A little bit more than a hundred years ago, Harold Blondeau, a Loretteville leather moccasins maker, founded the Blondeau Company. A few years later, the company adopted the name Blondo Inc.
In the mid seventies, Blondo changed direction in order to focus on winter boots production made from quality materials such as leather, shearling, sealskin, and pure wool. Blondo quickly became known as the leading winter boot manufacturer, with comfort and quality the hallmarks of its brand. Blondo also became the first Canadian winter boot maker to enjoy a significant success in the U.S. market.
At that time, the typical Blondo boot for men (see photo) was made of quilted leather with a wool lining and thick crepe sole. Popular throughout Canada and the United States, these boots came to embody the company’s brand image. The Quebec City Sears store by itself sold over 5,000 pairs of them per year.
In the mid 1980s, Blondo introduced the first waterproof leather boots. It also produced its first Canada-wide advertising campaign. Highway billboards showed an Inuk man trudging through the snow, with his footprints displaying the Blondo logo, the only evidence of his passage. Another ad campaign showed Larry Newman, who piloted a hot air balloon across the North Atlantic at an altitude of 5,000 meters, proclaiming Blondo boots as “warm and comfortable.”
In 1990, Regence acquired the Blondo brand. With its strong footwear manufacturing experience, the company continues to develop the brand, expanding its product lines while remaining to its high quality standards.
During the past five years, the Blondo image underwent a makeover that gave it a more fashion-oriented and refined. Its new logo reflects the company’s vibrancy and passion.
Two years later, Blondo introduced its first spring/summer collection, designed around the concept of comfort and quality, as well as a handbag collection - the perfect pairing of fashion-forward products with the longstanding Blondo quality tradition.
