Generic Surplus founder Brandon Day and creative director Greg Chapman celebrated the launch of their brand’s fall collection on Wednesday at Blind Barber in New York. The speakeasy setting of the East Village bar perfectly accented the understated sophistication of the design duo’s LA kicks. Taking a cue from the “generic” aesthetic of the brand, the collection was displayed with a nod to urban landscape and modernism in a minimalist style.
Two Ten Footwear Foundation this week announced The Footwear Warrior Scholarship Fund, developed exclusively for military veterans in or returning to the footwear industry and made possible by an endowment fund launched by Quabaug Corporation, Vibram and the Donahue family with an initial committment of $125,000. The fund is donation driven with a goal of $250,000, which will yield an estimated $12,500 in scholarships on a yearly basis.
Boots and jeans are about as all-American as you can get–they go together like baseball and hot dogs, or apple pie and ice cream. A perfect pairing. Which is why it makes sense that 112-year-old Chippewa has teamed up with New York’s Jean Shop to bow a limited-edition engineer boot as part of the brand’s new American-made Chippewa Reserve Collection. The 8-inch moc toe, made from oiled Horween leather sitting atop a Vibram outsole, will retail for $495 this holiday season at Jean Shop and select retailers.
Heritage work boot maker Wolverine has introduced the Wolverine Guardian Project, a partnership between the brand and the people who work outdoors and are dedicated to guarding, protecting and serving the outdoor spaces on which communities depend. The goal of the program is to achieve a deep understanding of the specific product needs of those serving in these demanding positions, from wildlife researchers to outdoor advocates. Wolverine has selected Garth Levin, a wildland and structural firefighter, as the Guardian Project’s 2013 Ambassador.
Footwear veteran and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Taryn Rose has been named spokesperson of Taos Footwear. Her new role kicks off at FN Platform in Las Vegas next month, where she will endorse the brand during the Women Entrepreneurs panel presented by Women In Footwear Industry (WIFI) of which she is a distinguished member. She will also be representing the brand at various upcoming committee events as well as taking the opportunity to promote Taos in her role as Google Glass Explorer.
Eco-conscious footwear brand Freewaters has inked a deal with Bruce Brown Films celebrating the 50th anniversary of iconic surfer movie “The Endless Summer.” “Bruce, Robert [August] and Mike [Hynson] helped open the world’s eyes to the amazing waves, people and culture of South Africa almost 50 years ago,” says Freewaters Ambassador Robert Wingnut Weaver, who starred in the film’s sequel. “Now to be partnering “The Endless Summer” with Freewaters and its clean drinking water projects in Africa, it has really come full circle.”
Warm weather means it’s prime time for outdoor sweat sessions and thanks to Brooks Running Company, runners now have a virtual gathering place: The Run Happy Group, where runners nationwide can find inspiration, education and connection. The digital community lives on MapMyFitness properties, including MapMyRun and MapMyFitness. It’s the first fully integrated program between a major consumer sportswear company and MapMyFitness.
National Shoe Retailers Association (NSRA) is continuing its mission to improve the business performance of its members by last week announcing a new partnership with Two Ten Footwear Foundation to extend the charity’s services and financial assistance to independent footwear retailers across the United States.
Eighty sports legends and entertainment celebrities teed off last week at the 24th Annual American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe, and Idaho-based Telic was on hand to teach the famous faces the benefits of recovery footwear.
The National Shoe Retailers Association (NSRA) and National Shoe Travelers (NST) have inked a deal that will focus on education programs for footwear sales reps and membership programs.
NSRA will offer regular literature including its flagship magazine Shoe Retailing Today and the bi-weekly NSRA Online. Travelers will also be invited to attend NSRA conferences and events at member prices. Meanwhile NST members will keep their customers informed on NSRA events and encourage their retailers to take part in NSRA and joint-association activities.
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