For Whom The Shoe Tolls

This is a guest post by Nick Loper, founder of ShoeSniper.com.

Now you can walk a mile in Ernest Hemingway’s shoes. Thomas Raymond & Co., a Portland, Oregon based footwear-manufacturer, has launched a new line of shoes branded with the name of the late hard-drinking author. The shoes are hand-stitched in Central and South America, and feature quality leathers, including American bison.

Ernest Hemingway is an iconic figure in American literature. His chronicles of World War I, the Spanish Civil War, and man’s search for meaning in nature earned him a Pulitzer and a Nobel Prize. But Hemingway was also troubled and complex; he took his own life in 1961. Through the highs and the lows he maintained a distinct style and unique independence.

And what would he say about his posthumous celebrity endorsement? Hemingway’s 82-year old son, Patrick, said his father would approve, explaining how he loved loafers and Spanish leather boots. Patrick also noted that Hemingway hated socks, so the casual styles in the new line can be worn barefoot.

The company’s founders are former footwear executives from L.L. Bean, and the management team brings experience from Nike, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear. Their theory is that the footwear companies have really gone after the athletic and outdoor categories, while leaving the adult casual male market relatively unsaturated. By licensing Hemingway’s name, Thomas Raymond & Co., has been able to leverage an immediate brand image and awareness that most start-ups struggle to attain.

Hemingway shoes are grouped into three collections: Angler, Literary, and Sportsman. Fitting, some would say, for the Nobel prize-winner’s lifestyle. The shoes have been greeted with a warm welcome in the marketplace, with Nordstrom already placing the products in several stores. Prices range from $150 to over $200, and you can explore the entire collection here at ShoeIdiot.com. The most popular model is the Driving Moc, priced around $169. The Hemingway driving loafers are available in a variety of colors of suede and leather, and you can check them out here.