Magnum USA has just been granted United States Postal Service certification from the United States Navy Clothing & Textile Research Facility to make Made-in-the-USA footwear for Postal employees. As the first company in 4 years to receive this unique certification, Magnum has crossed a major milestone in footwear history. After a lengthy application and product development process, and a waiting period of 4 years, NCTRF officially certified Magnum’s Postal Collection on January 25, 2004.

USPS footwear specifications have not been modified since their establishment in 1947. Patience, cooperation and persistence are essential to certification, deterring most companies from entering the process. The footwear must be made in the USA and must bear an official certification tag reading “SR-US”, symbolizing “Slip Resistant-United States”. They must be all leather and must meet strict ANSI slip-resistance standards, which Magnum Postal footwear exceeds. NCTRF requires that, at minimum, 3 specified styles are offered: an oxford, a low and a mid.

Magnum Postal footwear will be manufactured at one of four Arkansas-based Monroe Shoes factories, which employ over 2000 hard-working Americans.

USPS-approved stores are already booking Magnum Postal Footwear for May 1 shipping. Postal employees are provided an annual allowance for footwear, but they must purchase them from a USPS-approved store in order to be reimbursed. Since many postal employees purchase several pair in a year, any store can sell official USPS footwear and still generate sufficient business.