Sorel Footwear

Sorel was founded in 1962 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, as a subsidiary of the Kaufman Rubber Company. The brand quickly became iconic for its high-quality, cold-weather footwear, notably the world's first winter boots to combine leather uppers with vulcanized rubber shells and removable felt liners. This innovation established Sorel as a leader in durable outdoor performance footwear.

After the Kaufman Rubber Company faced financial difficulties in the late 1990s, the Sorel brand was acquired in 2000 by Columbia Sportswear Company, an American outdoor giant. Under Columbia's ownership, Sorel underwent a significant brand transformation, expanding its focus from purely functional work and snow boots to high-fashion, premium footwear that includes sandals, wedges, and casual boots suited for year-round wear.

Today, Sorel is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, alongside its parent company. While the brand maintains its Canadian heritage in its marketing and product design DNA, the manufacturing is global, with most production facilities located in Southeast Asia to support its international distribution network.