Hush Puppies
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Footwear, Apparel, Accessories |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Founder | Wolverine World Wide (innovation by Wolverine) |
| Headquarters | Rockford, Michigan , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Casual footwear, apparel, toys, accessories |
| Owner | Wolverine World Wide |
| Website | www |
Hush Puppies is a casual footwear brand from the United States, operating as a subsidiary of Wolverine World Wide and based in Rockford, Michigan. The Hush Puppies trademark is also licensed by Wolverine for use on apparel, toys, and various accessories.
The brand is symbolized by its mascot and logo, a basset hound named Jason.
History
Established in 1958, Hush Puppies emerged following Wolverine's innovation of a practical pigskin tanning technique originally designed for US military gloves and protective equipment. While pigskin offered softness, it lacked the durability required for work boots, prompting the creation of casual shoes focused on comfort. This approach found a strong audience in post-war suburban America; within the first year, one million pairs were manufactured, and by 1963, approximately 10% of American adults owned Hush Puppies.
The brand’s crepe-soled footwear gained fame when Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards allegedly survived an electric shock at a 1965 concert, credited to the insulating qualities of his Hush Puppies shoes.
1990s revival
By 1994, annual sales had declined to around 30,000 pairs. However, Hush Puppies experienced a resurgence in popularity within Manhattan’s club culture, fueled by younger buyers frequenting boutique shoe retailers. Prominent fashion designers such as John Bartlett, Anna Sui, and Joel Fitzpatrick featured the shoes in their lines, while celebrities including Princess Diana, Jim Carrey, Sharon Stone, David Bowie, Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, and Sylvester Stallone became brand advocates.
The footwear benefited from the increasing acceptance of casual attire in professional environments, effectively filling the niche between sneakers and formal shoes. Wolverine’s sales jumped to 430,000 pairs in 1995 and then multiplied fourfold the next year. In 1995, Hush Puppies received the best accessory award at the Council of Fashion Designers event.
This swift market revival was cited by journalist Malcolm Gladwell as an exemplary case of a tipping point in consumer behavior.
External links
- —Official website of Hush Puppies
- Spokane Daily Chronicle—Advertisement for Bozos oxfords from 1968