British brand Beyond Skin counts Natalie Portman and Anne Hathaway as fans and is re-launching in the U.S. for fall. Standout styles from the 100 percent vegan brand include an over-the-knee suede boot made from recycled PET bottle caps (something only used by Mercedes and Jaguar) that dries quickly and doesn’t watermark. Made in Spain using mostly Italian fabrics, Beyond Skin’s suggested retail ranges from $114 to $197.
After a soft spring launch, Johnston & Murphy enters the women’s market in earnest this fall. The brand takes the menswear influence it’s known to bow a collection of buttery soft flats, dress shoes and boots, with full glove leather linings and memory foam insoles. A black-on-black satin and suede spotted smoking slipper in particular caught our eye at the FN Platform show in February.
Clarks marketing and design teams from the U.S.A. and the U.K. came together on Friday, March 15, with kicks purveyor Concepts and Tarek Hassan’s team in Cambridge, MA, for an exclusive preview of Clarks Sportswear.
The limited edition collection fuses the company’s shoemaking heritage with modern sport technologies and unexpected fashion designs and materials to bow fresh takes on iconic styles such as the Desert Boot and the Wallabee.
Minnetonka Moccasin Company has collaborated with LA-based women’s label Wren for a limited edition capsule collection. Using traditional deerskin and modernizing the Thunderbird with metallic beading, the leather-lined mocs are a luxe take on the brand’s iconic style. Available in five colors, the collection will be available in July for early-fall delivery, retailing at $65.
Born out of the desire to create comfortable, versatile boots that would offer unbeatable protection against the cold, wet Canadian climate, Montreal-based La Canadienne is expanding its offering for Fall ’13. “Although many people have labeled us as a ‘winter boot’ line, the customer awareness is growing and evolving to recognize that La Canadienne offers more than just snow boots,” says Romy Feliciani, sales and marketing director. The collection now spans motorcycle boots and colorful platforms to loafers and wingtips, all made from Italian hides that are by-products of the foo
Lifestyle brand Bearpaw has teamed up with musician and surfer Siren Williams to kick off Side Project, the third part of its charitable initiative, Creative Expressions. Sea life and all things connected to living the beach lifestyle are common themes throughout William’s designs. “I’m painting the beats of my own songs,” the musician says. Starting June 14 she will auction the shoes on her website and proceeds will benefit organizations to be announced in the lead up to it.
Bohemian-inspired footwear brand Koolaburra has joined forces with LA-based designer Lauren Moshi on a capsule collection launching for Holiday 2013. Known for its print screen artistry and celebrity following, popular Lauren Moshi designs will adorn four favorite Koolaburra styles and the collaboration will retail from $345 to $445. “By taking some of our most coveted designs and incorporating them onto Koolaburra’s footwear, we opened up a whole new avenue of wearability for our customers,” says Lauren Moshi, co-founder and designer of her namesake brand.
Nelsonville, OH-based Rocky Brands is partnering with Folds of Honor Foundation to help provide educational scholarships to the families of soliders killed or disabled while serving our country. Under the agreement, Rocky Brands is making a donation to Folds of Honor and providing footwear for such events as Memorial Weekend’s Patriot Cup. The company will also promote the foundation through its website, social media and at events it sponsors throughout the year.
In celebration of its first year as title sponsor of the Los Angeles Marathon, which happens to fall on St. Patrick’s Day, Asics has released a limited edition version of the Gel-Lyte33 running shoe. The sneaker ($90) has a Paddy’s Day-themed color scheme and highlights LA landmarks along the marathon course.
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