Brett Viberg On The Craft, Heritage, And Evolution Of Viberg Boots

Forbes

01-06-2025

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Canadian bootmakers since 1931, Viberg has built a reputation for offering handcrafted boots that last.
Established in 1931 by Ed Viberg, originally the brand made work boots for loggers in British Columbia, and now they're loved not only by loggers, but by those who appreciate design, heritage, and well crafted footwear; cue their famous Service Boot, which draws inspiration from military designs, complete with rugged leathers — break them in, and then they're grab-and-go-type boots for life.
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Expanding the offering, in recent years Viberg has included suede sneakers, slippers, and casual styles into the collection, but still anchored by their beloved boots. At the helm of the family-run company is owner, Brett Viberg, and he talks tradition, design, and the evolution of the brand.
⁠Viberg is a family-owned Canadian company that makes the high quality, utilitarian footwear that honors its 90 year heritage of expert craftsmanship and commitment to excellence in shoemaking. Our aesthetic is functional refinement - meaning everything we make is rooted in traditional shoemaking techniques but fine-tuned to with modern proportions, minimal branding, using the best materials available.
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As a family-owned business since 1931, our decisions are made for the long term. There's an inherent continuity and set of inherited values that informs everything we do but it's not tradition just for tradition's sake. We are still guided by a curiosity of the craft and a collective interest in wanting to learn and become better.
By understanding that maintaining tradition and embracing modernity is not zero sum. We constantly evaluate what needs to change and what doesn't. Core methods like Stitchdown Constructions don't need to be improved upon, but how these methods are implemented and interpreted – whether it's a new style or with new materials – is always something we are looking to refine.
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We take an inside-out approach that starts with function and construction. How it fits and how the material behaves before focusing on how it looks. From there we refine the aesthetics to ensure that it's both purposeful and timeless.
All of our leathers are carefully selected from the finest tanneries in the world for their exceptional quality and functional capability. We source leathers that have character and bring depth to the product but are also durable so that they age well and maintain their structure.
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Our customers value uncompromising quality and maintain discretion with what they spend their money on. A collector's mindset. We've responded by making smaller batches of product with the highest level of craftsmanship at every step. Everything we make is the product of extensive research, resulting in fine details synonymous with a high-quality luxury product.
Viberg campaign