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Sorel (brand)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sorel
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryClothing
FoundedKitchener, Ontario, Canada (1962)
FounderArthur Ratz Kaufman
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon, United States
ProductsFootwear
$228.8 million (2017)
ParentColumbia Sportswear
Websitewww.sorel.com
Sorel Scott Downey snowboarding boots from the 1990s

Sorel is a subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear based in Portland, Oregon that manufactures and distributes shoes.

History

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Sorel was originally a line of winter sport/work boots that were introduced in 1962 by the Kaufman Rubber Company of Kitchener, Ontario.[1][2] They became its most successful product line. Kaufman Rubber Co. became Kaufman Footwear in 1964. Kaufman Footwear declared bankruptcy in 2000.[3] The Sorel trademark was bought by Columbia Sportswear.[4] Following Columbia's purchase, the Sorel brand was expanded to other products,[5] such as nylon outerwear and other work-related garments.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us". Sorel. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  2. ^ "Why Consider Work Boots". 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  3. ^ "Kaufman Footwear fonds". University of Waterloo. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Sorel's demise leaves boot shortage". CBC News. 2000-11-21. Archived from the original on December 10, 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  5. ^ "Sorel brand gets a re-boot". Portland Business Journal. August 22, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  6. ^ Deruyter, Ron (2001-05-09). "Sorel boots to reappear on shelves next month". The Record. Kitchener, Ontario. Archived from the original (Fee required) on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
The Kaufman brand is located on the bottom of the RBLT's (Rubber bottom leather top) that were the general purpose fleece lined flight boots used in the RCAF in the post WW2 era.
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