The original canvas deck sneaker that started it all. When Paul Sperry slipped off his boat, the Sirocco, in the early 1930s, Sperry found inspiration in the natural texture of his dog Princes footpads, which never seemed to slip, even on ice. Cutting patterned grooves into blank rubber shoe soles, Sperry developed the worlds first non-slip boat shoe which is now known as the Classic CVO sneaker. Premium textile uppers. Vulcanized construction with secure bonding between uppers and outsoles. Razor-cut Wave-Siping technology delivers ultimate wet/dry traction with non-marking rubber outsoles.