About Rosie's Work Shoes - Hatching the Idea

Dear Friends,

Where to begin, where to begin!

I bought my first pair of steel toed boots in San Pedro, CA in 1999, for my job as a Manufacturing Engineer in a heavy duty truck transmissions plant.  My feet and legs ached for the first few weeks of wearing them.  After a few months, one of my boots started to squeak with each step.  I had, of course, purchased men's boots because there wasn't much else available.

Fast forward fifteen-plus years and I was still wearing men's steel toed boots because really, there wasn't much else available, and what was available as women's were just men's shoes with a patch of pink or orange sewn onto them.  There were more varieties available in men's, they seemed lighter, better constructed, and more comfortable overall, but the smallest size in most styles was a 7; the equivalent of a woman's 9.  I wear a women's 7 1/2 or 8.  So I compromised on the large size for a more comfortable fit overall, bought boots in men's size 7, stuffed them with thick insoles, and wore thick socks...  As for fashion?  Nope - may as well kiss that thought goodbye...

As time went on I advanced in my manufacturing career, but in early 2016 I found myself restless.  I wanted to challenge myself in a new way, so I began to consider a business of my own.  The thought of shoes didn't come to mind immediately, but once it did, it would not go away.  I called my sister, Angela Rose, and asked her about her work shoes since she began her career as a Petroleum Engineer, and needed steel toes as well.  She told me that she always wore men's boots, too, and that sealed it for me - I was going to make steel toed shoes for women.  And I decided to name my company after my sister, and so began "Rosie's Work Shoes".

Love,
Julie

PS - As for the grosgrain ribbon laces, you can thank my mother, Nita, for those.  It was during either our first or second conversation about "Rosie's Work Shoes" that she reminded me of a pair of boots I had while I was an engineering undergrad in college.  "Do you remember those black combat boots you had that you put red ribbon laces into?"  Once she mentioned it, YES, I remembered my red with white polka dot ribbon laces!  Thanks, Mom!

PPS - BRAND OBJECTIVES:  1.  Stylish shoes for women that are safety compliant.  2.  Sturdy construction, and durable product overall.  3.  Made with non-animal materials.  4.  Comfortable fit - not too narrow, not too tight.  5.  Lightweight.  (Printed on November 28, 2016, and displayed on the wall next to Julie's desk.  Unfortunately at this time, we have not found a material that has the strength and durability of leather, but we continue to monitor...)