The rough seas, a slippery deck and a struggle for sure footing almost cost Paul Sperry his life; and began his long and ambitious quest for a solution. One day in 1935, after watching his dog dart effortlessly across the ice on a cold Connecticut day, he was inspired to carve grooves – like those on his dog's paws – into the bottom of a rubber sole. In that moment of inspiration, the world's first boat shoe was born.

 

A year later, in 1936, every single member of the Cruising Club of America wrote to Mr. Sperry to request a pair of these remarkable new boat shoes. Nothing else kept sailors safe on deck. During World War II, the US War Department named Sperry Top-Sider as one of the official shoes of the US Navy.

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In the early 1960s, President John F. Kennedy and family is photographed while on vacation, triggering a love affair with the active nautical life and classic American style. Sperry Top-Sider boat shoes and sneakers become established as an integral element of this iconic look.

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In the 1980s, the Official Preppy Handbook endorses the Sperry Top-Sider Authentic Original as the footwear symbol of classic Prep style, marking a legacy of good taste.

In 1987, Dennis Conner leads the America’s Cup Team that wins back the trophy for the United States. Sperry Top-Sider is named the official shoe of the America’s Cup.

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Source: sperry.com