Steger Design

Steger Design, Inc
Apparel
Industry Footwear
Founded Ely, Minnesota 1986
Headquarters Ely, Minnesota, United States
Products Shoes
Owner Patti Steger
Website mukluks.com

Steger Design, Inc is a privately held maker of winter boots and moccasins based in Ely, Minnesota.[1] The brand Steger Mukluks was founded in 1986 by Patti Steger when friends came to her with their own piece of leather to be made into mukluk boots.[2] Over time boots made from Patti's factory in Ely, Mn were worn from the top to the bottom of the earth.[3][4][5][6][7]

Design

The term mukluk is often used for any soft boot designed for cold weather. The word "mukluk" is of Inuit origin.

There are many different styles of Steger Mukluks, which are made from tanned moose hide and a unique, flexible, treaded rubber sole. Some are made completely of moose hide and others have a canvas upper. There are also Moccasins for warm weather wear all the way to the waterproof Extremes with a more aggressive tread and a multiple insole system which allows many options to insulate the wearer from the ground. And for the hands they make chopper style Arctic Mitts made of deer hide, with a shearling patch on the top of the mitt for wiping your face.

All Steger Mukluks have the flexible light weight rubber sole that flexes when wearing allowing blood to flow keeping feet warm and dry with the feeling of being barefoot.[8]

History

While on an Arctic dogsled expedition in 1982-83 with then Arctic explorer husband Will Steger,[3][4][5][6][7][9] Patti Steger studied native culture and the respective skills. It was during this time Patti Steger experienced wearing mukluks, marveling at the warmth and comfort and learned to hand-sew mukluks and moccasins from the native women.[7][10] Steger Mukluks are made in the Northern Cree Indian style[7] with a rubber sole.

Steger Mukluks have been worn by team members on numerous expeditions with Will Steger to the North and South Pole and contestants[11] in the Iditarod Trail Race in Alaska.They have appeared in several movies Antarctica,Iron Will, Grumpy Old Men, and the TV series Northern Exposure.[12]

The first mail order catalog was circulated in 1988. In 2008, the catalog was revamped as a "smart" catalog on the order of a brochure to minimize paper usage and be more ecological. The first website was published in 2000, a shopping cart was added in 2004.

After more than 27 years, the factory in Ely, Minnesota currently produces more than 10,000 pairs of footwear every year.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Staff. "About Steger Mukluks". Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Beymer, Robert (February 1989). "Steger Mukluks:Cold Country To Cold Cash". Woman's Enterprise For Entrepreneurs.
  3. 1 2 Schara, Ron (March 9, 1992). "Eskimo mukluks are warm, light footwear". Albuquerque Tribune-Recreation.
  4. 1 2 Gray, Kevin; Margaret,Nelson (March 20, 1995). "Soul On Ice". People Weekly-Adventure.
  5. 1 2 Sullivan, Robert (July 31, 1989). "The Iceman Cometh". Sports Illustrated.
  6. 1 2 Schara, Ron (February 16, 1992). "Warm shoes are hot business for Patti Steger". Minneapolis Star Tribune.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Making Mukluks: The Satisfaction of Warm Toes". The Etsy Blog. Retrieved 25 May 2012. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  8. ↑ Robbins, Steven. "Defining Footwear". Research of Steven Robbins MD. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Minn.'s Will Steger On Anniversary Of Expedition « CBS Minnesota". Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Schmickle, Sharon (December 11, 1983). "Ely's Will Steger leads journeys to the north". Minneapolis Tribune-Picture.
  11. ↑ Brown, Nancy. "Steger Mukluks Travel Gear Review". New Yorker Chic. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  12. 1 2 Koelln, Georgann (December 12, 1995). "Heart & Sole". St Paul Pioneer Press.
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