In a defining tale of the American Dream, a main street shoe merchant called Charles Beckman spotted a demand for comfortable, durable work boots yet there was no supply. So in 1905, he set up Red Wing Shoe Company, taking its name and logo, by way of a commemorative gesture, from a Native American called Red Wing, the leader of the original inhabitants of the upper Mississippi River territory.
The lasting success of Red Wing is largely due to never compromising their two main criteria for their products, i.e. comfort and quality. This is amply illustrated by the fact that these days, a third generation of employees, located down the road from the original factory, continues the tradition by using the same premium craftsmanship and attention to detail: triple-stitched seams, sturdy welt construction and rich leathers are signature elements of a Red Wing boot. The original factory, we might add, is to this day being used by Red Wing for new product development.
For over a century, this commitment to excellence has been handed down to these generations of shoemakers, and it is all this that won the Red Wing Shoes corporation a place in our hearts.
