J.Crew

J.Crew began in 1983 after evolving from Popular Merchandise, Inc., a business created in 1947. The company first grew through its mail-order catalog, which featured leisure clothing. In 1989, J.Crew opened its first store at South Street Seaport in Manhattan. The brand expanded to include new product lines and stores, including international sites. In May 2020, J.Crew filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and emerged from the process in September 2020.

J.Crew produces footwear through partnerships with recognized manufacturers and craftspeople. The company has collaborated with Red Wing Shoes to release boots that use Red Wing's production methods in Minnesota. Some J.Crew boots are made in Italy using Italian manufacturing processes.

J.Crew uses different construction techniques and materials for its footwear line. The Kenton Cap Toe Boots feature a 360-degree Goodyear welt, which allows the soles to be replaced. Some J.Crew models, like the Kenton Chelsea Boots, use Horween Chromexcel leather sourced from Chicago. The MacAlister Desert Boots use English leather and have crepe rubber soles.

J.Crew sells several types of boots and shoes. The Kenton Pacer Boots and Kenton Chelsea Boots use leather uppers and Goodyear welt construction. The MacAlister Desert Boots are made with English leather and crepe rubber soles. J.Crew Field Boots are produced using suede from León, Mexico and include leather linings and metal eyelets. The company has offered Original Chippewa for J.Crew Plain-Toe Boots, which are made in the United States and use a Vibram sole. J.Crew has released Stegmann x J.Crew clogs for men, which are made with wool and a cork-latex sole.