COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 316211

Rubber and Plastics Footwear Manufacturing

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

14companies1905–1983founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedRed Wing Shoe Company, Inc.FoundedRed Wing Shoe Company, Inc.
1905
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.
FoundedHummel International A/SFoundedHummel International A/S
1923
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
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.
FoundedPuma AG Rudolf Dassler SportFoundedPuma AG Rudolf Dassler Sport
1948
FoundedASICS CorporationFoundedASICS CorporationFoundedadidas-Salomon AGFoundedadidas-Salomon AG
1949
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedVans, Inc.FoundedVans, Inc.
1966
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.
FoundedLaCrosse Footwear, Inc.FoundedLaCrosse Footwear, Inc.
1983
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

Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc.
Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc.
Hummel International A/S →
Active · founded 1923 · Denmark
1950s:Hummel moves to Viby, Denmark.
Hummel International A/S →
Active · founded 1923 · Denmark
1950s:Hummel moves to Viby, Denmark.
Puma AG Rudolf Dassler Sport →
Active · founded 1948 · Germany
Puma AG is among the world's leading manufacturers of athletic shoes, sportswear, and accessories.
Puma AG Rudolf Dassler Sport →
Active · founded 1948 · Germany
Puma AG is among the world's leading manufacturers of athletic shoes, sportswear, and accessories.
ASICS Corporation →
Active · founded 1949 · Japan
ASICS Corporation is one of Japan's top makers of sport shoes and other equipment.
ASICS Corporation →
Active · founded 1949 · Japan
ASICS Corporation is one of Japan's top makers of sport shoes and other equipment.
adidas-Salomon AG →
Active · founded 1949 · Germany
German-based adidas-Salomon AG is the second largest manufacturer of sporting goods in the world.
adidas-Salomon AG →
Active · founded 1949 · Germany
German-based adidas-Salomon AG is the second largest manufacturer of sporting goods in the world.
Vans, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Vans, Inc.
Vans, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Vans, Inc.
LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Early 1920s:The Funk family buys out Hirshheimer.
LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Early 1920s:The Funk family buys out Hirshheimer.
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