As more and more people took jobs in the mining, farming, logging and railroad industries, Charles Beckman, a Red Wing, MN-based shoe merchant, started thinking about a durable, comfortable shoe that would protect the feet of those workers. He gathered 14 investors and opened his company in 1905 with the vision of the perfect work shoe dancing in his head. It wasn’t long before he was making Red Wing Boots!
Today, Red Wing shoes are the highest grade work shoe and work boots you can buy. But what makes them so very special? One reason is that their owners can take them in for repairs, rather than replacing their favorite work boots. Another reason is that Red Wing work boots are made so well. Let’s take a look at the construction of a Red Wing work boot.
Tanning
In 1986, Red Wing Shoes bought S.B. Foot Tannery. Established in 1872, S.B. went from being a small scale specialty tanner to one that specialized in shoe leather. The company is run by a third-generation master tanner and still uses wooden drums for tanning the hide, because it handles the extreme temperature adjustments better. Additionally, the waterproofing of the leather takes place in the wooden tan drum, so that the leather is saturated with the waterproofing agent. While other companies simply spray a waterproofing agent on after the fact, Red Wing Shoes are built with waterproof leather.
Stitching
Technology has not yet created a computer that can match the stitching Red Wing is known for. So, some stitching is done by hand, and the famous triple stitch is done on a Puritan Stitch machine. These machines, known for their ability to stitch through very tough leather, are serviced daily and lovingly maintained by Red Wing staff. The staff at Red Wing take pride in their craft. The town and the company are very closely tied and a real sense of community exists. That means that each pair of boots and shoes is built with care.
Testing
The final phase of boot and shoe manufacturing is testing. A testing lab puts each pair of boots through rigorous testing including wear testing, strength, waterproofing, impact and they perform slip tests to make sure the soles of the boots can perform in all different types of weather. For the impact test, a 50-pound weight is dropped on the toe of the boot. A clay mold inside tells the tester how much the weight was able to impact the boot. All these tests are necessary to make sure you’re getting the best work boot you can get.
Learn More About Making Red Wing Boots!
Red Wing is a company where craftsmanship and care still matter. How many companies, in this day and age, can say the same? Come visit Red Wing Shoes Richmond today and see the difference in our shoes versus the competition. Making Red Wing Boots is an honor, and after just one look, you can see how proud we are to make them for you!
