Paul Sperry: The Game Changer

It is said that there are two types of people in this world. There are those that notice a problem and leaves it be, figuring the issue was something that would never go away? There are those out there that feel like this is acceptable. Then there are those that notice the issue and fix the problem. They don’t just sit around while someone else finds a solution. Paul Sperry was this type of person. His determination had changed an entire way of life for sailors.

An avid boater, Paul Sperry noticed issues that most boating shoes gave sailors/boaters. The slippery grip on the bottom of the shoes was unsafe for men at sea and usually led to injuries and even deaths. Also, the bottom of boating shoes at the time were black, causing scuffs and marks on the boat’s flooring that was a nuisance and a waste of time to clean. You can just imagine how a simple pair of shoes caused so many issues and frustrations in a leisurely activity that so many enjoyed.

One day, in 1935, in New England, Paul let his cocker spaniel, Prince, out for a run. While admiring his pup, Paul took notice to how steady Prince was while walking on the slippery and icy terrain.  He took a close look at Prince’s paws and realized that the intricate grooves on his dogs paws allowed Prince walk skid free. This gave him the idea that if he placed a similar pattern in the rubber soles of a shoe that a sailor would be skid free. So that’s exactly what he. Thus, the creation of Sperry Topsiders.

The classic harringbow design has changed the game of boating. Sperry Topsiders were so efficient that in 1939, the U.S. Navy negotiated the right to make these shoes for all of the Naval uniforms. Sperry’s became the official footwear of the U.S. Naval Academy casual uniform. This is still true to the day. The contract with the Navy did change one major aspect of Sperry’s company, the owner. The business was bought by the Rubber Co which allowed marketing and sales of the shoe to go country wide.

Today, Sperry’s are not just worn for boating purposes. You can find these shoes everywhere. Celebrities, from rapper Kanye West to actress Blake Lively, and civilians alike rock these shoes for a cool casual look. The company has branched out with an array of colors, fabrics, and hardware. Currently, the brand is branching out with different shoe designs for men and women other than the Original Authentic topsider style. For women, there are the Angelfish, Bahama, Bluefish, and Acklin’s boot designs. For the men there are the Oxford, Bahama Chukka, Rigger boot, and Billfish designs. Not to mention the new wedges, flats, sandals, and sneakers that the line has released. I must say, the transition is nice. The lines are clean and all of the shoes still maintain that authentic sailor look. There is no posing here. Not to mention, these shoes are as comfortable as you can get in footwear. Plus, for an investment of under$100 you can own your own piece of Americana. What’s better than that?

The moral of this story for you, the readers, is to never let what seems like an obstacle stop you from getting creative and thinking outside of the box. Paul Sperry was an ordinary man who loved boating but not some of the issues that came with it.  Thus, he sought a solution. This solution changed the entire lifestyle of sailing the seas and created a pop culture style. Paul Sperry was a gamechanger.

Shantice Edwards