"What me worry"?

Published:  11 August, 2009

In the British psyche Hush Puppies are so closely associated with the cigar smoking, jazz loving, slightly dishevelled former Chancellor, Kenneth Clark MP, that suggesting that they make shoes for women might take people aback for a moment.

That may be a disadvantage to a company that claims to be the inventor of "the first truly casual shoes", but it has probably derived huge advantages from the purely coincidental association. After all Ken gives a good impression of being casual and fits very well with the registered name Hush Puppies® use, Worry-Free Suede®. One can almost see Mr. Clark giving a casual shrug of the shoulders and saying, "What me worry"?

The "worry free" aspect is important for tan suede boots. There is nothing more distressing than buying a new pair of smart boots that scuff and stain and start to look lived in after only days of wear.

I chose to risk taking my boots to a couple of outdoor events at the time we had the heavy snow falls and after the thaw that made everything rather muddy. Let me tell you, I was worried. They are smart boots and I hoped to have a few years wear from them and by risking them in such conditions I might ruin them in no time. But, Hush Puppies® Worry Free Suede® boots have been treated during the tanning process to make them scuff, stain and water resistant.

These boots were true to their slogan, the water beaded up and rolled away, leaving my feet dry and the suede soft, supple and looking like new. I returned from both events able to brush the boots and easily restore them to their original condition.

Hush Puppies seem to have an ® for every aspect of their shoe sales and marketing. ZeroG® is another one. This describes "a lightweight shock absorbing midsole with athletic construction for instant and lasting comfort. So light . . . they are almost weightless". I can vouch for what looks like a sturdy boot being light. I did a lot of walking at the point-to-point and found they were indeed light and comfortable over uneven ground.

The name Hush Puppies was coined, according to the press release, when a "Wolverine (Hush Puppies® parent company) employee observed that his friends barking dogs were instantly silenced when fried cornmeal balls (also known as hush puppies) were thrown at them."

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