Sperry launches multi-water sport shoes collection
05 Aug '10
4 min read
Sperry Top-Sider Rich Heritage in Water Sports Footwear
The brand was born on a cold winter's day on the water's edge in Connecticut, inspired by an unlikely source: a cocker spaniel named Prince.
On that day, avid sailor and amateur inventor Paul Sperry was awed by his dog's ability to run on slick water and ice without slipping. Ever the innovator (Sperry held several patents such as one of the world's first wooden duck decoys), Sperry examined the dog's paw to find hundreds of tiny grooves and cuts going in all directions.
This wave-like pattern became the inspiration for Mr. Sperry's latest patent, called Razor-Siping, and was instrumental in maximizing the traction and performance of what became the world's first boat shoe.
That same model, now known as the "Authentic Original," remains a Sperry Top-Sider bestseller and staple in the brand's collection. And since that time, the brand has expanded well into highly technical shoes for sailing, boating, fishing -- and now multi-water sports -- as well as fashion and casual collections inspired by a Passion for the Sea lifestyle.