The world’s first boat shoe, the Sperry top-sider, was born in 1935. Paul Sperry had been working on a shoe that would let him safely navigate the slippery deck of is sailboat, and inspiration struck as he watched his cocker spaniel, Prince, run effortlessly across the icy New England landscape. Sperry went back to his shop, reworked his design to mirror the wave-like grooves on Prince’s paws, and launched a staple of American fashion. Classic Sperry boat shoes have been taking people across oceans and dry lands for more than 75 years, without losing their nautical roots or iconic style.