Putting the “O” In Optimism: Joe Ouaknine, CEO of Titan Industries, offers his take on the retail turmoil, the perceived Amazon threat, endless competition and why, despite it all, the company is on pace for a record year.
Trendspotting: September 2017:
Do the Ruffle
The ’70s-era trimming jazzes up everyday casuals.
Clockwise, from top: Restricted, Seven Dials, Bella-Vita, Minnetonka. ...
Breezy in Ibiza: Statement sandals and bold kicks are the go-to, off-the-beach styles on this Mediterranean island paradise.
The Eclectic Slide: Designers do the classic silhouette in funky materials, jazz details and pops of color. (Socks discouraged.)
Who’s Next: Vector spotlights at scene. Scene lighting, stage illumination Vector illustration
Who’s the next up-and-comer destined to set the shoe world ablaze? ...
The New Bohemians: Western and Boho elements meld together in an authentic Americana blend rich in details and brewing with classic looks for spring.
New Beginnings: Three veteran executives take the reins of three classic American brands, detailing their plans, outlining their unique strengths and defining why they are dream jobs.
Decked Out: Bold patterns, unexpected materials, color pops and hybrid silhouettes: The classic deck show is reinvented.
French Dressing: Parisian women look haute in the hot weather.
The Shoe Saviour: Bruce Katz, CEO of Samuel Hubbard, on how the company’s old-fashioned approach to designing shoes and building a brand is a blast from the past that’s taking the market by storm.
Smackdown: At what point is a brand’s product priced low enough these days? When it’s a steal—literally?
Must the price be chopped ...
Be True to You: Sari Ratsula, president of Seychelles Imports, reflects on a life’s journey filled with opportunities, unexpected challenges and the sweet rewards of overcoming them.
Meet Gen Z: Spendthrift, entrepreneurial and smartphone-obsessed, here’s how to best reach this throwback generation.
Think Pink: Designers look through rose-colored glasses this Spring.
Kicks in the City: As temperatures rise, New Yorkers take to the streets in dresses, separates and sneakers.
And So It Goes: The tectonic shifts rumbling through the retail landscape in the past year were earthshaking enough, but these past few weeks ...
Well Suited: Manhattan’s dapper dudes choose sneakers to pair with suits and slacks.
Balancing Act: More than a year after being named president of Dansko, Jim Fox details the delicate balance needed to succeed in today’s topsy-turvy retail landscape.
Chills & Thrills: Spanning the extremes of peak performance to casual bliss, leading outdoor brands offer a broad range of styles for Spring ’18.
The New Black: The classic hue takes its turn in the spotlight for spring.
Looking for Good: Well, the latest quarterly sales reports came in and—surprise—department stores took another drubbing. The figures were “WannaCry”-like with comparable store ...
Family Matters: Kevin Bosco, president of Bos. & Co.—distributors of Fly London and makers of Softinos and a namesake brand—on building a wholesale business the old-fashioned way: through great products and loyal relationships.
Giving Thanks: Gary Hauss, the self-proclaimed Godfather of Shoes and owner of the J.Stephens chain, recognizes the importance of tenacity, loyalty and, most of all, family.
Queen Bee: Elizabeth Todd, owner of The Shoe Hive, generates a steady buzz thanks to her sharp eye for spotting the latest trends that keep a swarm of customers returning time and again.
The Gucci Effect: Creative Director Alessandro Michele’s kaleidoscopic vision has taken footwear fashion by storm, spawning a wave of imitators and redefining luxury styling.
Need A Lift: Towering flatforms give New Yorkers a fashionable boost for spring.
Wild Things: Fantastical furs, exotic skins and haute hides breathe life into couture collections.
Life’s Lessons: Greg Tunney, CEO of RG Barry, looks back on a career filled with
self-discovery, satisfaction, surfing, skiing and success.
Pin-Up Girl: High-Cut flats for fall offer added coverage and striking geometry.
The Kingdom and the Power: If you took an informal poll of industry members right now, the overall sentiment would probably skew heavily negative. I’ve ...
Home Run Derby: A powerful lineup of projected best-selling comfort styles look to have retailers swinging for the fences this fall.
Fresh Perspective: Glen Barad, president of Taos Footwear, on how the brand’s number-one goal—to generate repeat customers—serves as the basis for its every move.
Get With the (Loyalty) Program: Why investing or reinvesting in a loyalty program might be the most profitable move retailers can make right now.
Flight Club: Retro bomber jackets are in tight formation with a broad range of shoe silhouettes.
The Dawn of a New Retail Age: Much continues to be written about the demise of brick-and-mortar retailing, department stores in particular. If you took many of ...
Returning Champion: Marking his first year back, Clarks Americas President Gary Champion reports on righting the ship and steaming toward bigger and better results.
Local Heroes: For six decades, Towson Bootery has focused on expert service, fit and family.
Stepping In It: A recent spate of social media–driven fallout has forced a handful of brands to atone for missteps—even if they deny the accusations or affiliations.
Cozy Corner: Plush furry slipper-esque sandals bring sleep fashion to the street.
It’s All Good: The fifth-annual Two Ten Foundation Footwear Cares event reached record levels of volunteerism and now shifts to a yearlong initiative.
Old-School Remedies: Recently, a well-established independent retailer called me nearly at his wit’s end. He said the first few weeks of the ...
The New Classics: What’s old is new again, as brands reintroduce traditional favorites with fined-tuned aesthetics and upgraded comfort.
Tried and True: Outdoor brands go back to their roots: Heritage and authenticity are key product cues that appeal to younger and older consumers alike.
Home Field Advantage: With a proven track record, Scott Home, president of Fashion Major Brands (distributor of Coolway, Musse & Cloud and Freestyle by Coolway) is building the business the old-fashioned way: great products, partnerships and passion.
Smart Money: Dedicated to doing the right thing, the Two Ten Footwear Foundation Scholarship Program provides financial as well as intellectual assistance to industry members and their families
seeking higher education.
Heel Thyself: Statement shapes and intricate details build style from the ground up.
To Be in Tbilisi: East meets West in Georgia’s capital city crossroads, where sporty, punk and chic looks prove style barriers are wide open.
Weather or Not: Low-profile rain shoes for those days when Mother Nature just can’t make up her mind.
American Dream: Joe Ouaknine, CEO of Titan Industries, reflects on a fast-paced career and the wonderful people and amazing places he has encountered along the way.
Star Power: They don’t call it the Superstar for nothing: The iconic Adidas trainer continually cycles back into fashion, finding prominence among ’70s-era NBA players, ’80s b-boys, ’90s skaters and, most recently, A-list fashionistas.
The Sundowner Also Rises: Over the past three decades, Vasque’s Sundowner boot has achieved legendary status among avid hikers and weekend warriors alike for its timeless styling, unfailing durability
and reliable versatility.
Change Agent: Philippe Meynard, CEO and president of Earth Shoes, is ushering in a slew of changes in an effort to adapt the company amid a retail shakeout for the ages.
Heave-ho the Status Quo: Unprecedented. Befuddling. Terrifying. Stunning. Disruptive. Ugly. Revolutionary. Deplorable. Unpredictable. Bat crap crazy…
No, I’m not rehashing reactions to the presidential election. ...
Who’s the Boss, Anyway?: For the future of shoe fashion and foot health, our industry must show who’s the boss here. We owe it to consumers to save them from themselves.
Back to the Future: Bob Mullaney, president and COO of ShoeBuy, on a fortuitous life and career aided greatly by the ability to stretch and embrace change.
Family Ties: Todd Wolff, president of Wolff Shoe Company, makers of Sesto Meucci, Vaneli and Eric Javits brands, on leading the fourth-generation, family-owned company during a paradigm shift in retail.
More Than a Feeling: Brands increasingly blend the best of both worlds to produce versatile, all-day wear that looks and feels great.
Totally Emoji: Embroidered, bedazzled or patched, fashion’s new icons sport major text appeal.
The X Factor: Cross-strap sandals fuse style with stability.
Bow Hunting: The search is over: sweet sandals topped with trendy ties.
Model Citizens: By popular demand: lightweight, versatile and snazzy boots for spring.
