Carolina Boots are made by Carolina Shoe Company, a subsidiary of H H Brown Shoe Company, which is itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
Some Carolina boots are still made domestically at the company’s union factory in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, while most of the broader lineup is manufactured overseas.
This means a Carolina boot ultimately traces back to Warren Buffett’s holding company, even though the brand markets itself around its Pennsylvania manufacturing heritage.
This article covers who owns Carolina Boots, where its boots are actually manufactured, its founding history, and how Berkshire Hathaway fits into the ownership chain.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Carolina Boots?
Carolina Boots is made by Carolina Shoe Company, headquartered in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. Current styles are shown on Carolina Shoe’s official website.
Carolina Shoe Company operates as part of H H Brown Shoe Company, a footwear group that also owns fellow Martinsburg brand Double H Boots. H H Brown itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, the diversified holding company run by Warren Buffett.
James E Issler serves as president of Carolina Shoe Company, overseeing operations at the brand’s Pennsylvania headquarters and factory.
Where Are Carolina Boots Made?
Only some Carolina Boots are made in the USA. The company operates its own union factory in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, where its AMP USA domestic collection is handcrafted by workers covered under a collective bargaining agreement with UFCW Local 1776.
The broader Carolina catalog, however, is mass produced overseas, primarily in Vietnam and China. Product pages typically indicate country of origin, and domestically made boots carry a clear USA badge to distinguish them from the imported lineup.
From the brand’s founding in 1963 until around 2000, all Carolina boots were produced domestically before the company began shifting a large share of production overseas, a pattern common across the American work boot industry during that period.
How Does Berkshire Hathaway Fit Into Carolina Boots?
Berkshire Hathaway owns H H Brown Shoe Company, which in turn owns Carolina Shoe Company and its sibling brand Double H Boots, both headquartered in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.
Berkshire Hathaway holds a wide range of footwear and apparel businesses within its broader portfolio, and its holding company structure typically leaves acquired brands to operate with significant day to day independence rather than folding them into a single unified corporate identity.
As a result, most Carolina Boots customers are unlikely to see any direct Berkshire Hathaway branding, since the boots are marketed entirely under the Carolina Shoe name with no visible connection to the parent holding company.
When Was Carolina Shoe Founded?
Carolina Shoe Company was founded in 1963, focused from the start on designing and engineering functional work boots for demanding job environments including mining, agriculture, and military use.
The company built its factory in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, where it has continued to operate ever since, even as ownership shifted to H H Brown and eventually Berkshire Hathaway. The Martinsburg plant remains the source of the brand’s union made AMP USA domestic collection today.
Carolina Boots has continued to market its Pennsylvania manufacturing heritage prominently, positioning the domestic collection as a premium option within its broader work boot lineup.
Are Carolina Boots Good Quality?
Long time buyers on retailer sites like Zappos and Working Person Store frequently describe Carolina boots as comfortable, durable, and well suited to demanding jobs including logging, farming, and railroad work, with several reviewers reporting a full year or more of daily use before needing replacement.
The most common complaint involves soles separating from the upper sooner than expected, sometimes within just a few months, and a handful of reviewers report waterproofing not holding up despite the boots being marketed as fully waterproof. Customer service also draws criticism on sites like PissedConsumer, with reports of slow responses to warranty and return requests.
Overall sentiment remains largely positive for the core work boot lineup, particularly among buyers who use them for genuinely heavy duty labor, though quality feedback is more mixed than for premium competitors at a similar price point, and buyers should expect some variation between individual pairs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Carolina Boots
Are Carolina Boots made in the USA?
Only some Carolina Boots are made in the USA. The AMP USA domestic collection is handcrafted at the company’s union factory in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, while the broader lineup is manufactured overseas in countries including Vietnam and China.
Does Berkshire Hathaway own Carolina Boots?
Yes, Berkshire Hathaway owns Carolina Boots indirectly through H H Brown Shoe Company, a wholly owned Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary that also owns fellow Pennsylvania brand Double H Boots.
Is Carolina Boots the same company as Double H Boots?
No, Carolina Boots and Double H Boots are separate brands, though both are owned by H H Brown Shoe Company and both are headquartered in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.
How can I tell if a specific pair of Carolina Boots is made in the USA?
Look for the AMP USA domestic collection label or a USA badge on the product page. Carolina Shoe clearly marks its Pennsylvania made boots to distinguish them from the rest of its imported lineup.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.