Uncontested leaders in rubber for over 150 years, French label Aigle was created in 1853 in France by American Hiram Hutchinson. Born in 1808, the entrepreneur was sojourning in Paris when he met Charles Goodyear, the inventor of rubber as we know it today, who was also in the City of Lights at the time. The two joined forces, and Hiram Hutchinson acquired the royal paper mill at Châlette-su-Loing in the Loiret region that would become Aigle's production center. The following year, the ribbon was cut on a second factory, this time in Mannheim and destined to cover the German market. In 1854 Hiram's son Alcander would take the reins at the company, at the tender age of 23. Upon his death in 1888, his nephew Elisha Morton Hutchinson took the helm, ten years later selling his shares of the enterprise to Achille Adam, Georges Lelièvre, and Jacques Sée. Henceforth Aigle took a new direction, expanding its clientele by diversifying its offerings. In the 1950s, boots for hunting, gardening, and riding were added to the line, as well as sneakers. With articles for men, women, and children, over time Aigle has become a family brand known for its traditional craftsmanship and signature style. The Bison boots, for instance, have been best-sellers since the label's founding. Made today by a team of 200 master rubber-workers, these famous boots come in plenty of colors and even remixes, thanks to numerous collaborations. The latest to date have featured Mathilde Cabanas in 2019, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac in 2020, and Faguo in 2021. This century-year-old brand has never failed in staying modern and even ahead of the times, and it remains today the French monarch of the rubber boot.
