An old photo of the Red Wing Factory in Red Wing, Minnesota There’s so much history and passion behind this brand and I really enjoyed seeing how something that’s over 100 years old and located in a small town is helping people all over the world. Many years ago, I had the privilege of going on a tour of the Red Wing Factory in Red Wing, Minnesota and I had an absolute blast. I can say from experience that the amount of history that it holds is incredible. The over 100-year-old factory is located at 315 Main Street in Red Wing, Minnesota. Some of these non-Red Wing brands include a variety of models that were manufactured in the People’s Republic of China. Red Wing boots doesn’t only design and manufacture shoes under its own brand! It also produces footwear under Irish Setter boots, Vasque, Carhartt (discontinued in 2011), and Worx brands. The Red Wing shoe factory produces up to two million shoes each year and has seen over four generations of shoemakers. Over the years as fashion rules have softened, we see that many more people are willing to shell out the $200+ for these popular boots. What has become one of the most iconic styles from the Red Wing Heritage Collection is their Classic 6-Inch Moc-Toe boot.

A pair of the Classic 6-Inch Moc-Toe boot from the Red Wing Heritage Collection

Those who choose to wear the brand casually and opt to wear the more fashionable heritage collection are often branded as hipsters. Today, we are seeing Red Wing boots appear in the classes of very fashion-forward individuals. It was advertised initially as being a collection that would bring together both the standard Red Wing boots along with a more modern aesthetic for a broader audience. In more recent years, a partnership with a popular company J.Crew helped launch the Heritage Collection around 2007. In the ’60s and ’70s, there was an adoption of Red Wing shoes and boots by a much broader audience. Over the years, Red Wing shoe company has become known for more than just shoes or boots for wartime or marketed just to farmhands. Red Wing shoe company continued to make the 1088 Pershing style until 1965. In particular, the 1088 Pershing boot was one that gained a lot of popularity. Red Wing Shoes in WWIĭuring World War I, as the men who would have worked in the factory went to war, women entered the factory to help with the creation of boots. This boot also carried the likeness of the legendary Dakota chief Red Wing on the sole of the boot as well. The Black and Brown Chief pull-on boots on a vintage Red Wing catalogueīy 1912, Red Wing shoe company was seeing massive success with its new style, the “ Black and Brown Chief.” This boot was created using manure-proof leather to assist farmers while working on their land. He was soon joined by other investors and they began launching the Red Wing shoe company in 1905. Thankfully, Charles didn’t have to wait forever. He came up with the idea to have something that was specific to a certain job.Īs Charles struck out to launch this new venture for shoes and boots that would fit people appropriately, he initially found that manufacturers were not willing to work with him. Shoe seller and businessman, Charles BeckhamĪt that time, Charles Beckman, who happened to be a shoe seller and a very wise businessman, would watch the carpenters and the blacksmiths walk throughout the city and noticed that they had ill-fitting boots and shoes on. European immigrants were creating factories and workshops all over the city. Soon after, the discovery of natural clay beds in the area launched a healthy stoneware industry.ĭuring the turn of the century, Red Wing, Minnesota was seeing massive success from its river port and businesses were springing up all over the place. However, in 1873, prior to the inception of the Red Wing shoe company, Red Wing, Minnesota was known as one of the most efficient producers of wheat in the United States of America. Many people now recognize the over 100-year-old company as a family-owned business that was launched in 1905 in Red Wing, Minnesota.

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