In 1892, Florsheim Shoes was launched in a small factory in Chicago, Illinois. Over the years, Florsheim shoes have gained a reputation for being at the forefront of the newest trends while staying true to a legacy of classic styling and quality craftsmanship.
The Florsheim family’s entry into the shoe business begins with Sigmund Florsheim, a German immigrant who came to the US in the 1850s. Putting his old-world cobbling skills to work, by 1886 Florsheim became a partner in Greensfelder, Florsheim & Co., a men’s footwear company based in Chicago.
Sigmund partnered with his eldest son Milton (24) to launch The Florsheim Shoe Company in Chicago. The first Florsheim retail store opened shortly after. At the time, factory help earned between $5 or $6 a week, the company was producing up to 200 pairs of shoes per day, and all sold at the standard retail price of $5.
Founder Sigmund Florsheim dies at the age of 60, leaving Milton in charge of the firm at just 26 years old. Milton, however, is experienced beyond his age having first started working for his dad at his previous shoe company as a teenager, cleaning shoes in the warehouse for $3 a week.
In an early example of brand-building that is years ahead of its time, the Florsheim name was stitched into every shoe to let customers know that they were purchasing a “genuine Florsheim.”
Florsheim introduces the Flor-Scope to its retail stores. In the early 1900s, it was common to use a fluoroscope to x-ray a customer’s foot to ensure a proper fit. In another idea way ahead of its time, Milton began franchising Florsheim retail stores across the country, offering the chance to own a Florsheim franchise and even financial aid to establish the business.
Florsheim became one of the principal manufacturers and suppliers of boots to American soldiers fighting in World War I.
By the mid-1920s, the Florsheim Shoe Company had 2,500 employees in five factories, with a network of 71 retail outlets and roughly 9,000 dealers. Around this same time, Florsheim launched a new trend to appeal to an ever more style-conscious consumer and the nation’s first square-toed shoe debuted in magazines.
Looking back on the success of the company, Milton Florsheim is quoted as saying “I have always attributed our success to three essentials: a good shoe, an efficient organization, and advertising—always keeping in mind that our shoe measured up to everything that we said in our advertising.”
1935
1964
1935
1941
High-buttoned boots, square toes, Cuban heels or spectator shoes, it’s all in Style of the Times. These illustrated booklets, published by Florsheim, are like a fashion-lovers walk down memory lane.
America entered World War II. Eager to do their part, Florsheim again began producing shoes for our troops. Before long, half of all the shoes Florsheim made went toward the war effort. Milton’s son Harold, the Florsheim Company Secretary, who had served in the Navy during WWI, voluntarily joined the Quartermaster Corps. He served as a colonel, helping direct shipping routes in the European Theater.
The Florsheim Shoe Company unveiled a gleaming, state-of-the-art factory in downtown Chicago. Florsheim retail stores revolutionized the industry by bringing shoes out of the back rooms and into stores for customers to browse freely. This novel practice soon became the norm in shoe stores all across the country.
1940s
1940s | Havana, Cuba
1950s | Detroit, MI
1960s | Atlanta, GA
1970s | Chicago, IL
1970s | Los Angeles, CA
Famous for their eye-catching florescent signage and stylish window displays, Florsheim retail stores were landmarks in cities and towns across the country. From the turn-of-the-century and the roaring 20s, through the post-war era and on into the groovy 70s, check out some of yesteryears finest Florsheim shop displays.
By 1966, a pair of Florsheim shoes was sold every 4 seconds. That’s 21,600 pairs of shoes per day.
The Florsheim Express Shop was introduced in all Florsheim retail stores. The first of its kind in the world, this innovative computer kiosk allowed customers to order any shoe from the entire Florsheim line, rather than restricting sales to what is in stock.
In May of 2002, the Florsheim trademark returned to its roots when purchased by Weyco Group. The senior officers of the company are fifth generation Florsheim and proud to carry on the family tradition that Sigmund started. They are committed to creating shoes that embrace Florsheim’s heritage of quality, craftsmanship and timeless styling.
Florsheim introduced Florsheim by Duckie Brown. The partnership with this fashion-forward menswear designer was a premium collection that featured modern reinterpretations of timeless classics.
Florsheim partnered with George Esquivel, a shoe designer and craftsman, to design a collection of extraordinary men’s and women’s shoes handcrafted in California.
To honor the company’s 125th anniversary, Florsheim created a limited-edition collection of shoes to pay tribute to some of the very first Florsheim styles. This collection honored Florsheim’s humble beginning and celebrated how far the brand has come through the re-imagination of five classic silhouettes.
Florsheim presented the Fuel Reflect Collection. These colorful shoes paid homage to the famous Florsheim neon signs of the 1930s, the true art deco masterpieces that lit up cities across the USA. The Fuel Reflect Collection was presented as both a reflection on the company’s colorful past as well as a bold step into the future.
As part of the Weyco Group, Florsheim launched an ambitious framework of ESG initiatives designed to assess and improve the organization’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues.
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Florsheim celebrated its 130th anniversary. Over the years, the company has built a legacy of creating comfortable, well-crafted shoes in versatile styles. By following this tradition, Florsheim continues to be one of the most trusted men’s footwear companies in the world.