Boston Originals: Boston Shoe Companies
Part of our Boston Originals series
When visiting Boston it is essential to pack a comfortable pair of shoes to carry you to all of the amazing sites and landmarks in the area. If you plan on wearing Converse or New Balance, you will be wearing shoe brands that are Boston originals! Boston and its surrounding towns are home to many famous companies, including your favorite shoe brands!
Why is Boston a hub for shoe companies?
Boston’s Shoe Industry and Heritage
The leatherworks and shoe industry was a cornerstone of Massachusetts' economy, evolving from handmade craftsmanship in the 1600s to factory-based manufacturing by the mid-19th century, driven by inventions in labor-saving machinery. A few essential inventions include the McKay Stitching Machine and the Lasting Machine.
Growth and Innovation in Boston
During the Industrial Revolution, Boston led the modernization of the shoe industry and emerged as a hub of innovation, bringing leather and shoe production into the 20th century and becoming the world leader by 1916. Iconic brands like Converse and New Balance, both founded in the Boston area, revolutionized footwear for basketball and running, solidifying Boston’s reputation as a leader in performance and lifestyle shoes.
Boston’s Sports Culture & Passion
Boston’s thriving shoe industry is deeply tied to its rich sports culture, from the iconic Boston Marathon to professional teams like the Red Sox. At its peak, more than 90% of basketball players across college and the NBA wore Converse on the court, while Reebok went into soccer, outfitting teams such as Liverpool and Atlético Madrid, as well as designing a shoe line with NBA All-Star Allen Iverson.
Boston’s Shoe Industry and Heritage
The shoe and leatherworks industry was a dominant source of employment and played a major role in the economy of Massachusetts and the Northeastern coast. Before the 1850s, clothes and shoes were entirely handmade. Historical evidence reveals that America's first shoemakers established themselves in Salem, MA, in 1629! However, between the 1850s-1870s, shoe manufacturing in Boston exploded as technology evolved. Although shoes were initially assembled by hand, the finishing work transitioned to being completed in factories. Boston shoe companies sought to develop labor-saving machinery and methods during this period.
New inventions
During the Industrial Revolution, Boston became a major center of machine innovation. The leather, textile, and shoe industries—cornerstones of the region's economy—drove rapid technological advancement. Dozens of inventors from Massachusetts played a crucial role in mechanizing shoe manufacturing by creating specialized equipment—shoe-specific sewing machines, automatic cinching machines, eyeletting machines, and machines that joined shoe uppers and soles.
Key inventions like the Lasting Machine and the McKay Stitching Machine originated from Lynn, Massachusetts, a town not far from Boston! The McKay Stitching Machine (1862) automated the process of sewing soles to the uppers, revolutionizing shoe production. The McKay method of stitching was widely adopted across the industry. The Lasting Machine (1883) mechanized the process of pulling the shoe upper over the last (a foot-shaped mold made of carved wood or cast aluminum, used to shape shoes) and attaching it to the sole, greatly increasing productivity and making shoes more affordable and accessible.
By the turn of the twentieth century, production had transformed from a cottage industry into a modern manufacturing process. By 1916, Boston shoe companies were recognized around the world as leaders in manufacturing, and the city developed a reputation as the center of the leather and shoe industry.
United Shoe Machinery Corporation (160 Federal St, Boston)
As you walk through Boston's financial district, you'll spot golden shoe prints leading to an elegant, bold building accented with bronze. This historic landmark at 160 Federal Street is best known as the former headquarters of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC).
Built in 1929, this stunning Art Deco building's grandeur symbolizes the power and success of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation and its lasting legacy in developing and supplying advanced equipment that mechanized various stages of shoe production both nationally and globally. The United Shoe Machinery Corporation building holds significance as a symbol of collaboration and collective efforts to advance technology.
In 1899, industrialist Sidney W. Winslow encouraged a merger of America’s top 3 leading shoe manufacturing companies. He saw value in focusing technological mechanization efforts to improve methods, machinery, and the final product. Winslow employed the best machine experts to create unique machines that contributed to the vision of near total mechanization. This merger strengthened Massachusetts' already dominant leather and shoe industry. Within 10 years of founding the USMC, it controlled 98% of the shoe machinery market in the United States and was recognized as a powerful and influential manufacturer of shoe machinery globally.
In 1980 the United Shoe Machinery Corporation Building joined the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1983 it was designated a Boston Landmark.
Growth & Innovation in Boston
Converse - HQ at 1 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston
When walking between TD Garden (home of the Celtics and Bruins) and Boston’s historic North End, you’ll pass the prominent Converse Headquarters building. Converse is a true Boston original!
While the Boston headquarters is a more recent addition, the brand's roots trace back to Malden, just north of the city. In 1853, Elisha Slade Converse founded the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, which quickly became the world’s largest producer of rubber boots, shoes, and overshoes. Later, in 1908, Elisha’s cousin Marquis Mills Converse launched the Converse Rubber Shoe Company, creating the iconic brand we know today.
Interestingly, Marquis Converse originally started the company in 1890 to manufacture winterized footwear for men, women, and children. After early financial struggles caused by a partner, Marquis persevered, relaunching the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in 1908. The first Converse shoes hit the market in 1909.
Around this time, basketball—a sport invented by James Naismith in 1891 (in Springfield, MA, another city not too far from Boston!)—was gaining popularity. Converse saw an opportunity to link its name to this growing sport.
By 1910, Converse was producing nearly 6,000 pairs of winter boots daily. Building on this success, Marquis Converse expanded into athletic footwear. The company designed its first canvas shoe for athletes, named the ‘Non-Skid,’ which helped players maintain traction during games. This design is considered the great-grandfather of the modern Chuck Taylor All-Stars. In 1919, the ‘Non-Skid’ was renamed the now-famous ‘All-Star.’
All-Star shoes quickly became the go-to footwear for basketball players across America. They were even worn by Team USA during the first-ever Olympic basketball championship at the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin. The red-and-blue-striped Converse shoes became a symbol of victory as Team USA took home the gold medal.
By 1955, Converse All-Stars dominated the basketball shoe market, controlling 80% of the sneaker industry. By the 1960s, 90% of professional and college basketball players wore All-Stars. Although their era as athletic footwear was ending, Converse All-Stars reinvented themselves as a beloved lifestyle sneaker, cementing their place in cultural and Boston shoe manufacturing history.
Boston's Sports Culture and Passion
New Balance - HQ at 100 Guest St, Boston
Just beyond the downtown shopping district and Fenway Park, you'll find the New Balance headquarters at Boston Landing. This iconic Boston Shoe company has a rich history, catering to everyone from workers who spend long hours on their feet to athletes striving to improve performance. Founded in 1906 by 33-year-old English immigrant William J. Riley, the New Balance Arch Support Company began as a small factory in the Boston area. Over a century later, it has grown into a globally recognized brand. Riley initially focused on crafting arch supports and accessories to improve shoe fit.
The first product released was a flexible arch support inspired by the natural balance of a chicken’s foot. Observing how chickens ran effortlessly on their three claws, he developed a design based on this "three-point balance." To illustrate his concept, Riley reportedly kept chicken feet on his office desk for demonstrations to potential customers.
In 1927, William J. Riley brought on Arthur Hall as a salesman. By 1934, Hall became a business partner, marking the start of a new chapter for the company. Together, they rebranded as the New Balance Athletic Shoe Company, expanding their reach to baseball players, track and field athletes, and workers seeking reliable orthopedic footwear.
In 1956, Arthur Hall sold the company to his daughter Eleanor and her husband Paul Kidd. While they initially focused on arch supports, the company took a bold step in 1960 by creating the "Trackster," the first running shoe available in multiple widths. Though not designed to be trendy, the Trackster gained popularity with the YMCA and college cross-country teams at Boston universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Tufts, and Boston University. This new product demonstrated New Balance's commitment to prioritizing "fit before fashion." In April 1972 on Boston Marathon Day, Jim Davis purchased New Balance from Paul Kidd.
From the 1970s to today, Boston has become synonymous with running, thanks in part to the prestigious Boston Marathon, which began in 1897. New Balance remains a favorite among both seasoned and novice runners.
Over the years New Balance has been involved in sponsorship of a variety of sports teams, leagues and individuals. The brand has stayed true to its roots, under Kidd’s leadership, focusing on performance and comfort rather than trends or celebrity endorsements. New Balance has a strong presence both locally in Boston and globally through its sponsorships. In Boston, it proudly supports the Boston Red Sox, while also backing the National Basketball Association (NBA), New York City Marathon and the New York Mets.
On a global scale, New Balance sponsors top-tier teams and athletes across a wide range of sports, including basketball, baseball, cricket, cycling, tennis, rugby, and more. This includes backing national teams such as Team Ireland at the Rio 2016 Olympics and football teams worldwide, solidifying its impact on both local communities and international sports.
Even with its global reach, New Balance has maintained factories in the USA, Canada, and the UK, ensuring that it continues to employ local workers who have been the backbone of this Boston shoe manufacturing company since 1906.
Shoe Companies Thriving in & around Boston Today
The successful shoe industry in Massachusetts has attracted international brands that continue to enhance the creative and competitive culture of crafting footwear that excels in both fashion and sports performance.
Homegrown Brands
Converse – Founded in 1908 in Malden, MA; best known for its iconic Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers. World HQ: 1 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston, MA, USA
New Balance – Founded in 1906 in Boston, MA; best known for athletic shoes and running footwear. World HQ: 100 Guest St, Boston, MA, USA
Oofos – Established in 2011 in Braintree, MA; best known for recovery footwear. World HQ: 350 Granite St, Braintree, MA, USA
Saucony – Founded in 1896 in Cambridge, MA; best known for performance running shoes. World HQ: 500 Totten Pond Rd, Waltham, MA, USA
Sperry – Founded in 1935 in Waltham, MA; best known for its iconic boat shoes. World HQ: 191 Spring St, Lexington, MA, USA
International Brands with Local Presence
Reebok – Founded in 1958 in Bolton, England; best known for athletic shoes and fitness footwear. World HQ: 25 Drydock Ave, Boston, MA, USA
Keds – Founded in 1916 in Middletown, CT; best known for classic canvas sneakers. World HQ: 191 Spring St, Lexington, MA, USA
Puma – Founded in 1948 in Herzogenaurach, Germany; best known for athletic and lifestyle footwear. US HQ: Assembly Row, Somerville, MA, USA
Vibram – Founded in 1937 in Albizzate, Italy; known for its innovative rubber soles. US HQ: 840 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, USA
