The beginning of time
(and Fluevog)
1970
1970s
After spending a summer hitchhiking down the west coast and witnessing the 1960s Social Revolution firsthand, John returns to his hometown of Vancouver and begins working for Sheppard’s Shoes. In 1970, he joins forces with fellow co-worker Peter Fox to start up their own shoe store in historic Gastown. The partnership, known simply as Fox and Fluevog, lasts over ten years at which time the two split amicably, leaving John to open the first John Fluevog Shoes in downtown Vancouver.
1970
The earliest Fox and Fluevog shoes were made from turn-of-the-century footwear that had been discovered in a Mexican warehouse and purchased on the spot by John. The duo advertised their shoes as “Brand new 50 year old shoes”.
1970
One of John’s first designs was The Pilgrim, a Victorian-inspired buckle T-strap loafer. The boldness of the style was completely against the mainstream of the time, and John has kept it unconventional ever since!
1970
Fox and Fluevog open their first store in the heart of Gastown, Vancouver.
1971
Director Robert Altman buys a knee-high boot while filming McCabe and Mrs. Miller.
1973
The Granville Street store opens and will eventually become one of the longest lasting Fox and Fluevog stores. The building was an elaborate bedroom with their shoes gracing a giant bed.
John expands his grasp
into the land of the brave
1980
1980s
With the end of the Fox and Fluevog partnership, John Fluevog Shoes is born. Feeling the urge to go forth and spread his word, John expands his grasp into the Land of the Brave. By the late 1980s, John had started producing his landmark Angel Soles. Made from 100% natural latex harvested from the Hevea Tree, the tough, resoleable Angel Soles recite the now famous JF message engraved on the sole: Resists alkali, water, acid, fatigue and Satan.
1980 - 1989
John was (possibly) the first person to sell Doc Martens in North America and he sold his styles right along next to them. Sometimes, he’d take the idea and embellish them. One of his first adaptations had leopard print and pink pony skin uppers.
1985
John sells his Jaguar to open his second store, this time in Seattle.
1985
The Angel Soles first appear to John in a celestial dream, or in the form of a pamphlet collected by him in a recent shoe fair in Birmingham, England.
1987
Fluevog continues to expand into the United States and opens a store in Boston.
1989
Fluevog Shoes opens on Toronto’s Queen Street.
Grunge, meet Fluevog
Fluevog, meet Grunge
1990
1990s
From mosh pits to dance floors, 90’s Fluevogs befriended feet from every angle with an eclectic catalogue of styles. Angels became the cornerstone of the Seattle Grunge scene, inspiring a new fashion movement consisting of flannel and Angel boots by John Fluevog. Additional exposure of John’s iconic Munsters from Madonna, who wore Vogs in the film Truth or Dare, and Deee-lite’s Lady Miss Kier, sent the Fluevog brand skyrocketing to international fandom.
1990 - 1999
Angel boots are spotted as an extension of torn jeans and flannel shirts all over the west coast.
1990
Lady Miss Kier wears a pair of Munsters on the cover of Deee-lite’s debut album, “World Clique”.
1990
Fluevog opens in The Big Apple.
1991
Madonna rocks a pair of shocking black Munster platforms in her film, Truth or Dare.
1997
Fluevog opens on San Francisco’s Haight Street.
1997
John detours in his career as a shoe designer to momentarily become a well-known phone psychic. After none of his predictions come to fruition and several clients take part in erroneous investments, relationships, and interior design choices, he realizes he always has and always will be a shoe designer.
1999
Fluevog opens in Chicago.
The beginning of the
new Fluemenium
2000
2000s
Once John realized he wasn’t going to implode at midnight on January 1st, he decided that 2000 would be the beginning of a very, very good decade. He burst forth from his crawl space, re-booted his computer, and replaced his canned good collection with great new shoe innovations. John continues to make traditionally-made untraditional shoes and starts experimenting with eco-friendly, vegetable tanned leathers and water based glues wherever possible, keeping with his motto: good soles leave small prints (no matter what your shoe size).
2002
John launches Open Source Footwear to turn shoe-wearers into shoe-designers. John always knew that Fluevogers were bright, interesting people (they wear his shoes, after all), and Open Source would give them an opportunity to share their ideas with Fluevog. If John liked an idea enough, he’d turn it into real-life (3D!) shoes.
2004
Fluevog opens in Los Angeles.
2005
John Fluevog teams up with Courtney Taylor-Taylor of The Dandy Warhols to collaborate on what he knows how to do best: knit socks. Just kidding, they create a boot. Not just any boot—a very sleek boot that excites music and fashion lovers alike (and looks pretty neat with a pair of knitted socks).
2006
Fluevog opens in Montreal.
2008
Fluevog opens again in Vancouver’s Gastown.
2009
FluevogCreative, a platform that brings advertising back to the people, is launched.
Fluevog into the future
2010
2010s
2010 and beyond sees John Fluevog extend his reach even farther, bringing his footwear to the feet of Fluevogers who had previously only worn his shoes in their dreams. Along with new stores, John experiences recognition for a million years of shoe design with his very own exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver and is ranked one of the Most Innovative Companies in the Fashion Industry by FastCompany, thereby proving that it’s possible to simultaneously celebrate the beauty of the past with excitement for the future.
2010-2014
Stores open in San Francisco, Calgary, Portland, Quebec, Minneapolis, Washington DC, Toronto’s Distillery district, Denver, and Ottawa!
2010
John Fluevog Shoes is ranked one of the most Innovative Companies in the Fashion Industry of 2010 by FastCompany.
2010
John and Nooka team up and discover time as we know it, and create a device they christen a “watch” to keep track of it.
2010
“Fox, Fluevog & Friends: The story behind the shoes” exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver opens.
2011
The FlueMarket is created in direct competition to Craigslist but, for reasons still not understood by experts, ended up focusing on the selling/swapping/finding of Fluevogs.
2011
John and LA Eyeworks create the VogVision, a limited edition pair of sunglasses that not only looks fantastic on the face of any Fluevoger, but includes a special TSA-approved x-ray lens that allows you to see through brick walls and the Emperor’s new clothes (patent pending & mostly untrue).
2011
Jack White rocks The Jack boot all over the place.
2012
Alice Cooper rocks The Swordfish boot.
2012
John Fluevog is named Shoe Person of the Year by the Two/Ten Foundation.
2013
John’s always toyed with the idea of Flying Vogs, but never succeeded in getting them off the ground (well, once, but they were never seen again). As plan B, he teams up with ever-so-fashionable, ever-so-airborne Air Canada Rouge as a much more convenient way to get his shoes in the air. Hop on a Rouge flight to experience some serious shoe eye-candy.
Shooting for the stars
2015
2015
John celebrates 45 years in shoe-business and rather than having a nervous breakdown, releases a Limited Edition shoe on Fluevog Day aptly named, The 45, featuring his iconic vintage Munster heel. In keeping with the celebratory nature of the year, John collaborates with local breweries at participating Fluevog stores across North America to throw a series of 45 Years of Cheers parties featuring limited edition, custom growlers and original artwork prints. All guests, drinks, and shoes were handled responsibly.
2015
John pulls a fast one on Mark Zuckerberg by opening a Fluevog Pop-up Shop on the Facebook Campus in Menlo Park, California. The stunt was a moment of redemption for John, whose own social media platform, 'FootBook', never quite caught on the way he had hoped.
2015
John shakes things up in the City of Angels, opening a new store in LA on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, California. Later that year, he also opens a store in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter.
2016
To spice things up during the holidays, the largest international Fluevog Gift Exchange is organized, sending kind words and knick-knacks travelling all throughout the Fluniverse.
2016
Beyoncé releases her Formation video in which she wears our Seraphina boots while Lady Gaga takes a stroll out in New York in a pair of Cubist Cupcakes. We lose our collective minds.
2017
John tries to be an overachiever, opening new stores in Montreal Vieux-Port, Edmonton, Victoria, and Dumbo Brooklyn.
2017
Fluevog throws its first ever Silver Style Party in Gastown in celebration of stylish, silver-haired Fluevogers everywhere. This is quickly followed by subsequent Silver Style Parties in Toronto, Brooklyn, and Victoria!
2017
Inspired by the breathtaking scenery, John collaborates with Newfoundland’s Fogo Island Inn on a Limited Edition Vog. 50% of its proceeds goes to support the Shorefast Foundation.
2017
John launches the inaugural Fluevog Artist Grant, a $10,000 fund designed to support the creative growth and development of up-and-coming talent within our community of Fluevogers.
2017
A bunch of us have dentist appointments and get haircuts.
2018
John gets one step closer to global domination, expanding into Europe with the opening of Fluevog Amsterdam! Fluevog Boston doubles, opening new stores at Faneuil Hall and on Newbury St.
2018
Special Edition Original Munsters appear at New York Fashion Week, walking the runway with Opening Ceremony’s Gift of Showz presentation. American drag legend Sasha Velour later coins them “one of the best pieces of design I have ever seen”.
2018
Fluevog collaborates with George Cox and Comme des Garçons for a Swordfish-inspired creation that debuts at Paris Fashion Week.
2018
Flummunity Fest, an annual convention that encourages Fluevogers to meet in one store city for a jam-packed weekend of fun, debuts in New Orleans. We have such an incredible time that we immediately start planning 2019’s edition in Portland, surely to be followed by many more.
2019
John works with good friend and fashion designer Anna Sui on custom shoes for both her Fall/Winter 2019 and Spring/Summer 2020 collections. Fine-tuned versions of these shoes are later available in stores and online.
2019
Funk meets Fluevog as John works with George Clinton on a pair of Limited Edition Mothership boots that feature original art by the funk music legend.
2019
A store that’s always been a long time coming for John, Fluevog Melbourne opens, shaking up the entire Southern Hemisphere!
Unique 50les for unique 50uls
2020
2020
John celebrates 50 years in business in — well, a lot of ways, but most excitingly by releasing his 50th Anniversary coffee table book, Fluevog: 50 Years of Unique Soles for Unique Souls.
2020
John collaborates with fellow family-owned west coast shoemaker Viberg on the exclusive, Limited Edition Fluevog x Viberg Racer Boot. Made proudly in Canada, the boot references John’s original vintage Racer boot design. 10% of the sales from every pair was donated to the BC Parks Foundation.
2020
Without compromising on quality, performance, or good looks, John and the Design Team find ways to reduce our carbon footprint with 100% recycled rubber and EcoRubber (70% recycled) soles, utilizing factory waste materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
2020
John joins forces with his friends at ANIÁN to release a special collection featuring a custom plaid fabric developed in collaboration between the two companies. The collection includes a classic recycled heavyweight cotton shirt and hat as well as a version of John’s Official Tuesday shoes. 10% of the sales from this collection were donated to Sea to Cedar.
2020
Amid the uncertainties of Covid-19 around the world, John designs and releases a Limited Edition shoe inspired by British Columbia’s Chief Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, announcing that 100% of the proceeds from The Dr. Henry shoe would be donated to Food Banks BC. Together, we raised over $100k for Food Banks BC!
2020
The iconic Grand National shoes and boots return as one of John’s 50th Anniversary surprises!
2021
John collaborates with fellow avant-garde shoe designer Jan Jansen to create The Esoteric Temptation—a perfect amalgamation of their iconic styles and eclectic energy.
2021
Teewee enters the Fluniverse. John and Dutch designer Bas Kosters team up to release a new version of The Original Munsters and debut The LoPro Noord, both featuring Bas’ signature little friend.
2021
John packs his bags for a collaboration with SteamLine Luggage, releasing a set of three modern, vintage-inspired signature pieces and inadvertently intensifying everyone’s itch to travel during lockdown.
2021
The world’s first Jimi Hendrix footwear collection is created through a close partnership between John and the Hendrix family—a collaboration that pays tribute to the late music icon with an exclusive assortment of shoes and accessories inspired by his art, life, and music.
2022
After over 50 years of pairing Fluevogers with their solemates on Granville Street, Fluevog Granville closes its doors and moves to the heart of Kitsilano.
2022
Rachel Burke, Brisbane’s ‘Queen of Tinsel’, injects her shine and sparkle into John’s Attic shoe family for a collaboration made in glitter heaven. With three radiant shoes and an equally stunning scarf, those searching for a dose of glitz and glam need only to follow the light emanating from their collection.
2022
After admiring each other’s work for years, John and British fashion and textile designer Zandra Rhodes collaborate on a whimsical capsule collection featuring three exclusive Wiggle prints across five pieces, including the debut of The Munster Max. Zandra visits Vancouver for the launch of their collection and both designers hold a meet and greet with Fluevogers in Gastown.
2022
A true collective effort. With the help of wonderfully creative Fluevogologists everywhere, the Fluevog Design Team creates a custom silk scarf showcasing the retail team’s expression of Pride. 100% of profits from the sale of the Pride Scarf was donated to The Marsha P. Johnson Institute.
2022
John partners with Dr. Jen Gunter, Canadian-American OB/GYN, women’s health advocate, and avid Fluevoger, to release the ‘Appropriately Confident’ Sole Talk Dr. Gunter heels with 15% of sales donated to Moon Time Sisters—a volunteer-led organization providing menstrual products to remote northern Indigenous communities across Canada.
2022
Initially making their debut on screen outfitting the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds™ on Paramount+, The Manifold Starfleet boots are released to the public, allowing Fluevogers to boldly go where no one has gone before.
2022
John collaborates with Canadian eyewear company Fellow Earthlings to release a collection of custom sunglasses handcrafted using their in-house acetate recycling program—a partnership between two companies that celebrate uniqueness and individuality.