Blundstone Boots

How many footwear companies can look back on a rich history of over 150 years?

Making "fit-for-purpose" footwear is as important to Blundstone today as it was when John Blundstone started his company in Tasmania in 1870. Back then, it was cobblestone city streets, factory floors and rugged farm terrain that inspired Blundstone to craft his very first pair of shoes for sale. Today, the company is dedicated to providing that same level of quality craftsmanship and innovation that launched the company and saw it through the Great Depression, two world wars and a broad spectrum of fashion trends. In all those years, the company also developed values to be proud, active, positive and contributing members of the societies in which it operates.

Blundstone is a footwear brand steep in tradition. Blundstone and Sons launched its business in 1870. Soon, Blundstone was garnering industry recognition. 

By the 1900s, the company had built a state-of-the-art factory that could churn out 2,000 pairs of boots and shoes a week. Later, the factory was one of less than two dozen tapped to produce boots for Aussie troops. During the Great Depression, the company was purchased by the Cuthbertsons, a quality footwear manufacturer that retains ownership even today. But the Blundstone name held such value, it was retained. 

When World War II broke out, Blundstone supplied half a million pairs of boots to the Australian army. The design formed the foundation of Blundstone workboots today. By the end of the 1950s, Blundstone was manufacturing about 200 pairs of work boots every day. 

The 1960s brought more innovation with the introduction of Blundstone's iconic #500 series. The 1970s saw more awards and the distinction of being the boot that climbed Mt. Everest when an Aussie expedition team scaled the mountainside in Blundstone boots. In the 1980s, Blundstone shoes expanded its growing line of products and expanded its export market to Europe. 

By the 1990s, Blundstone had rededicated itself to providing safety footwear for women and boots for children, while expanding sales to 22 countries worldwide. The 2000s brought expansion of styles and by the mid-2000s, the company was manufacturing 1 million pairs of boots annually at its original Hobart location, one of six manufacturing sites around the world. The 2010s brought more design awards. Today, Blundstone celebrates 150 years of being proudly family-owned. 

Throughout its long history, Blundstone developed the values that it shares today with a number of amazing organizations. Through these partnerships, Blundstone is able to support future generations, including individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences across six continents and more than 70 countries. 

Among those partnerships is Rethink Foods, dedicated to providing healthy meals to needy communities, and Brooklyn Grange, supporting rooftop gardening. Blundstone supports Ocearch, which pushes the boundaries of science, and Queer Art, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ artists. Blundstone also shares its resources with Outdoor Afro, inspiring black connections to nature, and The Wild Beauty Foundation, dedicated to addressing key issues of domestic and wild horses today.

Go ahead. Grab yourself a piece of rich history. Check out our line of Blundstone footwear.