Last month two of our favorite blogs posted both their own story on the Red Wing Shoes repair workshop and their beloved Red Wing 875 boots. The first one was Cool Hunting on the 'Red Wing Shoes Repair Service' and how a pair of well loved boots gets a much needed refresh at the century old workshop. The second one was from A Continuos Lean's 'Better Than New, re-crafting the Red Wing 875'. Both, Evan Orensten and Michael Williams, shipped their pair of boots back to the factory in Minnesota for a resole and made some nice images of the process. More images here & here
A while ago the International Business Times put together an amazing set of images from the Depression Era. 'These vivid color photos from the Great Depression and World War II capture an era generally seen only in black-and-white. Photographers working for the United States Farm Security Administration (FSA) and later the Office of War Information (OWI) created the images between 1939 and 1944.' Simply beautiful! (More here and here)
And another Red Wing Shoes video. This time from the Red Wing Shoes Product Testing laboratory, the last quality check our products and materials undergo before they are introduced to you. The Product Testing team is of foundational importance to the quality of Red Wing Shoes products. They test everything to make certain that what the company produces and sells is of the highest grade and quality. From strength, to waterproofing, to impact and slip tests, we are proud to offer products which pass our tests so they can pass your own.
And here’s the video. A compilation of images of the Red Wing Shoes Factory and the S.B. Foot Tanning Company. The video is accompanied by some really nice live played tunes by Tom Kok after the rough cut by Daan Gast. Enjoy!
About a year ago Red Wing Shoes Amsterdam was invited to Red Wing, Minnesota to pay a visit to the Red Wing Shoe factory and tannery. Our mission: to discover first hand the deepest secrets of the American, old school production process. The factory is home to a hospitable team of employees, most of whom have worked at the Red Wing factory for nearly 30 years. All the craftsmen and -women ply their own particular craft on the old machinery. Some of the Red Wing machines were patented in 1893 and have, to this very day, not been replaced.
The S.B. Foot tannery is older than the Red Wing Shoes factory itself. The brand bought the tannery in the 80s to control the entire production process of the shoes. Almost all the machines are sourced from Italy because that is where the best equipment for this purpose comes from. Most of these have been altered so they can process the thick leather that’s used for work boots. After sorting and shaving, the leather is colored, dyed, oiled, waxed, dried and finished to the exact requirements of a specific type of leather shoe.
It was not just the mechanical supremacy that was a sight to behold. The human elements involved, such as the workers’ loyalty, craftsmanship and the pride they take in their work was something we had not witnessed before. Our friends at Hypebest featured the video we did. Here’s a series of pictures we made.
I remembered it well, the Puritan Stitch Machine at the Red Wing Shoes factory, Plant 2, in Red Wing, Minnesota. The machine has been referred to as a "work horse" within the Red Wing Shoe Company. The Puritan creates the iconic triple stitch detail which contributes to the durability and strength of the boots.
And I remembered him as well, the retired employee who had operated this machinery for 44 years and couldn’t say goodbye — and finally was called back because of his extensive knowledge of the machine. A beautiful insight by Red Wing Shoes!
