About Us
Victory Sportswear started originally as Hersey Custom Shoe Company, founded in 1982 when Bart and Jan Hersey began making custom running shoes in a converted Maine sheep barn. Bart loved making shoes and figuring out ways to blend new technologies with the forgotten wisdom and techniques of the old-timers. Jan, his wife, was great at managing details, so together they launched a tiny cottage industry that was to make an impact on the shoe world.
After 25 years, Bart was ready to relax. He considered simply shutting the doors but didn’t want to leave his loyal customers high and dry. So, he began searching for the right person to buy the business and take over the task of custom-crafting the highest quality shoes available.
Enter Stephen Keoseian, who had grown up as the third generation of Keosa Brothers Shoe Repair in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. After seeing a documentary on the Herseys, Stephen got in touch with Bart and traveled north to see for himself. An apprenticeship and friendship followed, and in 2007 Stephen bought the company and moved its headquarters to Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
In 2015 Stephen launched Victory Sportswear, a wholesale lifestyle brand that has been featured in stores all around the globe and received accolades from GQ, Highsnobiety and JJJJound. This brand allowed Hersey to expand their shoes to the mass market.
Then in 2019, both brands were merged under the Victory Sportswear name, with a focus placed on both markets, custom and non custom. Victory Sportswear is a shoe brand that follows the original Hersey concept of making shoes, but is not limited to the running market. We make shoes created for everyone, from walkers to marathon runners to those who have highly specific orthopedic needs. Our shoes are made for your feet, and last for years. We make our shoes with the double reverse flare foxing method that allow our shoes to be resoled with many years of wear.
We love making shoes, and above all - put that care into every shoe that we make. Mobility is a gift, and we want to make that a possibility for everyone through Victory Sportwear.
We look forward to making shoes for you.
Press
GQ
Jjjjound x Victory Sportswear Collaboration
Gearmoose
Victory x Huckberry Classic Runner
Highsnobiety
Victory Sportswear is Making Sneakers That Last a Lifetime
Gear Patrol
The Perfect Athletic Shoes, Made by Hand
