Saucony
 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sportswear and Sports Goods |
| Founded | Kutztown, Pennsylvania (1898) |
| Headquarters | Lexington, Massachusetts, United States |
| Products |
Footwear Accessories Sportswear |
| Parent | Wolverine World Wide |
| Website | www.saucony.com |
Saucony /ˈsɔːkəni/ is an American manufacturer of athletic shoes. The company is a subsidiary of Wolverine World Wide.[1]
History
The company's first factory was founded in 1898 at Kutztown, Pennsylvania, on the high banks of the Saucony Creek.[2] In 1910, Russian immigrant Abraham Hyde started a shoe company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, called Hyde Athletic Industries. Over the years, Hyde became known for making athletic footwear including brands such as SpotBilt and PF Flyers; Hyde Athletic Industries bought Saucony in the late 1960s, and moved it to Cambridge. By the late 1990s, when Saucony became Hyde's dominant brand, the name of the company was officially changed from Hyde Athletic Industries to Saucony.
In June 2005, the Stride Rite Corporation (maker of Keds, Sperry Top-Sider and other brands) announced an agreement to acquire Saucony. Both companies are based in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area: Lexington. Stride Rite was acquired by Payless ShoeSource in Autumn 2007.
Saucony's shoe boxes once had the phrase "sock a knee" printed on them.[citation needed] The Saucony brand represents the Saucony Creek's constant flow, and the boulders lining its creek bed.
The company is also a popular racing shoe producer, making track spikes and cross country racing flats. Saucony also makes shoes for specific track and field athletics events.
Sue Grafton's Alphabet Series' lead character, Kinsey Millhone, is a dedicated wearer of Saucony athletic shoes. The first reference to the apparel occurs in the novel, "O" Is for Outlaw. [3]
In 2012, Saucony, along with Keds, Stride Rite and Sperry Top-Sider, became part of Wolverine World Wide after a joint agreement with Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital acquired the Performance Lifestyle Group of Collective Brands for US$1.23 billion.[4]
Footwear
The company offers a variety of footwear choices, such as running, trail running, racing, walking, and a college collection. Each of these types of shoes utilizes specific technology relevant to the type of targeted activity. The shoes are designed for 3 main purposes: racing, running, and walking. Shoes are also made by focusing on the runner's foot size, type of running, arch type, pronation, and running location.
References
- ↑ "Saucony official site".
- ↑ "History | Saucony Company". The Stride Rite Corporation. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ↑ "Sue Grafton | Excerpt". Sue Grafton. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ↑ "Saucony, Keds and Sperry Acquired by Wolverine Worldwide". Inside Insight. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-12-14.