COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 316210

Footwear Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

6companies1882–1931founding years6still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedPhoenix Footwear Group, Inc.FoundedPhoenix Footwear Group, Inc.
1882
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedNew Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.FoundedNew Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
1906
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedBata Ltd.FoundedBata Ltd.
1931
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1882
Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc., markets a number of leading brands of footwear and apparel.
Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1882
Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc., markets a number of leading brands of footwear and apparel.
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. →
Active · founded 1906
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., manufactures running, hiking, tennis, basketball, and cross-training shoes, offering…
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. →
Active · founded 1906
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., manufactures running, hiking, tennis, basketball, and cross-training shoes, offering…
Bata Ltd. →
Active · founded 1931 · Canada
Bata Ltd.
Bata Ltd. →
Active · founded 1931 · Canada
Bata Ltd.
Build It Today

Starting a footwear manufacturing company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.