Hush Puppies is a casual shoe brand from the United States, founded in 1958. The brand belongs to Wolverine World Wide, which is headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. Its first shoes were made from specially tanned pigskin, a soft and flexible material originally developed for gloves and protective gear for the US military. Because it was not tough enough for Wolverine's work boots, the material was used for relaxed shoes that sold on comfort. The mascot is a Basset Hound named Jason, who is also the brand's logo. Hush Puppies is often described as the shoe that fills the gap between sneakers and formal shoes. In 1963, one in ten American adults was said to own a pair.
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Hush Puppies came out of work that had nothing to do with casual shoes. Wolverine had first worked hard to develop a practical way to tan pigskin, for use by the US military in gloves and protective material. The result was soft and flexible, but not tough enough for Wolverine's work boots. The company then made casual shoes from that material and marketed them as a brand that put comfort first, under the name Hush Puppies in 1958.
The timing was right. A relaxed lifestyle was popular with people in American suburbs after the war. By mid-1959, the first million pairs had been sold. By 1963, one in ten American adults owned a pair. There is also a story from a 1965 concert in Sacramento, California. Hush Puppies claims that its crepe soles saved the life of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who was shocked by an ungrounded microphone. That is a claim from the brand, so we present it as a story, not as a technical fact about the sole.
In 1994, sales fell to about 30,000 pairs a year. Then the shoes suddenly became popular with young people in the clubs and bars of lower Manhattan, who bought them in small shoe stores. Designers John Bartlett, Anna Sui, and Joel Fitzpatrick put them in their collections. Figures such as Princess Diana, David Bowie, and Tom Hanks also wore them. The trend toward more casual dress in the office helped too. Wolverine sold 430,000 pairs in 1995 and about four times that the following year. In 1995, Hush Puppies won the Council of Fashion Designers' award for best accessory. This surge was later used by Malcolm Gladwell as an example of a tipping point.
What we check before listing
We start with the condition of the soles. Check whether the rubber or crepe sole has worn unevenly, hardened, or cracked. For suede or nubuck leather, we check for thinning nap, shiny stains, and water marks. The stitching and glue where the upper meets the sole should still be tight. Inside, the insole and heel lining usually show wear fastest, so we look at whether they are still even and free of odor. We also check the labels and the print on the insole, including the Basset Hound logo when present, to see whether they look neat and match a known model.
Caring for it
After wearing, brush the nap of suede or sueded leather in one direction with a soft brush. Avoid water, because this material stains easily and hardens if it gets wet and is then dried in direct heat. If the shoes get wet, stuff them with paper and dry them in the shade. Clean rubber soles with a damp cloth, then store the shoes in a dry place with good air circulation.
FAQ
Is Hush Puppies always made from pigskin?
We cannot confirm that for every model. The first shoes did use specially tanned pigskin, but the material differs from model to model. Check the label or the details inside the shoe.
Where does Hush Puppies come from?
The brand comes from the United States and was founded in 1958. It now belongs to Wolverine World Wide, which is headquartered in Rockford, Michigan.
What does the dog in the Hush Puppies logo mean?
The logo is a Basset Hound named Jason, who is the brand's mascot. The logo can be one clue when checking a shoe, but it cannot be used on its own to judge authenticity.
Are secondhand Hush Puppies comfortable to wear again?
Generally yes, as long as the sole, insole, and stitching are still in good condition. Shoes with a thinned sole or a sunken insole are worth reconsidering. We list the condition of each pair on its product page.
References
Facts summarised and rewritten from the sources above (CC BY-SA licence).