Service Oxford Shoe

Chippewa Boots was founded in 1901 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, with its original factory located on River Street in downtown Chippewa Falls. The company was established to serve working-class laborers, specifically loggers, railroad workers, engineers, and laborers. In its early years, the factory employed 175 people and produced 1,200 pairs of boots daily. One of the company's early warehouse buildings is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

During both World Wars, the U.S. military selected Chippewa boots for military personnel. The company later supplied specialized footwear for Cold War pilots conducting high-altitude missions. In the 1970s, Chippewa introduced a padded collar design that combined comfort with utility in work boots. The "Kush-N Collar" patent was filed in 1961 and remains integrated into many current styles.

Chippewa Boots is now part of Justin Brands, which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway.

The Service Oxford Shoe uses Goodyear welted construction, a method where the upper is first sewn to a welt, then the welt is sewn to the sole through two-step stitching. This construction allows the shoe to be resoled multiple times over its lifetime. The welt can be constructed from leather, plastic (PVC), or rubber materials. Storm welt variants provide superior moisture protection compared to standard Goodyear welts.

Charles Goodyear developed mechanized welting equipment in the 1860s, making the process more accessible for mass production. The Service Oxford features Vibram rubber soles, which are standard on Chippewa service models.

Chippewa service footwear typically runs approximately half-size large. Sizing down half a size is commonly recommended for proper fit. The typical price point for Chippewa service footwear is around $250.