When Rich Cofinco and Robert Nand started Creative Recreation in 2002, fresh from their design roles at Vans, their goal was to fuse an athletic sneaker with a dress shoe–a style that was nonexistent at the time. In the decade since, however, every men’s brand worth its shoe leather has followed their lead. So much so that a recent survey of retailers and consumers conducted by the Rocky Brands-owned company discovered that Creative Recreation needs to evolve and leverage its position as a cutting-edge innovator.
Now Confinco, who left the company in 2012 to launch design agency Visual Richuals and a new line of sneakers, Asif, is back. “Rich was instrumental in our company’s rise as a lifestyle brand and, with his return, customers and retailers can expect a design-style evolution within Creative Recreation,” says President Robert Brack. Confinco agrees. “For Spring 2016, expect the unexpected,” he says. “I’m glad to be back where it all began and look forward to being a part of the evolution of the brand’s original vision: to create imaginative footwear that stimulates play.”
