14 October 2026International edition
Vol. I · No.
14 October 2026
AI in Fashion
DAILY
The daily briefing on AI in the fashion business
Where fashion meets artificial intelligence.
Footwear

G.H. Bass & Co.

G-III Apparel Group · United States

G.H. Bass & Co. is an American footwear brand founded in 1876 in Wilton, Maine, by George Henry Bass. It is best known for the Weejuns penny loafer, first made in 1936, and is owned by G-III Apparel Group.

Facts
Founded1876
FounderGeorge Henry Bass
OriginWilton, Maine, United States
OwnerG-III Apparel Group
Signature productWeejuns penny loafer, 1936
Websiteghbass.com
Segment
Mid-market
Categories
Footwear
Sales channels
Wholesale

What is G.H. Bass & Co.?

G.H. Bass & Co. is a US footwear maker founded in 1876 by George Henry Bass, who was born in Wilton, Maine, in 1843. The company began in Wilton and moved to Wilson Stream in 1887 to use water-powered machinery.

History

Over its history the brand has produced a wide range of footwear, from work and outdoor shoes to ski and aviation boots. Milestones include:

  • The Bass Moccasin Cruiser, its first moccasin, in 1906
  • The Woc-O-Moc moccasin in 1920
  • The Weejuns penny loafer in 1936
  • The Buc suede style in 1940
  • The National Plow Shoe, created for farmers, in 1892

Ownership

G-III Apparel Group acquired the company from PVH in November 2013 and owns it today.

The brand's history therefore runs from work and farm shoes at the end of the nineteenth century to a fashion loafer in the twentieth, and its footwear range today still draws on that archive of styles.

Why it matters

G.H. Bass has been making shoes for 150 years, and its Weejuns loafer remains the product most closely associated with the brand.

Frequently asked questions

Where is G.H. Bass from?

G.H. Bass & Co. is an American brand that began in Wilton, Maine, in 1876.

What is G.H. Bass known for?

The brand is best known for the Weejuns penny loafer, first made in 1936, as well as moccasins and heritage footwear.

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