Former FLORSHIEM Employee, Norma Nadine Ownbey, Went to be With her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

1927 - 2010

When I started this blog on August 4th, 2010, I planned to include all the news and happenings around the century old shoe brand, FLORSHEIM. And I had no clue that it would be so early to announce the sad demise of a former FLORSHEIM employee, Norma Nadine Ownbey, who went with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday (August 21, 2010) at 8:35 p.m. Born in Kirksville, Missouri, Norma attended Benton Elementary School and Ophelia-Parrish Junior High School of the Kirksville Public Schools. At the age of 16, Norma dropped out of public school to work full time at Florsheim Shoe Factory in Kirksville. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday (August 25, 2010) at Church of God-Holiness in Kirksville. The news was featured at KirksvilleDailyExpress.com. The photo was also taken from that website.
My sincerest regards for the departed soul. May her soul rest in peace!

FLORSHEIM the STEEL TOE BOOT A Dependable Work Boot

Well nearly after a week I'll talk about the FLORSHEIM Steel Toe boot. It's a work/ safety boot. And my definition of work boot includes rugged construction, protection against wear and tear, and good shock resistance plus resistance to electrical shocks.

Steel toe, as the name suggests, has a non-corrosive protective cap at its toe. It gives protection for feet. It features leather upper, moisture repellent drilex lining, dual density outsole made of shock absorbent polyurethane and foam footbed. The Welt Construction allows constant air flow through the shoe, this keeps the shoes ventilated, durable and strong. It provides safety against electrical hazards.

I can't say it looks very fashionable. The blunt frontal part, stretched rear part and the symmetrical design give it a rather dull look. But at the same time it looks dependable. Good for working under hazardous environment.

Does it make sense to pay that extra $30, when most FLORSHEIM shoes are available at $100 price point?
Well it is likely to be used more as a safety footwear, so, it has to qualify the official standards (ASTM F2413-05) in the United States. This explains the added cost.

And there are few rants regarding longevity. I have seen it works great till being worn out after serving for 3+ years. Particularly the toe region is prone to damages. It depends a lot on usage conditions and proper shoe care.

I don't have it really, neither I would prefer to work in hazardous environment to try a pair of steel toe boots. I'm quite comfortable sitting before my computer and helping clueless guys in picking up the right pair.

1892 FLORSHEIM Shoe Factory Photo

Thanks to MetropolitanPlaceChicago.com for sharing this wonderful photo of 1892 FLORSHEIM factory. As per their report, by the end of the 1990s, Florsheim Shoe Group Inc. had about 10 percent of the market for men’s dress shoes, making it the leading company in the trade. By that time, when it was doing close to $250 million in annual sales, only about 10 percent of its some 2,000 employees worldwide worked in the Chicago area.

FLORSHEIM By Duckie Brown

Photo: The Wall Street Journal 

Designers Steven Cox and Daniel Silver, the founders of Duckie Brown, a New York based fashion line for men's, found inspirations from the old archives of FLORSHEIM and blended fascinating styles. Vibrant colors include electric blue, purple, even green - a deviation from traditional black/ burgundy shade, the laceless styles added unique look. Priced higher than the standard $100 a pair but still cheaper when compared with other designer shoes. As per Jan 8, 2009 issue of The Wall Street Journal,  Barneys New York will carry Duckie Brown collections.
FLORSHEIM official website includes in this line The Brogue, The Laceless Wing, The Suede Lace Up, The Brogue Boot, The Patriot Boot, The Loafer, The Saddle, The Perf Plain Toe, The Cap Toe, The Welder Brogue, and The Welder Boot.

FLORSHEIM Men's Dress Shoes Round Up

Way back in 1892, Milton Florsheim started manufacturing men's dress shoes and even today, these shoes hold true to his vision of high quality footwear. Mostly comes up in black, brown and burgundy color - these are perfect both for smart casual and formal events. These trendy shoes can be worn all day long.

The Welles cap toe dress shoe is made with a bologna construction, i.e.,  the upper leather is wrapped all the way around and directly stitched to the sole - a typical Italian style, for added flexibility, and features a calfskin leather (renowned for softness and fine grains) upper, leather linings for breathability and an enhanced fit, a buffed leather sole, and a fully cushioned footbed.

The Garfield moc toe dress shoe has leather made upper & linings, a Bio Comfort Sock Liner, and a new F-LITE EMAX® sole.

The John moc toe dress shoe also has leather made upper & linings, a Bio Comfort Sock Liner with Suedetec, and a new F-LITE EMAX® sole.

The Lido slip-on dress shoe, the oh-so-perfect shoe, is made with moccasin construction with  padded calfskin leather upper with a hidden elastic gore, leather linings, polyurethane sole, and a Florsheim Comfortech® insole, a removable completely cushioned footbed.

The Riva slip-on dress shoe, a dress shoe with the comfort of a slipper, is made with moccasin construction, and it has kidskin (soft) leather upper, a hidden elastic gore, leather linings, slip-resistant polyurethane sole, and a Florsheim Comfortech® insole, completely cushioned footbed, easy on / off. A best seller for Florsheim for almost three decades.

My favorite?
Obviously The Riva! Easy on/ off with great comfort!

Did You Know? Weyco Group Announced Agreement to Purchase Florsheim Group Inc. in 2002!

Credit Boston.com

On March 4, 2002, Weyco (Weyenberg Shoe Manufacturing Company) Group announced that they have entered into an agreement with Florsheim Group, Inc., to purchase Florsheim's domestic wholesale business, related assets and certain Florsheim retail stores for approximately $44.8 million in cash (subject to certain adjustments) and the assumption of certain trade and lease liabilities.

Weyco Group, located in Glendale, Wisconsin, is currently the headquarters of Florsheim Shoes.
Weyco Group, Inc. (WEYS) engages in the retail and wholesale distribution of men’s footwear in North America, Australia, South Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Europe. It offers men’s casual, dress, and fashion shoes under Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, Brass Boot, and Nunn Bush NXXT brands.

Florsheim "Trade You In For A Cat"

FLORSHEIM Shoes Vintage Print Ad 1946

1946 Florsheim Shoe Co. original vintage advertisement.

FLORSHEIM Royal Imperial Vintage Print Ad: We Make Them for Only One Man Out of Every Hundred

FLORSHEIM Royal Imperial Vintage Print Ad published in Texas Monthly Nov 1977 issue

FLORSHEIM Men's Corbin Slip-on

The Corbin moc toe slip-on dress casual shoe!
Modernize your workday wardrobe with these casual shoes featuring leather upper, cushioned footbed for maximum comfort, leather linings and rubber outsole for traction. Weight: 18 Oz each appx. They look stylish and comfortable. Wear with dress clothes or jeans. At appx. $100 price point, this is an absolute charm for comfort oriented guys!

FLORSHEIM Slide Sandals in India

The WORLDWIDE dominance in premium quality shoes continue for FLORSHEIM. In India, slide sandal shoes were launched recently featuring the same style, optimum comfort and durability. Made of full grain leather to repel moisture,  it is an ideal choice to making feet cozy and relaxed. Available in local stores mostly in the Southern Region of the country, an India based web portal, IndiaInfoLine reports today.

FLORSHEIM Top Sellers

DUKE

KENMOOR

COMO

LIDO

FAIRBANKS

RIVA

My Favorite FLORSHEIM Shoe Models

When it comes to FLORSHEIM shoes, here goes my favorite five models:

1. FLORSHEIM COLFAX 

Made of genuine buffalo leather this sophisticated style allows easy on/off wear because of convenient pull tab, leather lining keeps feet dry. Poliyou® core offers better shock absorption; flexible rubber outsole ensures comfortable movement.

2.  Florsheim® Lexington Men's Cap-toe Oxford

Features comfortable footbed, soft leather lining, leather sole, perforated captoe for feet comfort.


3. Men's Florsheim Clayton
Features fully leather lined, leather sole, and fully cushioned footbed. You may need to push it hard to produce the shine.




4.  Florsheim Riley

Leather upper, leather lined to absorb moisture, rubber sole for maximum grip and absorbing shock, 1" heel, cushioned footbed for day long comfort.



5.  Florsheim 'Lexington Six-Eye' Oxford
Crafted from smooth, high-sheen leather and features classic wing-tip detailing for a sophisticated look.



Say I MUST, ALL FLORSHEIM SHOES ARE GREAT! STILL TASTE VARIES! AND FLORSHEIM OFFERS OVER 300 DESIGNS! SO, I'll CONTINUE TO EXPLORE NEW STYLES! DON'T YOU???