Brand Focus: Rockport
Formed in Massachusetts, 1971, Rockport found their beginnings importing hand-sewn heavy leather moccasins from Brazil as the appeal of low cost, imported alternatives began to outstrip the demand for U.S made footwear. When travelling from city to city across the east coast supplying the shoes in plain boxes to various retailers, founder Bruce Katz learned that other local companies were copying the design and selling them under the name "Rockport type", a move which led to the subsequent branding of Katz' shoes as "Rockport" upon their return to Massachusetts.
The brand's first shoe, the Country Walker, was introduced in 1973 and following a period of expansion for their distribution channels, sales were soon growing by 40% each year. The brand's heavy investment in both product design and marketing led to an increase in popularity saw them credited with raising the profile of walking as a lower-strain alternative to running. By offering the comfort levels most associated with trainers and running shoes in the styles of traditional dress and casual shoes, Rockport bridged a gap in the market and capitalised on its interest.
Innovation in product design continued into more recent times and 2005 saw the introduction of the brand's first machine washable pair of shoes. By 2013, Rockport had successfully developed their "total motion technology", enhancing stability, comfort and flexibility levels for the wearer and applied it across the bulk of their product range. When looking for a classic aesthetic that retains modern technological advancements, each new Rockport collection released will offer something for you.
