Our founder, Paul Sperry, almost lost his life aboard his boat, the Sirocco. The rough seas, a slippery deck and a struggle for sure footing began Sperry's long and ambitious quest for a solution. One day in 1935, after watching his dog Prince dart effortlessly across the ice on a cold Connecticut day, he was inspired to carve grooves – like those on his dog's paws – into the bottom of a rubber-soled shoe. In that moment of inspiration, the world's first boat shoe was born. Since then, Sperry has evolved from the original boat shoe into an authentic lifestyle brand fully rooted in classic American style.
