26 June 2019
The Jacket Required SS20 Line Up: Blundstone
Footwear brands make up a significant part of the Jacket Required roster every season, with new names and established brands alike making an appearance. With over 150 year’s of history, Blundstone well and truly qualifies for the “established” stamp. We sat down with this iconic label to learn more about their story so far.
Tell us the story behind Blundstone – how did the brand start?
Our story began back in the 1850s when the Blundstones sailed from England to the colony of Hobart, Tasmania, and set about establishing a business to supply the young colony with fit-for-purpose footwear. In 1870, the Blundstone business was founded and the first factory opened. Right from the start, Blundstone boots were known as trustworthy products that could be relied upon no matter how hard you worked, no matter what life threw at you. The first boots were hardy, hobnailed, lace up styles designed to stand up to the rigours of colonial life. They were put to the test by not only workers in the cobbled street city, but pioneering farmers and factory workers as well.
Not content with just looking after workers’ feet, Blundstone also made baby slippers, children’s school shoes and women’s dress boots.
Testament to the strength and durability of our boots, Blundstone was contracted to supply boots to the Australian army in World War II. Over 500,000 military-grade pairs were made for Australian troops, and we are told the American troops tried to swap them for their own. After the war we set about designing new styles of boots, expanding our range to meet changing industries and lifestyles. We produced boots for smelter workers, boots for forestry workers and even the Australian Football League. And to top it off our boots made it all the way to Mount Everest as the first Australian Everest expedition team chose Blundstones to help make their way through the Himalayas. After the expedition their Sherpas were so impressed by the resilience of the boots in such harsh conditions that they asked to keep them.
In the 1960s we began exporting into the Pacific and by the 1990s the world was knocking on our door, so we opened up export to the northern hemisphere; Italy, Sweden, Canada and Israel being pioneering markets for our boots from down under. The whole world then got to see us on stage at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, when the world-renowned Tap Dogs danced their socks off at the opening ceremony wearing customised Blundstones.
Driven by continued growth we have become a truly global brand, manufacturing in six sites around the world, one still being Hobart, and with our sales outside of Australia outstripping those at home. It has been almost 150 years since a small shoe manufacturer set out to create the finest boots they could to serve the tiny remote colony of Tasmania. Today, Blundstone remains a family owned business and the dedication and passion to keep making the best boots continues to drive us day in and day out; to never stand still. Blundstone continues to stand for reliability, honesty and hard work, and it’s why our boots are worn and loved all around the world.
How would you describe the Blundstone aesthetic?
We have always believed Blundstone wearers are life’s explorers. Active, adventurous, confident and independent. Now we have the proof. The volume of quality user generated content that we receive through our social channels is reflective of our life’s explorers brand pillar and has crystallised this sentiment.
How do your Tasmanian roots and brand history come through in the pieces you design?
New additions to our range build upon our history of crafting quality leather boots that enable people to walk their own path. Our ongoing product development has drawn inspiration from the wild surrounds of our home in Tasmania. New colours in both uppers and elastics provide fresh takes on some of our core products with a distinctly Tasmanian influence. The new additions have all the comfort features you’d expect from Blundstone combined with our classic natural aesthetic.
What will you be bringing to the SS20 edition?
Other than the Blundstone Classic range we will be showing the relatively new Active series; purpose built for those who live life on the go. Stylish. Lightweight. Comfortable. Durable. Versatile.
Showcase next to Blundstone and discover more exciting emerging and established brands. Join us at Jacket Required SS20 on 24th & 25th July 2019.