MANILA, Philippines - It all started with one man’s passion for the sea — and the world’s first boat shoe was born.
The Sperry Top-Sider story is an example of the American knack for ingenuity and innovation. It also represents a love of sun, surf and soul of the ocean... something that the brand coins a “Passion for the Sea.”
In 1935, Paul Sperry, an avid sailor and outdoorsman, discovered a long-sought solution to a problem that had long troubled the sailing community: the fact that traditional shoes performed “like roller skates” on a wet deck. As Paul Sperry described it, his new shoes “stuck like a barnacle.”
One wintry day in New England, Sperry watched his cocker spaniel, Prince, run across a frozen pond by his Connecticut home. Noticing Prince’s amazing ability to maintain traction on the slippery surface, Sperry examined the dog’s paw and observed hundreds of tiny cracks and cuts going in all directions. These wave-like grooves became the inspiration for Mr. Sperry’s latest patent, called Razor-Siping™, which was instrumental in the development of the now iconic ‘Authentic Original,’ which Sperry introduced in 1935.
Decades later, the Sperry Top-Sider Authentic Original boat shoe has emerged as an icon of classic American style, with a reach far beyond boating. Its design has become a staple in wardrobes across the globe. It is now a symbol of seaside adventures and for many, evokes a sense of nostalgia, pride and familiarity. Generations have grown up with these same iconic shoe designs that remain virtually unchanged since 1935.
At the same time, the retro design of Sperry’s ‘Authentic Original’ continues to attract a new audience of enthusiasts — people who have discovered Sperry Top-Sider and appreciate the shoes’ substance and style.
What all fans of Sperry Top-Sider have in common is their passion for “the real thing.” Despite the many iterations that Sperry’s shoe has inspired, there is nothing quite like the original — a truth that has been faithfully whispered around the globe. Through word of mouth, the Sperry Top-Sider story has encouraged people to discover the iconic brand’s shoes on their own, allowing them to handpick styles that are destined to become their go-to favorites for years to come.
(For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/SperryTop-SiderPH.)