boots, 9 D Mens Red Wing Logger Boots Style: 4417 Usa Size 10d In Original BoxMen's Red Wing 8 Inch Safety Boots 2233 Size 10.5 E Women's Frye Leather Combat/hiking Boots/ Work Boots 7.5m Thick Sole, QualityRed Wing Moc Toe BootsMens Black Steel Toe Redwing 2218 Logger / Lineman Work Boots Size 11d Good CondDanner Goretex Sierra 200g Work Hunt Boots 10.5 Ee Extra Wide ~ln~Mens Vintage Red Wing Leather Biker Logger Work Boots ~ Size 13d ~ Very NiceTimberland Pro Men's Endurance Pr 6" Steel Toe Work Boots - Size 11mRed Wing 1178 Pecos Boots 9d With Original Box And Sales ReceiptMen's Red Wing Work Boots Size 12dRed Wings Classic Work Boots Brown Men's 10 D Style 877 Crepe SolesWolverine Men's DurashocksBrown Leather Red Wing Work Boots Size 9 D Red Wing Work BootsMens Lucchese 2000 Black Elephant Work Cowboy Boots 10 D Good Used ConditionMen's Red Wing Irish Setter Boots, Size 9.5dRed Wing Steel Toe Pecos Boots #2249 Size 10 1/2 D Made In UsaRed Wing Men’s Work Boots Steel Toe Full Grain Tough Leather Comfort Series 11a2Tony Lama Tlx Mens Work Western Boots Cowboy Black Leather 9.5 Ee $200 Worn3xTimberland Brown 6" Panel Work Boots Mens Size 8 Style # 48517 Authentic!Timberland Wheat 'classic Oxford' Work Shoes Mens 10Timberland Wheat 'classic Oxford' Work Shoes Mens 12Bean Boots Mens Leather Ankle Rain Weather L.l. Bean Work Hunt Shoes 10 BrownTimberland Brown '6" Premium' Work Boots Mens 12Red Wing Shoes Size 10.5 BootNib Mens Red Wing Usa Antique Brown Iron Ranger Boots 11 M Brooks BrothersTimberland Brown 6" Panel Work Boots Mens Size 10 Style # 48517 Authentic!Timberland Brown 6" Panel Work Boots Mens Size 8.5 Style # 48517 Authentic!Timberland Brown 6" Panel Work Boots Mens Size 11 Style # 48517 Authentic!Mens Red Wing Wings Steel Toe Insulated Winter Snow / Ski / Hiking BootsMens Danner Acadia Police Work Boots Size 9dFrye Medium Brown Leather Lace Up Low Heel Mid Calf Work Boots Shoes 7.5 BTimberland Brown '6" Premium' Work Boots Mens 8Timberland Brown '6" Premium' Work Boots Mens 9.5Vintage Red Wing Ankle Work Boots, 8 D Mens Red Wing Steel Toe Logger Work Boots Sz 13b Brown Made In Usa Vintage Red Wing Irish Setter Boots Size 7 DMens Size 11 - Handmade Masterpiece - Ml Leddy Western Cowboy Roper Work BootsDansko Professional Pro Shagreen Shimmer Iridecent Blue Clogs Work Shoes 38 8Red Wing Boots-mens-steel Toe-waterproof-model#6682-sz-12ee-safety Hiker-nwtPair Of Mens "ariat" Brown Leather Cowboy Western / Work Boots Sz.12d26b Mens Red Wing 4420 Steel Toe 9 Inch Logger Boots Size 10 DSuper Vtg Red Wing Black Steel Toe Logger/lineman Boots, Vibram Soles, Size 12 DVintage Red Wing 877 Hunting Work Sportsman Boots Mens Size 9.5 Irish SetterRed Wing Boots Pecos Tony Lama Black Bullhide Western Cowboy Work Boots 10.5 D Fantastic Usa Made
»» Get our weekly Work Shoes and Boots email
Right now on eBay

Shoes

Types
Brands
suggest a category

See also

Share