Stephen Garner – Footwear News https://footwearnews.com Shoe News and Fashion Trends Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:15:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-FN-Favicon-2023-05-31.png?w=32 Stephen Garner – Footwear News https://footwearnews.com 32 32 178921128 Hoka Reaches $2 Billion Yearly Sales Milestone as Company Execs Focus on International Growth https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/hoka-reaches-2-billion-dollar-yearly-sales-milestone-1234725191/ https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/hoka-reaches-2-billion-dollar-yearly-sales-milestone-1234725191/#respond Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:57:28 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234725191


Hoka remains in the spotlight as Deckers Brands declares a major milestone for its star running brand.

Stefano Caroti, president and chief executive officer of Deckers Brands, told analysts on the company’s second quarter earnings call on Thursday that Hoka eclipsed $2 billion in revenue over the trailing 12-month period for the very first time.

“With this impressive first half growth, the Hoka brand achieved an exciting milestone,” Caroti said. “I’d like to congratulate our entire global team for their tireless efforts in building the special brand.”

With this significant milestone in hand, the CEO added that Hoka’s ongoing international growth efforts will remain a priority. “We’re globally driven, aiming to diversify and build international markets for a more balanced business, expanding regionally and strategically through various channels,” Caroti noted.

Digging deeper, the executive noted that in the long-term, he’d like to see a 50-50 split in sales between the U.S. and international business segments. “International is between two and three years behind the U.S.,” the CEO noted. “We’ve adopted the same playbook internationally that has been so successful here [in the U.S.]. There’s plenty of upside for us internationally, across all regions from China to Europe.”

Hoka’s international expansion really started to ramp up last year. In October 2023, Hoka planted its flag in Europe with its first boutique in London’s Covent Garden neighborhood. At the time of the opening, Caroti, said in a statement that London is “arguably the most influential athletic lifestyle footwear market in the world” and is a “critically important market” for the brand.

In May, Hoka followed up its London success with a new store in Paris ahead of the summer Olympics, which drove major awareness in both cities.

“Global consumers who identify as runners remain our highest awareness group and continue to see strong increases, but we are also seeing really powerful growth among consumers who are more fitness oriented,” now-retired CEO Dave Powers said in May. “While Hoka is increasing its awareness across all age groups, growth is strongest among 18- to 34-year-olds globally with brand awareness among this influential age group nearly doubling year-over-year.”

This comes as the Goleta, Calif.-based Deckers Brands reported net sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 20.1 percent to $1.3 billion, compared with $1.1 billion the same time last year. Net income in the period was $242.3 million, up from $178.5 million in the same year-ago quarter.

“Overall, Decker’s first half results demonstrate our team’s execution around the globe,” Caroti added on Thursday’s call. “Our brands are well positioned for the holiday season and on track to achieve an increased outlook for the full fiscal year.”

Looking ahead, Deckers raised its guidance for the year. The company now expects net sales for the full fiscal year 2025 to increase 12 percent to $4.8 billion. This is up from its previous guidance, which predicted sales for the year to rise 10 percent to $4.7 billion.



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Skechers Sees ‘Significant Opportunity’ in Performance Shoes – Including Technical Running, Golf and Pickleball Footwear https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/skechers-performance-shoes-opportunity-running-golf-pickleball-1234725062/ https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/skechers-performance-shoes-opportunity-running-golf-pickleball-1234725062/#respond Fri, 25 Oct 2024 17:48:44 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234725062


Skechers is continuing to focus on its performance footwear division for future growth opportunities.

On the company’s third quarter earnings call on Thursday, Skechers chief operating officer David Weinberg told analysts that the company see a “significant opportunity” to build on its existing performance business, which includes technical running, golf and pickleball footwear with the addition of new categories that will attract a broader audience.

“We are in the early stages of team sports with a growing roster of Olympians and elite athletes competing in our basketball, soccer, court and cleated footwear globally,” Weinberg said. “Regardless of the sport and skill level, elite or recreational, athletes can trust that with Skechers, they will experience and enjoy comfort that performs.”

The company’s COO added that raising awareness and creating purchase intent for its lifestyle and performance technologies has been an “integral part” of Skechers’ growth.

“We achieved this through both feature-focused marketing campaigns and by leveraging our strong team of ambassadors and athletes,” he noted. “Earlier this quarter, Snoop Dogg and Philadelphia 76ers basketball star Joel Embiid both achieved golden moments at the Paris Games wearing Skechers. Joel and Team USA earned a gold medal and basketball while Snoop championed at around the world in his Skechers by Snoop Dogg Go shoes.”

Pressed further by analysts on Thursday call about the category growth, Weinberg said that the move into technical athletics is positive for the brand. “We do a lot of our own sales online, direct-to-consumer, so there’s plenty of outlets for it,” the executive said. “This is just the very, very early stages. And I think we still have a ways to go before we become a major player in that field, but we are certainly taking some steps, and it’s certainly working for us, and we’re getting some positive feedback around the world in some places, certainly more than others.”

This comes as the Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based footwear company reported Q3 sales of $2.35 billion, a 15.9 percent increase from $2 billion in the same period last year. Net earnings were $193.2 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.26, compared with prior-year net earnings of $145.4 million and diluted earnings per share of 93 cents.

These earnings came at the top of Skechers’ expectations. The company stated last quarter that it expected to see sales between $2.3 billion and $2.35 billion, with diluted earnings per share between $1.10 and $1.15 in Q3.

Looking ahead, Skechers expects to achieve sales between $2.17 billion and $2.22 billion and diluted earnings per share of between 70 cents and 75 cents in the fourth quarter.

For the full fiscal year 2024, the company raised its guidance, predicting sales to be between $8.93 billion and $8.98 billion, with diluted earnings per share between $4.20 and $4.25. This is up from its previous guidance of $8.88 billion and $8.98 billion in sales and diluted earnings per share of $4.08 to $4.18.



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Tommy Mallet Readies Relaunch of New Sneaker Label After Year-Long Legal Battle https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/tommy-mallet-interview-talks-ctrne-relaunch-legal-battle-1234724988/ https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/tommy-mallet-interview-talks-ctrne-relaunch-legal-battle-1234724988/#respond Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:00:25 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234724988


Tommy Mallet is ready to set the record straight.

Indeed, after nearly a year of legal entanglements with his former business partner, the 32-year-old entrepreneur and reality star is making his footwear industry comeback on his terms.

“I think everyone wants to know what’s going on,” Mallet told FN in an exclusive interview. “I’m literally getting thousands of messages. It has been a very hard and serious journey for me the last few months.”

Since December, Mallet, who’s real last name is Fordham, has been fighting an injunction filed by Mallet London cofounder and business director Evren Ozka following the announcement of his new shoe brand CTRNE.

According to legal documents, Ozka was alleging that Mallet could not launch a competing shoe company like CTRNE, work with previous retail partners and sales agents or poach Mallet London staff for the 12 months following his resignation from the company per a non-compete agreement. But Mallet countered the claim stating that CTRNE does not compete with Mallet and that halting his new self-funded business operations would produce enough financial damage to cause him to close entirely.

FN has reached out to Ozka for comment.

Mallet told FN that that the main retailer his former business partner was worried he would bring CTRNE to was Saks Fifth Avenue, but ultimately, he was restricted in doing business with a total of 10 different stores, he said.

Ultimately in April, a judge ruled to enforce Mallet’s non-compete and bar him from doing business with retailers that currently work with his eponymous shoe brand as well as hire previous colleagues until Oct. 31, 2024 — the one-year mark from when he resigned his director position at Mallet London.

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Tommy Mallet.

“I don’t want to do any damage to either of my businesses, as I still own 50 percent of Mallet London, so I agreed to not talk to retailers through Oct. 31,” Mallet said. “It’s what I’ve had to do. I had to go and take a long holiday. I’ve lost a lot of money, but I’m at the end of this now. I’ve got another kid on the way in November, and I don’t want to have to deal with this mess. So, all that the injunction has done to me was make me even more eager to go out and get to work. I’m ready to go.”

Mallet went on to call Nov. 1 basically a “relaunch day” for when he can actually do what he wants with CTRNE going forward. And he hasn’t been resting on his laurels beforehand. During his downtime related to the injunction, Mallet said that he has been busy working to understand CTRNE’s customer, developing new footwear styles and building out the brand’s infrastructure.

“When I first launched CTRNE, there was a lot of excitement around the brand,” Mallet said. “But I sort of lost some of that buzz because I had to deal with this legal sh*t. But everything happens for a reason. We are still the first spiritual footwear brand in the world, and we have a story to tell. But I’m literally starting from scratch.”

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CTRNE sneakers have a crystal embedded in the sole.

The UK sneaker exec said that he has launched a new U.S. version of his brand’s e-commerce site, signed on a new marketing agency to promote this new site and has added a distribution center stateside to improve delivery times.

“My main priority right now is to pick who my retailers are in the States,” Mallet said. “I definitely want to open my own retail store over there, because I want to be able to give the full experience of CTRNE. I’ve also done a partnership in the paddle space. We’ll be affiliated to paddle as a sport, and then we’ll also be doing a lot of workshops where we’re not just doing fashion, but like teaching manifestation and law of attraction, and bringing that positivity to the community. We are not just trying to sell sneakers in stores. It’s about teaching and brining the experience to people and showing them that anyone can be better.”

But in the meantime, Mallet insists that there is “no bad blood” between him and Ozka. “I still own 50 percent of Mallet London and I’m still a shareholder. Whether anyone likes it or not, I still co-own the business,” Mallet insisted. “I may not be a part of the daily operations, but it’s in my interest to try and just keep both brands alive, which is tough when you’re fighting. But I ain’t going nowhere.”

He does admit, however, that perhaps he may have made some wrong decisions throughout the process of launching CTRNE. “Everyone is human, and everyone makes mistakes,” he noted. “I think I might have said a few things that I shouldn’t have said, but with that said, my partner thinks he should be getting the brand for free. That’s what this is all about. And obviously, no one’s getting nothing for free from me, man.”

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CTRNE’s Geode Manifest sneaker.

“I thought I knew it all before, but turns out, I knew nothing,” Mallet admitted. “I learned that making sneakers is the easy part. Having been through so many different emotions over the last six months, I would never with it on my worst enemy. I’ve really had to put the message of my sneakers into action and have a taste of my own medicine.”

Bottom line, Mallet is ready to chart a new path. “I think I’ve been done well to stay quiet this long,” he added. “But it wasn’t for anything other than I was just enjoying my peace. But time’s up now.”



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Teva Returns to Growth as Hoka and Ugg Continue to Drive Q2 Sales at Deckers https://footwearnews.com/business/earnings/deckers-brands-deck-q2-2025-earnings-1234724662/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 21:22:44 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234724662


Deckers’ star brands Hoka and Ugg continued to lead the way for the company in the second quarter.

The Goleta, Calif.-based footwear company reported net sales in its Q2 of fiscal 2025 increased 20.1 percent to $1.3 billion, compared with $1.1 billion the same time last year. Net income in the period was $242.3 million, up from $178.5 million in the same year-ago quarter.

Shares for the company rose nearly 10 percent in after-hours trading on Thursday.

Deckers also saw a bump in its direct-to-consumer channel, reporting a 19.9 percent increase to $397.7 million, compared with $331.7 million in Q2 of fiscal 2024. Wholesale net sales for Q2 were up 20.2 percent to $913.7 million, compared with $760.2 million the same time last year.

By brand, Hoka saw the largest increase in sales in the second quarter, reporting a 34.7 percent rise to $570.9 million, up from $424 million in Q2 2024. Ugg also continued its winning streak in the period, posting net sales of $689.9 million, a 13 percent increase from $610.5 million last year.

After several quarters of declining sales, Teva returned to growth in the second quarter. Deckers said that its sandal brand reported a net sales increase of 2.3 percent in the period to $22 million, up from $21.5 million the same time last year. Sanuk, which was divested in the middle of the quarter, saw sales decrease 47.6 percent to $2.8 million, compared with $5.4 million last year.

Plus, the company’s Other Brands division, primarily composed of Koolaburra, reported net sales decreased 15.8 percent to $25.8 million, compared with $30.6 million in Q2 2024.

“Hoka and Ugg produced outstanding second-quarter results driven by strong consumer demand for our innovative and unique products,” Stefano Caroti, president and chief executive officer of Deckers Brands, said in a statement. “As I step into the CEO role, I’m committed to building on our proven foundation to support growth, guided by our consumer-first mindset, brand-led philosophy, innovation-forward products, and globally driven focus. Our dedicated teams’ continued execution of Deckers’ long-term strategy has our company well-positioned to achieve an increased outlook for fiscal year 2025.”

Looking ahead, Deckers raised its guidance for the year. The company now expects net sales for the full fiscal year 2025 to increase 12 percent to $4.8 billion. This is up from its previous guidance, which predicted sales for the year to rise 10 percent to $4.7 billion.



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Skechers Sees Record Q3 Sales on Strong Consumer Demand https://footwearnews.com/business/earnings/skechers-skx-q3-2024-earnings-1234724659/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:44:17 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234724659


Shares for Skechers USA Inc. jumped nearly 10 percent in after-hours trading on Thursday following the company’s record third-quarter earnings.

The Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based footwear company reported Q3 sales of $2.35 billion, a 15.9 percent increase from $2 billion in the same period last year. Net earnings were $193.2 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.26, compared with prior-year net earnings of $145.4 million and diluted earnings per share of 93 cents.

These earnings came at the top of Skechers’ expectations. The company stated last quarter that it expected to see sales between $2.3 billion and $2.35 billion, with diluted earnings per share between $1.10 and $1.15 in Q3.

In the third quarter, international sales were up 16.4 percent and domestic net sales grew 15.3 percent. By channel, direct-to-consumer sales rose 9.6 percent to $81.3 million, and wholesale sales spiked 20.6 percent to $241.4 million. As of Sept. 30, Skechers said it had 592 domestic stores, 1,151 international stores and 3,589 distributor, licensee or franchise stores. Total store count at the end of Q3 was 5,332.

Skechers chief operating officer David Weinberg said in a statement that strong consumer demand for the brand across all distribution channels resulted in this new quarterly sales record.

“With the growing awareness and broad acceptance of our comfort technology products by our partners and consumers, we believe each of these regions represent continued growth opportunities for Skechers,” Weinberg said. “We continue to invest in our operational capabilities and improve the customer experience, while meeting the increased global demand for our products and positioning Skechers for profitable growth now and in the future.”

Robert Greenberg, chief executive officer of Skechers, added that the company’s significant growth in the third quarter can be attributed to “offering the right product at the right price and ensuring availability at locations where consumers want to shop.”

“Raising awareness of our technologies, such as Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins, has been integral to our global growth,” Greenberg noted. “We achieve this through both technology-focused marketing campaigns and by leveraging our strong team of ambassadors and athletes.”

The CEO added that the company is in the early stages of team sports with the global rollout of Skechers court, football (soccer), basketball and cleated styles, supported by a growing roster of Olympians and elite athletes competing in Skechers footwear.

“We believe there are significant opportunities to build on our technical performance business,” Greenberg said. “While continued investment in product and marketing drove record quarterly sales, it is our commitment to deliver what consumers want that inspires us as we strive to bring innovation to people from all walks of life.”

Looking ahead, Skechers expects to achieve sales between $2.17 billion and $2.22 billion and diluted earnings per share of between 70 cents and 75 cents in the fourth quarter.

For the full fiscal year 2024, the company raised its guidance, predicting sales to be between $8.93 billion and $8.98 billion, with diluted earnings per share between $4.20 and $4.25. This is up from its previous guidance of $8.88 billion and $8.98 billion in sales and diluted earnings per share of $4.08 to $4.18.



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Twisted X Global Brands Donates $3 Million Worth of Shoes to Soles4Souls for Hurricane Relief Efforts https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/twisted-x-donates-3-million-dollars-worth-of-shoes-soles4souls-1234724554/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:52:34 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234724554


Twisted X Global Brands is teaming up with Soles4Souls to donate $3 million worth of shoes to those effected by this year’s natural disasters.

According to the Texas-based company, it has supplied 20,000 pairs of new men’s and women’s footwear to Soles4Souls. Of these, Twisted X said that 10,000 units were distributed for Hurricane Beryl relief in the brand’s home state of Texas with an additional 1,100 pairs going to the Houston police department.

The remaining units were stockpiled for future disaster relief efforts across the country in the wake of recent hurricanes that caused massive devastation across the East Coast, the company said.

“At Twisted X Global Brands, compassion is one of our highest priorities and we feel an immense sense of responsibility to take action to assist those in need whenever possible,” Prasad Reddy, chief executive officer of Twisted X Global Brands, said in a statement. “Our partnership with Soles4Souls allows us to provide a small sense of normalcy to those in need during times of turmoil.” 

Buddy Teaster, president and CEO of Soles4Souls, added that the organization “continues to be touched” by the way Twisted X Global Brands rises to the occasion in the darkest of times.

“While getting power and utilities is the highest priority after a disaster, there is a great need for shoes and clothing, and our partnership with Twisted X Global Brands helps us fill those gaps,” Teaster said. 

This isn’t the first time the two companies have come together for a good cause. Twisted X Global Brands previously partnered with Soles4Souls to provide over 15,000 pairs of shoes in response to tumultuous natural disasters across Turkey and Syria as well as Ukrainian relief effort needs.

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Donations from Twisted X Global Brands.

Additionally, the brand has partnered with Two Ten Footwear Foundation to donate footwear for the Share Your Shoes Program that benefited individuals affected by natural disasters.  

Twisted X is the latest company to contribute to those effected by the recent hurricanes that have hit the U.S. in recent months.

Earlier this month, Thursday Boots said it will donate 100 percent of the profits of its new Thursday Showtime Sneaker Boot in the Toro red and black colorway directly to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.



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DC Police Warns on Uptick in Designer Sneaker Thefts – Including Shoes from Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton + More https://footwearnews.com/shoes/sneaker-news/dc-police-issue-designer-sneaker-theft-warning-details-1234724537/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:17:59 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234724537


Amid an increase in recent robberies targeting young people wearing expensive designer sneakers, Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department is working to alert locals about the rise in shoe thefts.

In a new crime alert, D.C. police noted that sneakers often valued between $600 and $1200, have recently become a target for thieves. In the alert, sneaker models from brands like Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Amiri and Lanvin were highlighted as prime targets for thieves.

To help keep everyone safe, the local police department is urging the community to be aware of this situation and to take the following safety precautions.

1. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings: Always be mindful of who is around you, especially when walking alone or at night. If you notice any suspicious activity, trust your instincts and move to a well-lit or populated area.

2. Walk in Groups: Thieves are less likely to target individuals who are walking with others. Encourage your children and teens to walk with friends or family members whenever possible.

3. Avoid Displaying High-Value Items: If possible, avoid wearing high-end designer sneakers or other valuable items in public, especially in unfamiliar or isolated areas. Thieves may be watching for opportunities to strike.

4. Use Main Roads and Well-Lit Paths: Stick to busy, well-lit streets and avoid shortcuts through alleys or isolated areas. Thieves are more likely to target individuals in secluded areas.

5. Be Cautious on Social Media: Discourage youth from posting about expensive items, such as designer sneakers, on social media, especially in real-time. Thieves may use social media to identify potential targets.

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DC police believe luxury sneakers like these are more likely to be subject to theft.

6. Keep Valuables Secured: If you must carry expensive sneakers or other valuable items, consider carrying them in a secure bag and avoid drawing attention to them.

7. Report Suspicious Activity: If you or someone you know is approached by individuals acting suspiciously, or if you witness a robbery in progress, contact MPD immediately.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community and will be increasing patrols in areas where these incidents have occurred,” the D.C. police notice said. “Please stay alert and do not hesitate to report any suspicious behavior. Together, we can work to prevent further incidents and keep our community safe.”

This all comes just a week after three students were robbed at gunpoint for their $1,000 Balenciaga shoes and Jordan sneakers in Southeast, D.C., according to police.



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Birkenstock Sets Sights on South Korea for Further Post-IPO Expansion https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/birkenstock-south-korea-expansion-plans-1234724174/ Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:20:46 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234724174


Birkenstock is turning its focus to Asia as it continues to build its shoe empire.

Following the company’s IPO last year, the 250-year-old German footwear company has placed a renewed focus on wholesale, released a steady stream of fresh product and opened a steady slate of new stores across the globe.

Now, Birkenstock is turning to South Korea for its next play. In a release on Wednesday, the company said that it is taking over direct distribution in the country with the launch of its own country-specific e-commerce website. The site will be the first step in this growth plan, followed by the opening of its own stores and expansion with selected department stores to follow in spring 2025, Birkenstock added.

The company noted that it has already been doing business in South Korea for “a few years” but that this new move will allow it to sell its product itself in the region without the help of a local third-party partner. In the past, limited production capacity had also prevented the company from expanding in the region at a faster rate, Birkenstock said.

The sales relaunch will be accompanied by a repositioning of the brand in South Korea in the premium segment, with a focus on a younger target consumer group. Birkenstock noted that it plans to expand brand awareness through regional content on its website and local social media channels, as well as through collaborations with selected local artists, fashion brands and influencers.

Birkenstock added in the release on Wednesday that the expanded business in South Korea will fall under the responsibility of the managing director of Japan and Korea, Raoul Wortmann. Over the past seven years, Wortmann has already successfully developed and established the Japanese market for Birkenstock, the company said.

This move comes as Birkenstock reported that its third-quarter sales and earnings in August came in just below analyst estimates.

Revenue for the footwear company increased 19 percent in the third quarter to 565 million euros, up from 473 million in the same time last year. Net income was 74.6 million euros, or 40 cents a share, for the quarter, up from 63.1 million euros, or 35 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Analyst had expected revenues of 566 million euros, and earnings of 51 cents per share.

During the company’s quarterly earnings call in August, Oliver Reichert, chief executive officer of Birkenstock Group, teased the renewed focus on its Asian business segment.

“Our growth continues to significantly outpace our peers in the Americas and Europe, with strong and increasing momentum from our B2B partners and in our DTC footprint,” Reichert said. “We are entering the next chapter of growth as we tap into our largest white space market, the APMA region. We are increasing brand awareness, educating the consumer on the purpose of the Birkenstock footbed and are taking market share by following our playbook of disciplined engineered distribution to support ASP (average selling price).”



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This New Out of This World 3D-Printed Shoe Looks – and Feels – Like a Marshmallow https://footwearnews.com/shoes/mens-footwear/cro-releases-mars-mellow-3d-printed-shoe-zellerfeld-details-1234724119/ Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:34:20 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234724119


Zellerfeld is dropping its latest 3D-printed shoe creation, this time with German rapper and artist CRO.

Dubbed the “Mars Mellow,” the shoe style truly evokes the look and feel of a marshmallow. According to Zellerfeld, the new shoe design aims to evoke lightness, comfort and intrigue in a “wearable piece of art” that draws inspiration from the concept of being “trapped in paradise,” a core theme of CRO’s creative brand “TRIP.”

First presented in Tokyo, the space-age design of the shoe “playfully symbolizes” CRO’s ongoing journey of artistic reinvention and invites everyone to join him on this next, cosmic chapter, the company said.

“This shoe is a journey—a trip into the unknown, where fashion, music, and technology collide,” CRO said in a statement. “I wanted to design something that feels like it belongs on Mars—a shoe not just for Earth but for Martians. The Mars Mellow is futuristic and bold, like something you’d wear while exploring a new planet. It’s playful and otherworldly, but still grounded in my identity as an artist. It’s more than just a sneaker—it’s a space-age statement, made for those ready to leave Earth behind.”

CRO, one of Germany’s most influential rappers, is celebrated for his signature “Raop” sound (a fusion of rap and pop) and his iconic mask. Since his 2012 breakthrough with the album Raop, the 34-year-old musician has solidified his place in the music scene, reaching millions of streams and gaining fans worldwide. His genre-blending music, visionary fashion sense, and artistic endeavors make him the perfect collaboration partner for Zellerfeld.

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This release comes just months after Zellerfeld announced its plans for the future. In June, the Hamburg, Germany-based 3D-printed footwear tech company announced it has moved its platform out of beta and is now ready to fully launch what it’s calling the “YouTube of Shoes,” where nearly anyone can upload a design on Zellerfeld’s platform and get their shoes produced.

Through this new program Cornelius Schmitt, chief executive officer of Zellerfeld, emphasized that designers and brands are now able to rapidly bring new concepts to market, while consumers can access a diverse, ever-expanding range of footwear. The CEO noted that for the platform aims to “demolish traditional financial and logistical barriers” when creating footwear, allowing real-time experimentation and product refinement.

“Zellerfeld’s platform opens the door for creators to do what was once impossible—bring their wildest visions to life without the constraints of traditional manufacturing,” Schmitt added. “Collaborating with CRO on the Mars Mellow was more than just creating a shoe. It was the collision of German artistry and our revolutionary technology, creating something that pushes the very limits of design.”

The new CRO “Mars Mellow” shoe, which retails for $380, is now available to order at Zellerfeld.com.

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1234724119 Mars Mellow 3D Shoe by CRO x Zellerfeld CRO, Mars Mellow, 3D printed shoe, 3d printing, 3d printed footwear, shoes, Zellerfeld CRO, Mars Mellow, 3D printed shoe, 3d printing, 3d printed footwear, shoes, Zellerfeld
Bergdorf Goodman and Christian Louboutin Come Together on a Collection Made With Trash https://footwearnews.com/shoes/womens-footwear/bergdorf-goodman-christian-louboutin-trash-shoes-bags-info-1234723629/ Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:54:38 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1234723629 If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Footwear News may receive an affiliate commission.



Bergdorf Goodman and Christian Louboutin have come together on an exclusive collection.

Made for fans of both brands, the limited collection is part of Louboutin’s signature “Trash” collection and aims to pay tribute to iconic images, logos and objects of both the French luxury shoe company and the American retailer.

The collection includes a total of four shoe styles for women, one bag and one sneaker for men. A standout collector’s item of the range is the “Apostropha Trash” pumps in silk, calf leather, and kid suede. The style features a 3.15-inch stiletto heel, pointed toe and an array of threads, buttons and other small objects adhered to the upper.

Other styles include the “Cuba Libre Trash” sandals in PVC, metallic calf leather, and kid suede, which features a 4.33-inch wedge heel, round open toe and double strap vamp; the “Arte Povera Trash” mules in PVC and kid suede, which features a 2.25-inch kitten heel and square pointed toe; and the “Louis Junior” low-top sneakers in PVC, calf leather, and kid suede.

As for the bag, the collection features the “Bambi Trash” shoulder bag in NYC collage printed PVC and leather, while the men’s style is the “Louis Trash” high-top sneakers in leather and PVC with mixed media insert. The entire range retails between $1,295 and $2,995.

“The collection perfectly fuses Christian Louboutin’s uniquely playful and glamorous aesthetic with Bergdorf Goodman’s signature sense of humor,” Yumi Shin, chief merchandising officer at Bergdorf Goodman, told FN in an interview. “We’re particularly thrilled to be the only retailer to offer this collection because of the way it champions intentional upcycling, something we value deeply. With the customization offering, we’re bringing an immersive and fully one-of-a-kind experience to our customers.”

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The Christian Louboutin Bambi Trash NYC Collage Printed Shoulder Bag.

To celebrate this collection, two of Bergdorf Goodman’s Fifth Avenue windows will be transformed to make the occasion.

“The relationship between Bergdorf Goodman and Christian Louboutin goes back decades and represents a true partnership of ideas,” Shin added. “We’ve done remarkable things with the brand over the years but the one thing that continues to ring true is the customer’s admiration for the product. From the iconography to the quality, Christian Louboutin is a mainstay in the magic of Bergdorf Goodman.”

This collection comes just one month after Bergdorf Goodman sister company Neiman Marcus teamed up with Christian Louboutin for an exclusive collection of animal print shoes and bags for men and women. The duo’s “Animalia” collection spanned 19 pieces including seven women’s looks, six handbags, four men’s shoes, one men’s leather good and one men’s hat.

Christian Louboutin Apostropha Trash Leather Red Sole Pumps

Christian Louboutin Arte Povera Trash Suede Red Sole Mules

Christian Louboutin Fun Louis Junior Leather Trash Low-Top Sneakers



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