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Every Red Wing Boot Now Comes with This Hidden Feature

Turn those broken-in boots into a family heirloom.

red wing tag in bootRed Wing Shoes

By Jack Seemer

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Some products look better a little beat up. Aluminum luggage. Raw denim. Leather boots. But we appreciate patina for deeper reasons, too.

Scuffs, stains and wrinkles tell someone you’ve been places. You’ve done the work and rolled up your sleeves. Or, in the case of Red Wing boots, that deep down, beyond all the b****t, you love them.

That’s because the famous bootmaker behind the Iron Ranger, Beckman and Classic Moc just came up with a clever way to turn any old pair of boots into a cherished family heirloom.

What’s more, it comes with every new pair of boots.

Generational style

It’s called the Will Your Wings tag, and it’s designed to be stitched on the inside of a boot tongue.

Underneath the Red Wing logo, there are two fields labeled “Worn By” and “Left To,” which the original wearer fills out with a permanent marker when they’re ready to pass on their boots.

red wing tag in boot
The tag encourages customers to maximize the lifecycle of their boots, which isn’t years — it’s generations.
Red Wing Shoes

“This effort is inspired by the countless letters we’ve received over the years from beloved customers sharing stories of their Red Wings being passed down over decades,” says Aaron Seymour-Anderson, the company’s head of brand and creative.

On feet, out of landfills

It’s not just about cozy sentiments, either. Red Wing wants to call attention to the million tons of textile waste produced by Americans every single year — namely by encouraging customers to see their boots capable of lasting not just years but generations.

red wing tag in boot
Red Wing services some 40,000 pairs of boots every years, diverting 54 tons from landfills.
Red Wing Shoes

According to Red Wing, it refreshes, resoles and reconditions 40,000 boots on an annual basis, diverting 54 tons from landfills. It hopes the Will Your Wings tag pushes that number up, as more customers pass on their favorite boots like piece of furniture or an old watch.

“That’s what Will Your Wings is about,” Seymour-Anderson goes on, “giving great products the fullest and longest life cycle possible and celebrating the personal stories created with each pair of Red Wing boots.”

red wing tag in boot
The simple tag comes with every new pair of boots but existing customers can purchase one for $3.
Red Wing Shoes

The tag comes free with any new purchase. Existing customers can buy one separately for $3.

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