Paul Sperry, founder of Sperry, was an avid sailor with a passion for adventure. He was an inventor, a sailor and an intrepid explorer. An independent spirit enamored with the power, freedom, and unlimited possibilities of the sea.

He was faced with a real-life problem that stood in the way of his passion: How to maintain traction on a slippery boat deck. No solution existed in 1935.

After numerous attempts to invent a non-slip boat shoe, Paul found his inspiration from his best friend – his dog Prince. Noticing how he didn’t slip on ice, he turned Prince’s paw over to find hundreds of small cracks and lines going in all directions. These became the inspiration behind his inventive non-slip sole and the world’s first performance boat shoe. It was a simple invention born of necessity.

In that moment of inspiration, he not only created an icon, he launched a brand: the perfect union of an inventive idea, a man, his passion, and the allure of the sea.

Sperry has evolved from the original boat shoe manufacturer into one of the great, authentic lifestyle brands; a rare brand that spans fashion and function without compromise.