In an effort to focus expansion efforts on women’s, accessories and children’s wear shows, ENK International will exit the men’s and footwear business. This transitional direction follows the mid-November acquisition of the company by Advanstar Global, owner of the Magic and Project trade shows.
In an interview with the Telegraph, Nicholas Kirkwood, who is finally working on a men’s line, has revealed he only owns three pairs of shoes. “I will probably own more once I launch men’s,” he says. The powerhouse also revealed that he’s looking forward to expanding his retail stores in 2013 and adding more product lines, including, one day, bags.
It’s a tale we hear in this business everyday: Joe Schmoe felt there was something missing in the footwear industry, so he created a line to fill that void. Soon after, all too often, the wishful brand goes missing altogether.
A viral photograph of a young boy who chose to wear pink shoes on his first day of preschool has sparked intense debates online. A Facebook user identifying herself only as his sister posted the photo to the “Have A Gay Day” page and wrote:
“Yesterday my mom posted a picture on Facebook of my 5 year old brother Sam wearing a pair of shoes he picked out for his first day of preschool. She explained to him in the store that they were really made for girls. Sam then told her that he didn’t care and that ‘ninjas can wear pink shoes too.’
Reality TV star Kristin Cavallari feted the launch of her capsule collection with Chinese Laundry last Wednesday at Avenue in New York. The six styles in a mostly pastel palette span embellished flats to party-perfect stilettos and will be available for spring.
FP: What inspired the collection?
KC: I just wanted to do a line that I loved and that represented my style at affordable prices.
FP: You’ve been in the public eye for 9 years. How has your style evolved since your Laguna Beach days?
Crocs Inc., the makers of those infamous perforated plastic clogs, announced Friday that 18 Chinese counterfeiters were sentenced to more than 46 years in prison for selling 128,752 pairs of knockoffs. More than $9.6 million worth of shoes were confiscated by officials. “If you attempt to produce or sell infringing Crocs products, we are going to find you,” warns Dan Hart, chief legal and administrative officer.
Remember when Lady Gaga threw a single Emporio Armani shoe into the audience at a concert at Paris’ Palais Omnisports de Bercy in 2010? (Yeah, neither do we.) Well it’s since resurfaced as part of the French auction house Drouot Richelieu’s “Man and his World” sale on Feb. 11 next year. The shoe is estimated to fetch between $5,000 and $6,500.
Bucking the minimalist trend, the TevaSphere Speed shoe accounts for the fact that most runners land on their heels. Almost rocker-like in appearance, a spherical heel piece and midfoot outrigger pods manipulate stride to force a smooth transition from heel to forefoot. After spending the past six months or so working out in a pair of funky neon minimalist runners, I decided to try out a pair of TevaSpheres last night.
Modern brides are trading veils for beaded headpieces, sit-down receptions for garden parties and cakes for cupcake tiers. So it’s perfectly natural that they’re rejecting the ivory satin pumps of past generations, too. While tradition took precedence at the recently held New York Bridal Week, where designers looked to lace overlays and sleeves for Fall ’13, classic shoes aren’t de rigeur for walking down the aisle anymore.
What do Karl Lagerfeld and dishwashers have in common? Absolutely nothing, except that Lagerfeld is collaborating with plastic shoe purveyor Melissa on a capsule collection of jellies for Fall ’13 that will be – you’ve guessed it – dishwasher safe. Perfect for puddle jumping.
Sign up to receive the digital edition of Footwear Plus, fashion news, and more.
