STYLE THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH BASS SHOES

SHOP BASS

Bass Shoes, founded by George Henry Bass in 1876, has etched its name in U.S. shoemaking history. Originally named G. H. Bass & Company, the factory opened its doors in Wilton, Maine in 1876. The Bass shoe company is one of only a handful of U.S. shoe brands still in business today that can trace their heritage all the way back to the Revolutionary War. It was the Bass “Aviation Boot” Charles Lindbergh wore when he completed the first trans-Atlantic flight. And it was Bass boots on the feet of Admiral Byrd on his second expedition to Antarctica.

When Bass opened his factory, New England and the Atlantic seaboard were the center of the U. S. shoe and boot making business. This was largely due to the fact that the industry had planted its roots near the footwear needs of the original colonists. Bass came from a tradition of shoe makers who created footwear by hand. Over the years, as the country expanded and its population grew, there were many advances in shoe making technology. Bass’s idea then, as it still is today, was to offer buyers the finest, most durable footwear possible. His first popular design, the “Camp Mocc.,” came out soon after the factory opened, and was an instant success.

The G. H. Bass & Company factory grew to such a point that Bass became the largest employer in Wilton. In fact, the town of Wilton gained international status as being known as the “home of Bass shoes.”

But ironically, it was after George Bass’s death that the company’s most famous shoe, a style that has been copied by nearly every shoemaker and one that still continues today, was created. When G. H. Bass died in 1925, his two sons, Willard and John Bass, took over the business. In 1936, after being inspired by a style from Norway, the sons launched the Bass Weejun. It featured a hand-sewn moccasin construction and slotted saddle across the vamp. The Weejun, known as a “penny loafer,” became tremendously popular with young people who inserted a penny into the slot on the saddle. The Bass Weejun is the classic penny loafer still known and loved today. The design has made its mark in history, gaining iconic status along with such other famous styles as spectators, white bucks, Beatle boots, sneakers, and flip flops.

Arrowsmith Shoes brings to you the G. H. Bass shoe line of today. Still featuring a hand-sewn moccasin construction in several penny loafer styles, Bass and Arrowsmith Shoes also offer the classic slip-on with a kiltie, tasseled, or plain-vamp versions. You will also find buck lace-ups, saddle oxfords and many comfort casuals under the Bass name. Today, Bass not only produces shoes for men but also for women and children.

The next time you put on a pair of Bass shoes, know that you are walking in a piece of American history.

Arrowsmith Shoes is proud to include Bass in its collection.

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