It Started With The Outdoors
Beginning in Wilton, Maine, in 1876, the early G.H.BASS story was very much about making footwear for the outdoors. The National Plough Shoe, introduced in 1892, was designed for farmers, while the Bass Moccasin Cruiser followed in 1906 for woodsmen. Built to the highest standards, our outdoor footwear embarked on every adventure, from Charles Lindbergh's 1927 transatlantic flight to Admiral Richard E. Byrd's Antarctic expeditions and was worn by members of the 1936 U.S. Olympic team. Golfer Bobby Jones also wore Bass Sportocassins during his historic 1930 Grand Slam.
Our Moccasin Construction
Our moccasin construction begins with the leather itself. The upper is shaped around the foot, with a single piece of leather extending beneath it and coming together around the toe. The leather is carefully pulled into shape and hand-sewn across the top, joining the sides of the moccasin and creating its distinctive shape.
150 years later, the technique remains central to G.H.BASS shoes. To mark the anniversary, our new Anniversary Collection brings together some of our most recognisable styles, including the iconic Weejuns® Penny Loafers, Ranger Boots and Ranger Mocs.
Then Came Our Weejuns®
Now celebrating their 90th anniversary, Our Weejuns Story began in 1936 when G.H.BASS first introduced the style. Inspired by Norwegian slip-on shoes, G.H.BASS adapted it into a leather loafer, adding a distinctive leather strip across the vamp and playfully given the name Weejuns®. That same year, Weejuns® were advertised by Rogers Peet in New York. Nobody knew what they were looking at, but it was the beginning of an American icon and the first penny loafer craze.
From Ivy to Icon
Weejuns® soon found their way onto American campuses in the 1950s, becoming heavily associated with Ivy League style. It was commonly believed that students began slipping a penny into the diamond-shaped cut-out of their loafers, keeping it there for phone booths. The tradition eventually gave rise to the name we still use today: the Penny Loafer. Weejuns® have since been picked up by generations of people. From college campuses to Hollywood, music and fashion, our loafers have found fans in everyone from John F. Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn to Paul Newman and Michael Jackson.
90 Years of the Weejuns® Penny Loafer
To celebrate 90 years of Weejuns®, we’ve created an exclusive Anniversary Collection across men’s and women’s styles. Staying true to the shape and construction that have made the penny loafer so recognisable, each pair is finished with a 90th anniversary coin in the penny slot. From hand-polished leather to traditional hand-sewn moccasin construction and leather soles, the collection brings together the details that have defined Weejuns® for generations, with a few special touches to mark the occasion.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
That is where the 150th and 90th anniversaries come together. Our Anniversary Collection brings together some of our most iconic styles, all rooted in our traditional moccasin construction. A celebration of the craftsmanship, heritage and styles that have shaped G.H.BASS for generations.
A Remarkable Legacy
150 years of G.H.BASS and 90 years of Weejuns® is a remarkable amount of history, but what’s interesting is what has happened since. Our shoes have travelled far beyond the worlds they were originally made for and styled in ways we could never have predicted. This year we are celebrating how much life has happened in our shoes, the places they have been and the people who have worn them.
Discover our anniversary collection here, or take a look at our latest arrivals here.
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