In the never-ending search for shoes that are truly comfortable and stylish, Rockport is once again pushing the envelope for Fall ’13, offering a collection of soft-fitting shoes made with lightweight stability in styles that don’t make you look like one of the Twelve Apostles.
Specifically, the Adidas-owned subsidiary is expanding its lightweight offering with Total Motion, a collection for men and women that fuses stylish uppers with the parent company’s proprietary sports technology. Dani Tschumperlin, chief marketing officer, claims the collection delivers all-day comfort for the metropolitan professional who is on the go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and beyond. “It 100 percent fits what we are as a brand because we have this element of comfort which is coming from technology and on the other side the product looks really good, delivering modern comfort as we want to deliver it as a brand,” he says.
An ultra-thin Total Motion plate in the outsole provides lightweight stability and controlled flexibility where needed, while Adiprene cushioning provides comfort and shock absorption. “We design for style and engineer for comfort,” Tschumperlin explains, noting the suggested retail price range is $140 to $210. Rockport will initially launch three styles for men and six in women’s. Available in both leather and suede options, the men’s collection consists of a traditional Chelsea dress boot, a slip-on loafer and a wingtip in a palette of black, gray, bitter chocolate and British tan. The women’s assortment comes in five colorways and includes a mid-calf bootie, a 60-mm wedge pump, a 60-mm tall wedge boot and a 75-mm round toe heel, each designed with comfort features specific to that silhouette.
