Eastland

Eastland Shoe Corporation was established on November 30, 1955, by Jonas B. Klein, Bertram Wolfson, and Louis Fishman. The first factory occupied a site at 5 Park Street in Freeport, Maine. In its early years, the company produced private-label, leather beaded moccasins for national retail chains and mail-order customers.

The company expanded in 1964 by opening a plant in Fryeburg, Maine, which became known as Northland. This facility made golf shoes, sports shoes, and casual footwear. In 1976, Eastland introduced its first branded product line called Easy Steps, which focused on boat shoes for a national market. The following year, the company adopted the Eastland name as its brand.

During the mid-1980s, products carrying the Eastland brand made up 70 percent of the company’s total sales. In 1987, the company launched the camp moc collection, which allowed customers to customize their shoes with the Eastland Knot.

Eastland began sourcing a portion of its shoes from overseas in 1999 due to increased competition from imported footwear. The company closed its last U.S. manufacturing plant in Freeport in September 2001 and shifted production overseas, while administrative and distribution functions remained in Maine.

To mark its 55th year in 2010, Eastland released the Made in Maine collection, a line highlighting heritage footwear styles constructed with domestically sourced components.

Eastland’s manufacturing operations have included facilities in Freeport, Fryeburg, and Lisbon Falls, Maine. In the late 1990s, Eastland transitioned to sourcing production from overseas manufacturers. By 2001, all U.S. manufacturing plants had closed. In 2010, Eastland launched the Made in Maine collection, which was produced by local shoemakers using domestic components.

Eastland’s footwear uses full-grain leathers and features hand-sewn details. The product designs incorporate traditional shoemaking methods that reflect Maine’s history of hand-sewn footwear.

Eastland produces men’s and women’s footwear in several styles. The range for men includes camp mocs, boat shoes, boots, oxfords, loafers, slip-on models, and sandals. The women’s offerings comprise boots, flats, sandals, sneakers, and loafers. The Made in Maine collection features heritage styles produced by local shoemakers using components sourced in the United States.