Blundstone

The company's most recognized product is the 500 Series, introduced in the 1960s, with more than 25 million pairs sold. Blundstone maintains its headquarters in Tasmania while manufacturing leather products in Vietnam, India, China, Mexico and Thailand, and gumboots at its Hobart facility.

John and Eliza Blundstone arrived in Hobart, Tasmania from Derbyshire, England on October 14, 1855. John Blundstone worked as a coachbuilder until 1870, when he began importing footwear from England and later manufacturing boots in Hobart's Liverpool Street, establishing J. Blundstone & Son in 1870.

By 1892, Blundstone's eldest son, Sylvanus, had joined him in business, and the pair formed J. Blundstone & Son, manufacturing boots in two outlets on Collins Street. The pair later bought a purpose-built two-storey factory on Campbell Street.

At the International Exhibition in Hobart in 1894, Blundstone footwear was deemed "exceptional," "exceedingly well made," and "second to none."

The Cuthbertson family, a family with a history in quality footwear and leather tanning, acquired the Blundstone business during the Great Depression. The Cuthbertsons remain the owners and the company continues as a 100% Tasmanian privately-owned family company.

Blundstone's sole construction methods evolved over time. Stitched and cemented soles were replaced by direct-vulcanized rubber soles in the 1950s, which gave way to thermoplastic soles a decade later.

In January 2007, Blundstone Australia announced that due to increased costs, it would shift production and manufacturing activities from Hobart and New Zealand to Thailand and India, resulting in 360 job losses in Australia. The company still manufactures gumboots in Tasmania at their Hobart headquarters, with the factory having the capacity to produce 400,000 pairs of gumboots each year. Leather products are produced in Vietnam, India, China, Mexico and Thailand.

The main materials used in Blundstone boots are leather, steel, rubber, and polyurethane. The company uses high-quality leather and robust rubber in their construction, with strong rubber outsoles that provide good traction and withstand various surfaces. Blundstone employs its own personnel at overseas facilities to ensure manufacturing meets their quality standards.

The company integrates sustainable practices into its production methods, including using renewable energy sources and minimizing waste. Automated assembly processes contribute to production efficiency, with automated stitching machines allowing the company to produce footwear at a faster pace.