1883 was a good year for boots. That is when the Wolverine factory in Michigan began stitching up boots that were worn around the country building railroads and skyscrapers. Although they are still proudly made in the USA they haven’t had a retail presence outside of Michigan.
Luckily for us (and just in time for the holidays), the company has opened their first stand-alone shop in New York in the heart of Nolita. Inside the space designed by BKLYN Dry Goods, customers will find the men’s, women’s collections for Wolverine 1000 Mile and No. 1883 as well as a collaborations with other brands. As Christine Vernon, Wolverine’s Global Product Line Manager, explained to us, “Because we have this great opportunity to share our brand with fans and soon-to-be fans alike, we wanted to make sure that our product sat alongside other quality brands. This is why we also sell Filson bags, Tanner Goods leather materials, Tellason denim, Samantha Pleet clothing and jewelry from The Shiny Squirrel. We think every item in the store is amazing and that the Wolverine customer will find lots and lots of great things that fit their lifestyle.”
The store is cozy and rustic with salvaged materials from the factory incorporated into the decor as well as original boot lasts that line one wall. Christine explained to us that, “The blocks that display the shoes are actually ceiling beams from our tannery, and the wood on the walls and ceiling made up the floor. Jahn and Kurt (from BKLYN Dry Goods) were also lucky enough to find a light up sign advertising Wolverine from a shoe store in the Northeast. The history of the brand is literally all over the walls and the store.”
The store will be in place until the end of February. Check out the store’s Tumblr, Twitter (@Wolverine1k) and Instagram.
Wolverine is located at: 242 Elizabeth St (between Houston St & Prince St), NYC
