But L.L. Bean's familiar duck boot has become a familiar sight on college campuses. One student at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, says she only has one pair, but some classmates have several. She says they're "practical," and now they're a "fashion trend."
One retail strategist says the boot is benefiting from a retro trend.
Whatever it is, L.L. Bean says sales have grown from 150,000 pairs four years ago to about 400,000 this year.
The original hunting shoe has become something of an unofficial symbol of Maine. There's a giant L.L. Bean boot outside the 24-hour retail store near the company's headquarters, where tourists regularly take pictures of it.
