Red Wing’s Irish Setter is one of the most iconic work boots of all time, and is also known for taking Japan by storm in the 1990s. With the possibility of a renewed boom, this is definitely one of the items to check out in the future. This time, we focus on Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter ” and introduce its charm!
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Red Wing, America’s Leading Boot Brand
Red Wing is a shoe manufacturer founded in 1905 in a town called Red Wing City in Minnesota, USA. The founder, Charles Beckman, started a small brick factory called ” Red Wing Shoe Company ” with 14 friends.
In the 1950s, the company developed a number of hit products, including the Irish Setter, and grew into one of the world’s leading brands of work boots. The brand has grown to become one of the leading brands of work boots in the world. The brand, which carries the red feather logo associated with its name, is now sold in about 150 countries and is said to sell more than 3 million pairs annually.
The roots of Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter,” a masterpiece of work boots
The prototype of the Irish Setter was born in 1950. Red Wing used a newly developed reddish brown leather for its new hunting boots. This leather, called Oloracet, was used for the upper and white rubber for the sole. The color combination was reminiscent of the fur of the Irish Setter, the hound of the Irish Setter, and so the boot was nicknamed the ” Irish Setter.
Irish Setter has become synonymous with hunting/work boots
The shoe became a bestseller as early as the year after its launch, and in 1952, new models were officially added to the Irish Setter series. One of these models, the ” 877 “, was a huge hit upon its release. Although the Irish Setter was originally made as a hunting boot, it gained tremendous support from workers as well. It became Red Wing’s signature model, and the brand itself came to reign as synonymous with work boots.
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The brand continued to produce best-selling boots over the next several decades, including the ” 875 ” and ” 866 “. In the 1990s, however, sales began to decline as the U.S. market for work boots and hunting boots changed, and in 1997 Red Wing established ” Irish Setter Hunting Boots” as a separate, independent brand. The brand was reborn as a mid-priced hunting boots and work shoes brand for the North American market.
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The birth of the new Irish Setter
In the 2000s, Red Wing’s work boots began to attract attention again from fashion-conscious consumers. In 2011, the Irish Setter series was revived in response to the Japanese market’s nostalgia for the Irish Setter of yesteryear. The new Irish Setter series features newly developed materials such as gold russet leather reminiscent of the Oloracet leather of the early models and black Klondike, both of which have been updated while still respecting tradition. The Irish Setter, which recreates the details of the past, is once again popular as Red Wing’s signature model.
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Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter ” is a hot stock!
Red Wing’s Irish Setter is known as an authentic item, but at the Pitti Uomo in January 2018, the model was seen worn in a modern way. Next, we pick up the hottest outfits incorporating Red Wing’s Irish Setter!
Red Wing “Irish Setter” x Effortless Chester Coat Style
The long chester coat and turtleneck knit were worn with loose-fitting gray pants for the bottoms, creating an effortless styling. The outfit, consisting of only monotone items, exudes a modern atmosphere. For footwear, we chose Irish setters from 9874. While the dark tone base expresses a rugged form, the white accents throughout give an appealing impression that is not too heavy.
Red Wing “Irish Setter” x Jeans Royal Coordination mixed with the essence of mode
Red Wing’s Irish Setter and denim are the royal styling, but by combining a blouson and inner down tops made of different materials, the essence of mode is mixed in. While expressing a man’s sense of gravity, the casual attention to detail in the layering of a white T-shirt and the bold one-roll of jeans creates a sense of slackness that enhances the stylish atmosphere.
Red Wing “Irish Setter” with straight jeans
In place of skinny jeans, “non-skinny jeans” with straight or tapered silhouettes have recently been gaining in presence. In particular, Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter” goes well with straight silhouette jeans, which give a man a rugged look. A powerful trick to avoid looking wild is to avoid creating a cushion between the shoes and the short length. It is also recommended to add a sporty touch by incorporating a crisp and shiny item such as a nylon coat to create a modern atmosphere.
The particulars of the upper leather of Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter
The Irish Setter’s greatest characteristics are the “texture” and unique “color” of the leather upper. The upper is a symbolic part of the Irish Setter, so named because the color of the leather originally resembled the fur of the Irish Setter, a hound dog.
Oloracet Portage Leather” which is more reddish than the original
In its early years, the Irish Setter was made of ” oloracet leather ” tanned from the bark of the sequoia tree, with an orange-reddish-brown upper. Later, in the late 1990s, the leather was changed to ” oloracet portage leather ” with a reddish tinge. This Oloracet Portage is still used today in models such as ” 8175″ and “9851”.
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Oro Legacy Leather”, which is closer to the color of the original.
In the 1990s, many people wanted the original color that had been lost by the oloroset portage, so an “oroiginal leather” that was closer to the original color was also produced at the same time. The “Orolegacy leather” used in the current “875” model has its roots in Orolegacy.
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Gold Russet Sequoia Leather” is a faithful reproduction of the leather used in the original Irish Setter model
The “Gold Russet Sequoia Leather” is the upper material used in many reissued Irish Setters such as the “9875,” “9871,” and “9850. The leather is tanned using tannin extracted from the bark of the Sequoia tree. The tanning process is a more classic method of tanning, and the natural coloring produced by the process is appealing. It has various advantages in terms of durability, such as being durable, strong, and moisture absorbent.
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The word “russet” in gold russet and oloroset leathers means “reddish brown” or “decayed leaf color. Gold russet leather is a bit delicate to handle, as it tends to darken in color if too much cream or oil is applied when caring for it. However, because of this, the leather tends to change over time, so the more you wear it, the more you can enjoy its rich and tasteful appearance.
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Klondike (brown-colored) leather with black dyed surface “.
Black Irish Setters such as the “9874” were created around 1980 in response to requests for color variations. The “Black Chrome” used for the uppers at the time was chrome-tanned leather with a bluish tint, and then dyed with black dye to the core.
Later, to reduce production costs, “Klondike (brown-colored leather)” was introduced, in which the leather was not tanned with chrome, but only the surface was dyed black. This leather, which was made by applying color directly to brown leather, was characterized by the fact that when the surface dye was rubbed off, the underlying brown color would come out. Today’s Klondike leather is chromium-tanned once, then dyed brown, and finished with a black staining agent. While retaining the characteristics of the brown core, the time and effort put into the process gives the leather a luxurious feel.
Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter ” toe design fits a wide range of outfits
The voluminous toe is also an appealing feature of the Irish setter. Most models have a “moc toe” with a U-shaped moccasin shape, creating a three-dimensional and casual look.” The moc toe is such an iconic design that the Irish Setter can be said to be the most popular moc toe work boot.
The Irish Setter series also includes models with a plain toe design. These models, named “round toe,” have a rounded toe that retains the American casual look, but also has a relaxed element that can be worn with jackets.
Traction tread sole for the functional beauty of Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter
The outsole is another essential element of the Irish Setter. The Traction Tred Sole, which is also Red Wing’s mainstream sole, is characterized by its light weight and excellent cushioning. The white, flat sole, also known as the White Sole, was not only lightweight, but also made little foot noise, making it ideal as a hunting boot for hunting purposes.
They were also extremely popular with workers because they were easy to work in high places. The traction tread sole was a major contributor to Red Wing’s position as a synonym for work boots.
The secret to the comfort of Red Wing’s ” Irish Setter ” is in the manufacturing process!
Another appeal of the Irish Setter is that the more you wear it, the more it adapts to your feet. This is because the traction tread sole is sewn together using the Goodyear welt method. The cork between the insole and outsole changes its shape according to the shape of the sole under pressure when walking. In addition to the durability of the sole, which is resistant to breakage even under heavy foot traffic, another major advantage is that the sole can be easily replaced even if it deteriorates after many years of wear.
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In addition, instead of using the Goodyear method for only the front half of the shoe, as used in English dress shoes, the Irish Setter uses the all-around Goodyear method, which covers the entire circumference from the toe to the heel. This makes them sturdy yet relatively lightweight, and they even have a high level of cushioning.
The Red Wing Irish Setter’s waterproof and dustproof shoe tongue
It is also important to note that the shoe tongue is an integral part of the upper. In addition to the fact that the shoe tan does not shift depending on how the foot moves, it is also characterized by the fact that it is difficult to put on and take off, which is characteristic of boots. They are also waterproof and dustproof, which explains why the Irish Setter is so useful as work shoes and hunting boots.
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The ” Dog Tag ” is the iconic design of the Irish Setter
Some reissue series, such as the “9875,” reproduce the design of the 1950s, even down to the tag on the back of the boot. This tag, also known as the “embroidered dog tag,” is a traditional icon seen on Irish Setters up until the early 1960s. The dog tag was used until around 1998, with changes in shape and design. After that, the tag was changed to one with an embroidered Red Wing feather logo.
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The “9875” revives the Irish Setter’s origins
This model is a faithful reissue of the original Irish Setter developed in 1952. The moc-toe detailing, the traction tread sole, and the dog tag with the Irish Setter hound design have been reproduced down to the smallest detail. The gold russet sequoia leather is tanned to give it a natural tanning process, and the tannery is now part of the company.
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The “9874” Irish Setter, which allows you to enjoy the Klondike’s ageing process
The black Irish setter is also unique. The surface of the Klondike is dyed black, but as the wearer wears it, the underlying brown color is revealed and a new charm is revealed. This is a pair that you will never get tired of, not only when they are new, but also as you grow into them, you can enjoy their various expressions.
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The “9870” Irish Setter features a relaxed round-toe design
The round-toe model ” 9870 ” is a gem that has its roots in the Irish setter, but has a different appeal from the standard moc-toe. The plain toe silhouette with just the right amount of volume at the toe gives it a relaxed atmosphere despite being a work boot. The upper material is black Klondike. As with the other models, the all-around Goodyear welt manufacturing method ensures a comfortable fit.
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The “875” Irish Setter faithfully carries on the tradition of the Irish Setter
This traditional model was released as the successor to the ” 877,” a masterpiece from the early days of the Irish Setter. Although this model is not an Irish Setter, it is one of Red Wing’s representative models that is still used by many fans today. It has been steadfastly popular since its release and continues to be loved as an eternal classic. The upper material is traditional Oro Legacy. The leather is tanned to bring out the original atmosphere of the leather, and the leather’s original strength can be experienced, and the fine scratches and unevenness in color can easily be tasted. White mocca stitching and yellow laces accentuate the look.