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Irish Setter Limited Series- Irish Setter 9875 and Irish Setter 9866

July 22, 2017

In the postwar years of the last century, Red Wing Shoe

Company introduced a 9-inch lace-up boot for sportsmen—

bird and deer hunters who spent autumn days in the woods

and marshes of North America. The boot, called the Style No.

954, made use of leather tanned with the bark of sequoia trees

that gave it a distinctive deep reddish-orange color known as

“Oro Russet”. It was so similar to the coat of a certain breed of

hunting dog that it was given the name, “Irish Setter” in our

1950 catalog and it quickly became a popular boot.

In 1952, the Irish Setter evolved further, taking on a form

that has come to be synonymous with Red Wing ever since.

Retaining the distinctive moc toe of the 954, the new 8-inch

Style No. 877 replaced its predecessor’s heel with a wedge sole

made from a white crepe rubber that promised to be quiet

underfoot in the woods. This sole had been used on shoes

before but the No. 877 Irish Setter was the first to use it on a

tall hunting boot. In addition to its benefits for the stalking

hunter, its comfort also found favor on the job site and soon

the Irish Setter was seen in the factories and on the scaffolds

of a growing America.

Since the 1950s, the Irish Setter changed little from its origins.

A 6-inch version and a few other colors were introduced,

as well as some subtle new construction techniques but

otherwise it remained the same boot that was ceremonially

presented to President Eisenhower in 1960. By the 1990s, the

original No. 877 became simply known as the “Classic Work

Boot”, while the Irish Setter name branched off for an entire

family of hunting boots made by Red Wing.

A few years ago, we embarked on a project to recreate the

iconic Irish Setter boot, as close to its original form as

possible, for our Japanese market, where Red Wing has long

enjoyed a loyal following. It was an ambitious undertaking.

We dusted off old machines at our Minnesota factory, called

in help from retired workers, and experimented with tanning

methods that could recreate the original Oro Russet color

but adhere to modern environmental practices. Finally, after

three years, the boot made its debut. And now we’re bringing

it back to the American market.

The new limited series Irish Setter appears as if out of a time

machine from 1952. In addition to its matched color, which

we’re now calling “Gold Russet Sequoia”, the boot has all the

exacting details of its historic forebear. The “Red Wing” name

is embossed on the inside quarter of the boot, the moc toe is

finished with a distinctive rectangular bar-tack stitch, and

the backstay chain-stitch is once again done on our ancient

Puritan Stitch machine, which has its origins in the 1890s. We

use the same mahogany and sage thread of the original, the

top band is double-stitched, and the laces are leather instead

of Taslan. All of these features are subtle differences from our

standard No. 877 Classic Work Boot but they add up to an Irish

Setter that is both unique and true to its name. Finally, to

finish it off, we’ve added the traditional woven “Irish Setter”

label inside the tongue and the boots come in a box that

features the original logo and text from the 1950s.

Red Wing Women's Heritage Collection

August 27, 2016

RED WING SHOES was built on America’s great promise; if one worked hard enough, one could achieve anything. Since 1905, that work ethic has been poured into every cut and stitch that crafts a Red Wing boot. From the first boot to leave the factory floor, Red Wing has proudly stood not only for getting the job done but getting it done right. By combining the finest leathers and quality materials with uncompromising craftsmanship, Red Wing’s Heritage collection continues to build upon a legacy of usa-made excellence so the boots built tomorrow are as enduring as the boots built 100 years ago.

RED WING SHOE COMPANY started making boots for women in
the midst of the Roaring Twenties. These women were pioneers of their
era, breaking free from the constraints of long skirts and corsets in favor
of short hair, pants, and boots. Red Wing Shoe Company responded to
these social changes by creating a collection of ladies’ boots that were
specifically suited to the needs and activities of independent women
of the time, using the same purpose-built craftsmanship and care
found in their men’s shoes.

Today, women are breaking molds again by seeking products that hearken back to an era that valued quality over quantity, when shoes were crafted by hand and brands stood by their product after years of use. Red Wing Heritage Women’s Collection celebrates their legacy of building premium, iconic footwear for independent women.

red wing

Irish Setter Limited Series- Irish Setter 9875 and Irish Setter 9866

Red Wing Women's Heritage Collection

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