Kaufman Footwear was a Kitchener, Ontario-based shoe company.
[3] A. R. Kaufman was a leading Canadian eugenicist who encouraged sterilization of his workers.
[4] Kaufman Rubber Co. brands included Foamtread slippers, introduced in 1953; Showertogs, an early use of PVC as a clothing material, in 1954; and its Sorel line of winter boots, which was later developed as a utility and fashion winter footwear brand.
Kaufman also manufactured under the brand names "Oomphies" (women's casual and duty shoes), "Snowbelles" (slush-molded vinyl boots), "Feelings" (women's casual sandals), "The Real Thing" (women's footbed sandals), "Kingtreads" (safety footwear) and "Black Diamond" (industrial footwear and clothing).
Kaufman Footwear declared bankruptcy in 2000 and the Sorel trademark was bought by Columbia Sportswear.