MAKING OF MONGREL BOOTS
The evolution of Mongrel Boots is not just any story. It’s a legacy. It’s where vision met opportunity and sacrifice. Technologies and designs may have changed over ninety years, but the vision of the Cloros family still burns bright today. Manufacturing high-quality boots in Australia remains a dream achieved.
1930
THE VISION OF
STANLEY CLOROS
Stanley Cloros was a bootmaker by trade. He sets up his first business on Australian soil, as a shoe repairer in Surry Hills, Sydney. His son, William Basil Cloros, works alongside him as they ply their trade together repairing shoes and making handmade footwear to sell at the Surry Hills markets on weekends.
William had an interest in machinery. During the tough times of the Great Depression, he purchased equipment and machinery from various liquidation auctions. He later used this machinery to start his first full-scale factory, known as ‘Victor Boot Company’.
1940
THE GREAT AUSSIE
TRADITION OF
HELPING YOUR MATES
When WWII hit, the factory turned its efforts towards producing high-quality military boots for all the young soldiers honouring their country at war.
1960
THE DREAM COMES A REALITY
The company is renamed to ‘Victor Footwear Pty Ltd’. Victor focuses on manufacturing work and casual footwear for men, women & children. William’s son, William Stanley Cloros, stands alongside his father in a new factory in St Leonards, Sydney. They become a large manufacturer of the elastic sided and desert boot styles of footwear. Both men have a love of machinery and continue to invest in the most up-to-date footwear manufacturing equipment.
1980-1990
THE LOVE FOR BOOT
MAKING STAYS IN
THE FAMILY
As time goes on, William Stanley Cloros was proud to have his two sons Michael and Paul begin their love for boot craftsmanship. They both receive training as pattern cutters and go onto become footwear technicians.
Victor again outgrew its premises and relocates to a larger factory in Lidcombe, Sydney before launching a new range of dual density PU work boots known as ‘Victor Workbrutes’.
2000
THE MONGREL
IS BORN
Victor launches a new style of boot known as the ‘Mongrel’. At the time, it’s seen on just one style of boot, and only promoted on the label on the box. The idea came from the desire by Victor to associate its boot making skills with its Australian heritage. Almost an overnight success, the Mongrel name soon developed into a complete range, and the brand effectively becomes known as ‘Mongrel Boots’ from here on in.
2006
MONGREL, THE TRUE BLUE ORIGIN OF THE ZIPSIDER
Changing the Aussie work boot scene forever, Mongrel launches the first ‘ZipSider’ boot onto the market. 14 years on, Mongrel ZipSiders are still category leaders in Australia.
FOREVER AUSSIE
BORN & BRED
When most other Australian boot companies were moving their production offshore, Mongrel solidifies their position as an Australian manufacturer with the construction of a new purpose-built manufacturing facility in Auburn, Sydney.
2008
As a result, Mongrel was able to keep jobs in Australia and deliver the same quality craftsmanship the company built its reputation on. To keep up with demand, another Desma direct injection moulding machine is installed alongside the current one.
2018
MONGRELS WILL
NEVER LEAVE
AUSTRALIAN SOIL
Mongrel doubles down on their commitment to Aussie manufacturing, investing big in a new 30 station Desma direct injection moulding machine that’s coupled with amir® technology. This was the first of its kind in Australia and remains so to this day.
2020
90 YEARS OF MAKING
GREAT BOOTS
90 years after its inception, Victor Footwear is still manufacturing their boots in Australia. The Cloros family is now five generations deep, with three generations of the family working active roles in the Mongrel Boots business, creating what truly is a great Australian story.
