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Fluevog, John

John Fluevog was born in 1948 in Vancouver, where he grew up and began his career as an avant-garde shoe retailer at age 20 with family friend, Peter Fox. In 1970, they opened Fox & Fluevog Shoes in Vancouver's Gastown area and sold avant-garde footwear, including men's knee high patent leather boots in six colours.

In 1986, at a time when brand names were all important, Fluevog opened a self-named store in Seattle and discovered that customers expected a John Fluevog shoe. Fluevog began to design his own lasts and patterns under trademark which are manufactured in England.

Fluevog shoes are known for their outrageous and avant garde designs which are in themselves a form of entertainment for a young, hip clientele that he describes as "rock 'n' roll, alternative, club." His platform shoes became the accessory of choice for the seventies revival fashions, and he continues to produce versions of the clog. He keeps his shoes affordable by doing his own buying, designing, and marketing. Fluevog continues to do some custom work out of the store in Vancouver.

There are now five Fluevog retail shoe stores in Vancouver, Seattle, New York City, Toronto, and Boston. Fluevog also designs for a European manufacturer, Dynamic, who produces the shoes under the Fluevog name and sells them in Europe, Japan, and Australia.

Fluevog shoes have been selected for fashion shows by Comrags, Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson, and for wear by celebrities such as Madonna and Robin Williams.