Chaco (footwear)
 | |
 Chaco Z/1 sandals | |
| Industry | footwear |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Mark Paigen |
| Headquarters | Rockford, Michigan, USA |
| Parent | Wolverine World Wide |
| Website |
chacos |
Chaco is a brand of footwear best known for its product line of adjustable Z-strap sandals for outdoor and water use, often referred to as "Chacos". The Chaco brand also provides a variety of outdoor-influenced fashion sandals, shoes, flip-flops, boots and accessories.
The flagship line of adjustable outdoor sandals are distinguished by the fact that they use a single strap which loops around the foot through the sole, and so can be adjusted to fit without any extra fastenings. They are available with a range of sole types and strap configurations, to suit various environments, and the company offers a repair service.[1]
History
The company was founded in 1989 by Mark Paigen, a whitewater rafting guide, to manufacture the outdoor sandals he designed, and a factory was established in the village of Paonia, Colorado, USA.[2] In following years the products gained an international reputation and market.
In 2008 the Paonia factory closed and production was moved to China.[3] In 2009, the brand was acquired by Wolverine World Wide,[4] the company that also owns Sperry Top-Sider, Merrell, and a variety of other footwear brands, and the Chaco facilities moved to the Wolverine base in Rockford, Michigan.[5]
References
- ↑ "Rechaco repairs". Chaco. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
- ↑ "Chaco sandals leave Paonia for China". Aspen Times. 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
- ↑ "A proudly American shoe company ships jobs to China". Christian Science Monitor. 2008-08-27. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
- ↑ "Wolverine World Wide Acquires Chaco Footwear". Associated Press. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ↑ Shandra Martinez (2010-08-18). "Wolverine World Wide in Rockford now houses ReChaco repair area for Chaco sandals". MLive. Retrieved 2016-04-07.