Shoes We Remember – Do You Remember Your Mandic Shoes?

Writing about growing up in the Mandic Shoes factory recently brought back so many memories – not just of the factory itself, but of all the different shoes and boots we made over the years.

When you've been in footwear for more than 60 years, there are certainly plenty of them!

Some styles came and went with the fashions of the time. Others became firm favourites and stayed with us for years. And then there are a few that people still mention to us decades later.

So I thought I'd start looking back at some of the shoes we remember.

And perhaps you'll remember them too.

Were You a Frisky Pony Club Kid?

One of the best-known names in the Mandic story would have to be Frisky.

Over the years, we made thousands and thousands of pairs of Frisky riding boots. In fact, I couldn't even begin to guess how many pairs eventually left our factory.

Two of the most popular were our Pony Club boot and the Silver style.

For many children around Australia, a pair of Frisky boots was part of growing up with horses and Pony Club – riding lessons, competitions, weekends at the stables and probably quite a bit of mud along the way.

It's quite amazing now to occasionally see an old pair of Frisky boots turn up somewhere after all these years.

The Frisky Silver – one of our most popular riding boots.

If you were a Pony Club kid wearing Frisky boots, we'd love to hear from you.

And Then There Was the Moon Shoe

This one takes us straight back to the 1970s and 80s.

We called it the Moon Shoe.

It was a leather lace-up school shoe with a broad rounded toe and a distinctive seam running down the centre.

It was certainly a look of its time!

But it was also a very popular school shoe and we sold a lot of them.

I'd particularly love to know if anyone remembers wearing these to school.

There must be an old school photograph tucked away somewhere in Australia with a pair of Mandic Moon Boots in it!

Who Remembers the Desert Boot?

Another style that brings back memories is our Desert Boot.

Made in suede with a traditional stitch-down construction, it had that classic, simple Desert Boot look that was so popular at the time.

One of our old Mandic Desert Boot styles.

Looking at it again now, it's interesting how fashions come around. This is one of those old Mandic styles that really wouldn't look particularly out of place today.

Did you ever own a pair?

One That Never Really Went Away – The Texas

Then there are those rare styles that somehow manage to survive all the changes in fashion.

Our Texas boot is one of them.

We've been making the Texas for more than 30 years and it's still one of the most popular boots we've ever had in the Mandic range.

With its distinctive chisel toe and Cuban heel, it's been worn for everything from country and western to line dancing – and simply by people who love a great-looking boot.

And unlike some of the old styles we're remembering here, you can still buy a pair of Texas boots from us today.

After more than three decades, we're still making them and we still have stock.

 

The Frisky Texas – more than 30 years later, it's still part of the Mandic range.

There's something rather special about looking at an old photograph of a boot we were making decades ago and realising that people are still wearing that same style today.

Now We'd Love to Hear Your Mandic Memories

This is where we'd love your help.

Over more than 60 years, Mandic Shoes made and sold so many different styles that even we've forgotten some of them.

So perhaps you can help jog our memory.

Did you grow up wearing Mandic school shoes?

Were you a Pony Club kid in a pair of Frisky riding boots?

Did you own a Desert Boot or a pair of Texas boots – or perhaps you still do?

Or is there another Mandic shoe or boot that you remember?

We'd love to hear your story.

And if you've got an old photograph tucked away in a family album showing you wearing your Mandic Shoes, we'd especially love to see it.

Send it through to us and tell us what you remember.

You never know – your old pair of Mandic Shoes might just become part of our next story.

Julie & Anita
Mandic Shoes