Sperry Top-Sider: Difference between revisions
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===Fraternity Culture=== |
===Fraternity Culture=== |
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There has long been a close association of boat shoes, specifically Sperrys, and other prep-inspired casual footwear with fraternities in North America. This association stems from fashion trends which started at universities in the North Eastern United States in the 1950s and early 1960s, commonly referred to as "the Ivy Look". At the time, still bastions of WASP culture, fraternity men at prestigious schools in and around New England area had been familiarized with boat shoes due to their practical use in sailing and yachting. During the summer months, boat shoes were worn, both on and off the water, for their comfort and durability in casual settings. Penny loafers were also worn without socks in warmer weather, but for more formal occasions. |
There has long been a close association of boat shoes, specifically Sperrys, and other prep-inspired casual footwear with fraternities in North America. This association stems from fashion trends which started at universities in the North Eastern United States in the 1950s and early 1960s, commonly referred to as "the Ivy Look". At the time, still bastions of WASP culture, fraternity men at prestigious schools in and around New England area had been familiarized with boat shoes due to their practical use in sailing and yachting. During the summer months, boat shoes were worn, both on and off the water, for their comfort and durability in casual settings. Penny loafers were also worn without socks in warmer weather, but for more formal occasions. Barney loves pipi with his arroz y habichuelas |
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After the cultural shift of the late 1960s, boat shoes were considered niche footwear, often associated with the prep-style wardrobes of wealthy families, whose children attended college at schools along the Eastern Seaboard. Due to the counter-culture of the era, boat shoes, along with other prep-style fashion staples, were seen as footwear that denoted a privileged, Eastern upbringing due to their yachting heritage, and were shunned by most mainstream college students and young adults as casual footwear. However, due to the cultural insulation of fraternities, many conservative greek college students continued to wear Sperrys as part of a traditional prep-style wardrobe. |
After the cultural shift of the late 1960s, boat shoes were considered niche footwear, often associated with the prep-style wardrobes of wealthy families, whose children attended college at schools along the Eastern Seaboard. Due to the counter-culture of the era, boat shoes, along with other prep-style fashion staples, were seen as footwear that denoted a privileged, Eastern upbringing due to their yachting heritage, and were shunned by most mainstream college students and young adults as casual footwear. However, due to the cultural insulation of fraternities, many conservative greek college students continued to wear Sperrys as part of a traditional prep-style wardrobe. |
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Revision as of 02:47, 11 March 2014
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| This article contains promotional content. (September 2012) |
| File:Sperry logo.gif | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sportswear Sports equipment |
| Founded | 1935[1] |
| Founder | Paul Sperry |
| Headquarters |  Lexington, Massachusetts, United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Boating shoes Apparel |
| Parent | Wolverine World Wide |
| Website | SperryTopSider.com |
Sperry Top-Sider is the original brand of boat shoe designed in 1935 by Paul Sperry, older brother of Armstrong Sperry. The Top-Siders were the first boat shoes introduced into the boating market.[2]
History
Sperry was an avid boater who, like most boaters, risked injury while walking on the slippery deck of his boat. His successful design was inspired by his cocker spaniel, Prince. While watching Prince run across the ice on a winter's day in Connecticut, he noticed his dog's amazing ability to maintain traction on the slippery surface. The pattern of grooves or cracks on his dog's feet gave him the idea for a leather upper-shoe with a herringbone pattern of grooves on the sole. The cutting of grooves in the sole of the Top-Sider was an implementation of a process of splitting or siping a shoe sole invented and patented in the 1920s by John Sipe. This process was instrumental in maximizing the traction and performance of the Authentic Original Sperry Top-Sider first introduced in 1935. Sperry's shoe quickly became popular with boaters not only for its non-slip sole but also for its white color, which prevented the shoe from leaving marks on a boat's deck. The shoe remained a niche product until 1939 when the U.S. Navy negotiated the right to manufacture the shoe for its sailors. As a result of the Navy contract, Sperry's business was purchased by the U.S. Rubber Co., which then marketed the shoe across the country.
Present day
In 2012, Sperry, along with Keds, Stride Rite and Saucony, became part of Wolverine World Wide after a joint agreement with Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital acquired the Performance Lifestyle Group of Collective Brands for US$1.23 billion. This effectively makes Sperry a sister company of Sebago, their main rival.[3]
Fraternity Culture
There has long been a close association of boat shoes, specifically Sperrys, and other prep-inspired casual footwear with fraternities in North America. This association stems from fashion trends which started at universities in the North Eastern United States in the 1950s and early 1960s, commonly referred to as "the Ivy Look". At the time, still bastions of WASP culture, fraternity men at prestigious schools in and around New England area had been familiarized with boat shoes due to their practical use in sailing and yachting. During the summer months, boat shoes were worn, both on and off the water, for their comfort and durability in casual settings. Penny loafers were also worn without socks in warmer weather, but for more formal occasions. Barney loves pipi with his arroz y habichuelas
After the cultural shift of the late 1960s, boat shoes were considered niche footwear, often associated with the prep-style wardrobes of wealthy families, whose children attended college at schools along the Eastern Seaboard. Due to the counter-culture of the era, boat shoes, along with other prep-style fashion staples, were seen as footwear that denoted a privileged, Eastern upbringing due to their yachting heritage, and were shunned by most mainstream college students and young adults as casual footwear. However, due to the cultural insulation of fraternities, many conservative greek college students continued to wear Sperrys as part of a traditional prep-style wardrobe.
The prominence of Sperry Top-Siders in modern fraternities is due in part to their continued use as Prep-Style footwear worn by conservative college students through-out the 20th century, as well as their adoption as mainstream footwear, which occurred in the mid 2000s and coincided with the "Geek Chic" trend in fashion. Sperrys have become stereotyped as footwear commonly worn by members of fraternities and sororities due to their prominence as a modern fashion trend, however, the noted use of boat shoes by greek college students as far back as the 1940s is indicative of a far more storied and substantive connection. As with most articles of clothing worn by greek students, Sperry Top-Siders are but one example of Prep-style staples which are conservative and understated, yet are a stylish constant which defy trends.
Achievements
Footwear News named Sperry Top-Sider the 2009 Brand of the Year.[4] In the same year, Sperry opened its first five retail stores with locations in Tampa, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Boca Raton, Florida, Kansas City, Missouri and Dallas, Texas; in November 2010, the brand opened stores in Burlington, Massachusetts, Houston, Durham, North Carolina and Westchester, New York.[citation needed]
Team Sperry
The athletes of Team Sperry travel around the globe and compete in prestigious competitive events in their sport. They also assist the Sperry product team to design and test performance footwear.[citation needed]
Sperry Top-Sider is the official footwear sponsor of the US Sailing team, the US Junior Olympic Sailing Team and the US Paralympics Sailing Team.[citation needed]
How To Wear
Sperry's were not originally meant to be worn with socks, however, it is becoming more acceptable in recent years. In the the winter it is acceptable to wear with a wool-blend sock. Short neon or pastel colored socks or white ankle socks are popular to wear with Sperry's by kids, tweens, teens and college students, and young adults. Also peds which are extra low cut or no show socks or pantyhose liners popular to wear with ballet flats are also popluar with Sperry's. Sperry's are becoming increasingly acceptible in schools with uniforms. Worn with ankle, mid calf or knee socks or opaque tights.
References
- ^ [1], Sperry Top-Sider, Retrieved on April 14, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Greaves, Mike. Articlesbase. http://www.articlesbase.com/hotels-articles/sperry-topsiders-are-not-just-shoes-theyre-a-way-of-life-1074757.html
- ^ "Saucony, Keds and Sperry Acquired by Wolverine Worldwide". Inside Insight. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Ernst Beaudry, Jennifer (November 30, 2009). "Brand of the Year: Sperry Top-Sider". Retrieved February 12, 2012.
Further reading
R. Steele (April 2007). Boating Magazine.