Rockport (company)

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The Rockport Company is a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of shoes. Founded in Marlborough, Massachusetts in 1971 by Saul and Bruce Katz, the company continues to produce footwear and operate stores in the United States, and 66 countries around the world. The company was purchased by Reebok in 1984. Now both footwear makers are owned by shoe giant Adidas.The Rockport Company is based in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Reebok Headquarters.

1 History
2 Shoes
3 Technologies

[edit] History

Rockport was founded in 1971 by the father and son combination of Saul and Bruce Katz in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Saul and Bruce both decided that what was truly missing from the shoe industry was a shoe that combined both lightweight materials, comfort, and subtle stylings. These were the characteristics that would define Rockport shoes for the next decade.

In 1984 Rockport was bought out by footwear industry giant Reebok. This is notable in the fact that it was Reebok's first foray into non-athletic shoe industry. Rockport benefitted from this large acquisition in that it now had gained a major funds influx, but also because it was allowed Reebok athletic footwear technologies available to use in its formal and walking shoes, this would help to lead to the later use of DMX comfort insoles in many styles of Rockport shoes.

[edit] Shoes

Rockports are consistently noted as some of the most comfortable shoes in the market today. Rockport has a variety of loafers, boat shoes, oxfords, sandals, boots, and walking shoes. These are available in mens, womens, and (rarely) kids styles. The most famous of these are the ProWalker series. The ProWalker is a hard-bottomed walking shoe that is among one of the earliest in the Rockport line.

[edit] Technologies

Rockport is consistently accredited with being a technological leader in its footwear field. Among their innovations are DMX, Walk Dry, XCS, and the Vibram sole.

[edit] DMX

DMX technology features cushions of moving air in the sole of the shoe. These are typically viewed as slight bulges that are noted as massage-like in their quality.

[edit] Walk Dry

Shoes that feature Walk Dry technology have all their surfaces water-resistant and are easy to wipe clean of dirt and other assorted stains.

[edit] Vibram Sole

Vibram soles are noted as being among the most durable in all shoe markets. They are nearly inflexible, but are not an inhibitor of the noted comfort of Rockports.

[edit] XCS

XCS or Extreme Conditions System are the basis technology in all outdoor shoes in Rockport's line. These deal mainly with anti-scratch and waterproofing on the outside of the shoe.