We return one more time this term to Hit Replay! The term is just about over and we are greeted finally by summer weather! Let’s hope the summer sun holds up, and the summer breeze keeps those sails high. This week on Hit Replay, we go to a favourite that has made a marvelous comeback not just on polished yacht decks, but also as everyday wear for us who prefer grass-covered parks, and white-sand beaches. That’s right, this issue of Hit Replay looks to take you somewhere beyond the sea with boat shoes! Sperry Top-Siders, we’re looking at you!
So just how did boat shoes come about? Very similar to the history of last issue’s Jean Jackets, boat shoes were initially a utility-focused article of clothing. Prior to the invention of boat shoes, sailors and boatmen struggled to keep a firm foothold on the decks of their boats. The 1930s changed all this with the invention of the modern boat shoe, by one Paul Sperry. Paul Sperry was an avid boater, who became determined to develop a non-slip shoe after slipping and falling overboard while sailing one day. His design of the boat shoe was inspired by his Cocker Spaniel, Prince. It all started one winter day in Connecticut, when Sperry took Prince out for a walk, and was amazed at how Prince managed to run across ice without slipping. The traction Prince managed to generate off the slippery surface caught Sperry’s curiosity. Sperry examined Prince’s paws, and realized that the grooves on Prince’s paws resembled that of a herringbone-pattern that gave them their grip. It was from this that Sperry decided to cut a similar pattern on the soles of his shoes for boating.
In 1937, Sperry applied for a United States patent for his shoe. Initially, he offered the patent to the United States Rubber Company, but was ultimately turned down due to the sole being expensive. Sperry then tried his luck with the Converse Rubber Company in Boston, who agreed to make the blank rubber soles for Sperry. The blank rubber soles would then be siped (the process of cutting groves in rubber to improve traction) by Sperry, and the rest of the shoe would be assembled by the Converse Rubber Company. Sperry later on developed a machine for cutting the herringbone-pattern onto the soles and launched the project in his spare time, still maintaining a full-time job in the process. Sperry also advertised his shoes to his fellow members of the Cruising Club of America, and was met with overwhelming success. He received requests for shoes from all 500 members at the time. This inspired him to start a mail-order business for his shoes. In the next few years, Sperry continued to develop the shoe, and work closely with the United States Rubber company in developing a rubber compound for traction that could more easily be siped. This new rubber compound was also developed to be white, so they would not mark the decks of boats. Perry worked alongside the Commonwealth Shoe & Leather Company on a new design using a specially tanned leather that would incorporate the iconic saddle on the shoes where raw-hide laces were pulled. The iconic Sperry Top-Sider design was now complete.
In 1939, Sperry’s shoes gained popularity and credit to the extent that the United States War Department specified his shoes as one of the official shoes of the Navy. A deal was eventually negotiated for the Navy to be able to manufacture the shoes for its sailors.
The shoes never really faded in popularity but have certainly taken a back-seat since their conception. It is without a doubt that they have made a resurgence in recent years! The popular footwear has gone beyond its classic look, appearing in a multitude of styles and varieties. The top-siders have also gone beyond boat decks and are worn daily by many on land. Perhaps you’ll grab yourself a pair this summer and rock a classic look from the 1930’s!
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