F O OT W E A R N E W S .C O M / M AY 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 / @ F O OT W E A R N E W S

BEST OF RUNNING

GOT IT DOWN PATHow Saucony’s new boss started fast in a crowded fi eld marred by retail fails

HOT PURSUITWhy 361 Degrees turns it up at U.S. events, expos and specialty

BREAK AWAYWhich running brand hit its stride? The experts answer

WARP SPEED

Running enthusiasts love logging miles in the newest, fastest styles. Brooks’ Ghost 9 and Hoka One One’s Clayton bolt to the fi nish line.

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7 Still Running Saucony president

Pat O’Malley is determined to get the

brand more athletes.

9 FN Spy All the shoe buzz from Cannes,

and Pierre Hardy makes a big online

move into the U.S. market.

10 Sizing Up Sequential How the

brand management firm is quickly

building a diverse portfolio.

11 Havaianas’ Retail Road The

flip-flop company is growing its franchise

program and unveiling more collabs.

12 What’s Trending Stephen Curry

scores big with MVP honors, and depart-

ment store struggles continue.

FEATURES

15 Ultra Light Beams Fueled by the

latest technical innovations, fall sneakers

take fast to a new level.

3

31Ryka’s Knock Out women’s running sneaker for fall ’16

ON THE COVER

Photographed by JONATHON KAMBOURIS

THE LIST

23 Shoe of the Week One of New

Balance’s biggest hits has a new look for

the season.

24 Maximum Potential Hoka One One

aims to bring its niche features to a wider

audience.

26 Good Taste Olympic marathoner

Desiree Linden talks sports icons and

inspiring reads.

28 Seeing Red Fiery-colored trail runners

will set the market ablaze this fall.

29 The Right Combination How

Texas specialty chain Luke’s Locker

connects with the community.

30 Burning Question Retailers reveal

which running brand is the most improved.

31 First Look Ryka turns its attention to

female runners with a new collection.

32 Five Questions Fila’s Jon Epstein

on the value of collaborations and why

billboards are a smart play.

FN PICK

34 Dolled Up Actress Anna Kendrick’s

red Soebedar pumps provided extra color

to the Cannes Film Festival.

Michael Atmore Editorial Director

Neil Weilheimer Managing EditorKatie Abel Global News DirectorElizabeth Slott Design Director

Mosha Lundström Halbert Fashion DirectorJennie Bell Features Editor

Anna-Lisa Yabsley Online Managing EditorBarbara Schneider-Levy Senior Editor, Men’s & Comfort

Sumana Ghosh-Witherspoon Senior DesignerKristen Henning Women’s Editor

Chris M. Junior Copy EditorPeter Verry Athletic & Outdoor Editor

Sheena Butler-Young Senior Associate Editor, BusinessCharlie Carballo West Coast Digital Editor

Margaret Sutherlin Associate Editor Christian Allaire Associate Fashion Editor, High-End Men’s

Rachael Allen Associate Web ProducerNikara Johns Editorial Assistant

Erin E. Clack Contributing Editor, Children’s

CORRESPONDENTSSamantha Conti, Natalie Theodosi London

Miles Socha, Paulina Szmydke Paris Luisa Zargani, Lucie Janik Milan Amanda Kaiser Hong Kong

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ash Barhamand Photo DirectorOona Wally Bookings & Production Editor

Emily Taylor Photo Studio Coordinator George Chinsee, Thomas Iannaccone Photographers

ADVERTISINGSandi Mines Vice President & Publisher

Lauren Schor Associate PublisherMichelle Raskin West Coast DirectorMichele Loffman Account Director

Gina Stillman Senior Account ManagerErica Coren Account Manager

Giulia Squeri European Account Director Gomatie Sanichar Office Manager

Emanuela Altimani Senior Sales CoordinatorElizabeth Carcich Sales Coordinator

DIGITAL/MARKETING/CREATIVE SERVICES

Shannon Nobles Marketing DirectorCass Spencer Creative Director, MarketingCassie Leventhal Digital Media Strategist

Suzette Minetti Digital Sales PlannerChristina Mastroianni PR Coordinator

AUDIENCE MARKETING

Ellen Dealy Vice President & Senior Executive DirectorPeggy Pyle Consumer Marketing Director

Janet Menaker Senior Director, Digital Marketing & Strategic Development

Randi Segal Senior Director, Institutional SalesSuzanne Berardi Senior Online Manager Tamra Febesh Senior Marketing Manager

Lauren Busch Associate Marketing Manager

PRODUCTIONKevin Hurley Production DirectorJohn Cross Production Manager

PREPRESS PRODUCTION

Alex Sharfman Digital Imaging David Lee Chin Prepress Assembly

SUMMITS & EVENTS

Amber Mundinger Vice President, New Ventures & GMMary Ann Bacher Executive Editorial DirectorAmelia Ewert Director, Experiential Marketing

Kim Mancuso Director, Attendee SalesAlexis Coyle Director, Sponsorship

FAIRCHILD PUBLISHING LLC

Michael Atmore Editorial Director of FN & Director of Brand Development

Ron Wilson Director, European Operations

FAIRCHILD MEDIA AND FN ARE OWNED AND PUBLISHED BY PENSKE MEDIA CORPORATION

Fast Fashion Footwear for Men, Women, Juniors, and Children

au g u s t 1 5 –1 7, 2 0 1 6LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER, SOUTH HALL

The Footwear Show within Fashion Coterie

S e p t e m b e r 1 8 -2 0 , 2 0 1 6JACOB JAVITS CENTER, NEW YORK CITY

Fast-to-Market + Young Contemporary Apparel and Footwear Event

S e p t e m b e r 1 8 -2 0 , 2 0 1 6JACOB JAVITS CENTER, NEW YORK CITY

REGISTER NOWVISIT MAGICONLINE .COM

The Destination for Men’s Shoes

j u ly 1 7–1 9, 2 0 1 6JACOB JAVITS CENTER, NEW YORK CITY

Luxury to Lifestyle Branded Footwear for Men, Women, Juniors, and Children

au g u s t 1 5 –1 7, 2 0 1 6LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER, SOUTH HALL

SHOW US

YOUR S O L E

SHOP SHOES4ACURETUESDAY, WEDNESDAY JUNE 7, 8 | 9:00 AM � 8:00 PMTHURSDAY, JUNE 9 | 9:00 AM � 4:00 PMA pop-up charitable shoe sale to benefit breast cancer research.

Thanks to the generous donations of FFANY member brands, footwear and

handbag product from major footwear companies will be sold at 50 percent off the

suggested retail price. The boutique will be open to the public and all proceeds

from the three day sale will be donated to breast cancer research.

Concourse Lower Level, NY Hilton Midtown

Tickets & information: shoes4acure@ffany.org

OPENING NIGHT INDUSTRY EVENTTUESDAY, JUNE 7 | 6:30 PM � 9:00 PM | BRYANT PARK GRILL Join us to celebrate the footwear industry in iconic Bryant Park.

Attend this great mingling and networking event. Industry support will help Two

Ten provide assistance to individuals in the footwear industry in need of cancer

care. Along with food, drinks and entertainment, guests will have an opportunity

to meet the next generation of talent when FFANY presents to the footwear design

student winner the Joseph C. Moore scholarship award to attend the ARSUTORIA

school in Milan, Italy.

Tickets $95 – registration & information: party@ffany.org

MUST SEE INDUSTRY SEMINARWEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 | 10:00 AM � 11:00 AM Featuring Paco Underhill - Best Selling author and speaker: Why We Buy: The Science

of Shopping.

Paco Underhill will make his FFANY debut speaking about ways retailers and brands

can attract more customers. From buying behavior to corporate behavior, Underhill’s

presentations are abundant with observations, details and lessons both retailers

and wholesalers can apply to their own businesses. This is a must see for for any

professional in the retail industry. Complimentary book signing at 11 am!

NY Hilton Midtown – Americas Hall I: RSVP to events@ffany.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 7 � THURSDAY, JUNE 9

As more retailers buy closer to season, the need for immediate product is greater

than ever.

The Immediate Shoe Wall aims to streamline the search for at-once product by

presenting immediate samples from exhibiting brands in one location. Consider

the wall your visual shopping guide for fashion to sell now in your store.

NY Hilton Midtown – Americas Hall I

Information: info@ffany.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 7 � THURSDAY, JUNE 9 The Savannah College of Art & Design

Stop by to check out the showcase of talented student work in accessory and

footwear design and also to learn about the exciting degree programs offered at

SCAD.

NY Hilton Midtown - Americas Hall II: info@ffany.org

MONDAY, JUNE 6 | 7:30 AM � 4:00 PMThe Futurists, Leading in Challenging Times.

Challenging times call for new leadership and branding strategies. Join Footwear

News and 200 executives from across the industry for the FN Summit and discover

how The Futurists are adapting to an unprecedented amount of change in consumer

behavior.

Event details & registration: summits.wwd.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 | 5:30 PM � 7:00 PM The Next Big Thing Conversation Series: Fashion’s Next Frontiers.

A dynamic dialogue with idea makers and trend trailblazers in fashion, retail and

footwear. Join the annual Two Ten National WIFI Event, generously hosted by Marie

Claire Magazine at the Hearst Tower in New York City.

Registration & information: Twoten.org or knelson@twoten.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 | 7:30 PM � 9:30 PM Honoring Michael Atmore for his accomplishments and influence on the editorial and

accessories industries.

Join the Accessories Council in honoring Michael Atmore, Editorial Director,

Footwear News & Brand Development Director, Fairchild Media. In recognition of

this special tribute, the Accessories Council will donate 50% of the evening's net

proceeds to the Two Ten Footwear Foundation and "FFANY Shoes On Sale."

For tickets & information: rsvp@accessoriescouncil.org or call 212.947.1135

@FFANYSHOESHOW

#FFANYSHOESHOW

FFANY.ORG

FUTURE SHOW DATE: AUG 2�42016 NY HILTON MIDTOWN

MEMBER SHOWROOMS

REGISTER TODAY

DON’T MISS OUT ON THESE GREAT EVENTS!

7

I N S I D E R

t’s been more than 25 years since Pat O’Malley ran competitively at the University of Maine, but the executive is still

vying for a top spot in the running space.

After 12 years as its SVP of global product, Saucony tapped O’Malley to take over the brand after former head Richie Woodworth assumed the position of president of Wolver-ine World Wide’s Lifestyle Group in January.

Although the role is new, O’Malley knows Saucony’s strengths and intends on using them to attract new consumers. This includes lever-aging its performance authenticity, pushing lifestyle silhouettes and using its expertise to enter the grow-ing digital fitness world.

Andrew Gray, GM of Foot Locker and Lady Foot Locker, said there is energy and excitement around Saucony, and the brand is excelling because of its comprehensive con-sumer base.

“On the performance side, they trend a little older, [and] they’re relevant to both genders,” he ex-plained. “The lifestyle side — where the excitement and momentum is in our business — stretches from the late teens to the mid 30s. Between

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Saucony’s ascent in running has been a marathon. Now the brand looks to Pat O’Malley to help it sprint past the competition.

By Peter Verry

Still Running

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both categories they cover a wide consumer group.”

And Saucony’s excitement extends beyond large retail chains. According to SportsOneSource, although the label’s share in the running space dropped slightly in 2015, it remained a Top 10 performance brand across all market segments.

But its business took a hit to start the year. During the Wolverine Q1 earnings call earlier this month, the company said Saucony was down high-single digits for the quarter. Its CEO, Blake Krueger, attributed it to a number of factors, including retail bankruptcies, a rough transition to a new Canadian warehouse, and a cold and wet first two months of the year that impacted specialty retail buying patterns.

How does O’Malley plan to compete in a difficult climate? Read on.

What have you learned about Saucony as you’ve

climbed the corporate ladder?

PO: I’ve learned the value of knowing the con-

sumer you’re [targeting] and having the ability to

try to solve problems for them. We have a defined

bull’s-eye for what we’re going after: the runner

who wants to celebrate the run lifestyle. My

vision is to invite more people into our brand,

the [consumers] who wake up and say, “I’m

going to work out, and today I’m going to run.”

What are the biggest challenges impacting the

industry today?

PO: You’ve seen all the bankruptcies going on.

You’ve got a retailer you have history with, done

business with, and all of a sudden they’re going

through bankruptcy. You’re partners with them,

and you want to help them the best you can, but

it also makes for a challenging business environ-

ment. There’s a lot of consolidation happening,

[but] the marketplace is also pretty saturated.

There’s a lot of competition out there, whether it’s

brick-and-mortar or direct-to-consumer online

accounts.

Are you comfortable with the brand’s position

in the running market?

PO: I guess it’s how you define comfortable.

I like what we stand for, what the brand has

done, and the reputation we

have, but I want to get more

people wearing Saucony. We have

a great brand and great stories

and products, and I won’t be

comfortable until every runner in

the world is wearing Saucony.

What are some of Saucony’s

biggest challenges?

PO: Performance running

continues to do well, but there’s

this lifestyle running aspect that

everybody’s talking about. The

challenge for us is opening up

retailer and consumers’ eyes to

those opportunities.

There’s been notable executive turnover at your

parent company the past few years. How has that

impacted you?

PO: Wolverine is the overarching company, but

they allow the brands to work independently,

and even though there are some synergies across

the portfolio, the reality is the [brand heads] run

the day-to-day operations. We’ve been fortunate

that the turnover at Saucony has been small.

How do you want to evolve Saucony’s retail

strategy moving forward?

PO: Run specialty has always been our No. 1 focus

and will continue to be. They’re dedicated to the

sport just like we are, and they represent our

brand well. The other important focus area is

sporting goods. That’s because the fitness

consumer is going into the sporting goods chan-

nel looking for a good running shoe. [The seg-

ment] gives us the opportunity to showcase our

brand with that consumer.

What categories do you think will outdo others?

PO: First and foremost will be performance run-

ning; that will continue to be a growth driver for

us. And [18 months ago] we launched this new

style of product called “Life on the Run” — per-

formance shoes that have lifestyle-inspired looks.

Our strong Originals stories allow us to take

lifestyle-inspired looks and bring a performance

story to them. We talk about inviting more people

to our brand, and this takes the intimidation

factor out of performance footwear.

Isofit and Everun were major innovations for

Saucony. What’s the next big story to come?

PO: For spring ’17, you’re going to see a strong

evolution of those technologies that’s going to

have a dramatic impact on the runner’s experi-

ence. The other thing we’re doing is working on

an app that helps strengthen the runner and

allows the runner to do self-diagnostics of their

form, where their strengths and weaknesses are,

and give them feedback on how

to strengthen those areas to make

them a better runner.

Overall, how important are digital

technology investments?

PO: It’s important because the

goal for Saucony is to improve the

runner’s experience and create an

emotional connection between the

consumer and us. These digital

platforms are going to allow us to

do that. People keep coming with

unbelievable ideas around digital,

and we’re going to keep working on

those things we think are relevant to

the consumer.

O’Malley frequently wear-tests new shoes on Boston’s infamous Heartbreak Hill. 8

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“We have a defined bull’s-eye for what we’re going after: the runner who wants to celebrate the run lifestyle.” Pat O’Malley, Saucony

Kinvara 7 for women

9I N S I D E RMarchesa’s footwear launch comes from Chapman and co-founder Keren Craig.

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Movies such as Woody Allen’s “Café Society” (starring Blake Lively and Kristen Stewart) and Jodie Foster’s “Money Monster” (with George Clooney and Julia Roberts) kicked off the Cannes Film Festival in France last week — but the real focus was on the fashion. Marchesa co-founder Georgina Chapman, who is making her brand’s shoe debut for spring ’16, is there for the action, alongside husband and Weinstein Company chief Harvey Weinstein. Here, Chapman shares her shoe-packing list and the screening she can’t miss.

What shoes did you pack for the week? “I am [taking] lots of options from our new footwear collection. The Stella and Clara are two of my favorites for the red carpet; I love their feminine ghillie lacing and laser-cut details. I am also packing our Elysemod flat sandals for afternoons by the pool.”

What film are you most looking forward to seeing?“I am excited to attend the ‘Hands of Stone’ special screening honoring Robert De Niro. His work is always inspiring to watch.”

Any other big plans for the week?“I look forward to the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala every year. It is an incredible cause and one I am honored to support.”

Is there a celeb you would most like to see in your shoes?“It’s an honor any time a celebrity chooses to wear Marchesa on the red carpet. Fittings are still happening up until the last moment, but we have our fingers crossed for some exciting confirmations this year.”

Georgina Chapman is making a style statement at the Cannes Film Festival.

Clicked In It’s a launch party for Pierre Hardy: The brand celebrated the unveiling of its first stateside e-commerce site last week. “It is a natural progression for the brand. The U.S. represents an important, dynamic part of our global business,” said the designer. “And the exciting part is that it is like taking our Jane Street boutique in [New York’s] West Village and giving it a mega steroid shot. We now have a platform to speak and to sell directly to our customers all over the U.S.”

By Kristen Henning

With contributions from Christian Allaire

Cannes Gold The Seventies continue to trend. The Cannes Film Festival has a big night ahead Thursday: the 22nd annual Cinema Against AIDS Gala to benefit amfAR. “This year is a ’70s disco theme with performances from Sister Sledge, The Village People and Katy Perry,” said amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole. “It’s always a magical evening that nets extraordinary amounts of money to fund much of our research.” Cole will be pulling out appropriate shoes. “I’ll definitely wear sneakers — probably my gold ones, to best suit the theme,” he said.

Kenneth Cole

SpottedKirsten Dunst takes a sculptural approach to shoes. The star, who is acting as a judge this year at the Cannes Film Festival, was spotted in Salvatore Ferragamo heels paired with her Dior dress. The look was a standout one in a sea of strappy sandals.

Dunst in Ferragamo

French GlamourLouis Leeman and Erica Pelosini, co-founders of Louis Leeman, make sure they’re at the center of every major fashion event, so it’s no surprise they’re making a trip to Cannes again this year. “We always stay at Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, which is now a home away from home,” said Leeman. “Our classic day starts with a fresh breakfast by the pool, followed by some yoga and a business lunch. And you can’t leave without taking a boat ride around the beautiful coast.” The couple also plans to see some of

the festival’s buzzed-about films, too. “We’re very

curious about ‘Money Monster’ by Jodie

Foster, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts,” Leeman said. “And Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Paterson.’ ”

Marchesa Moment

Spring ’16 style

Stella style

Leeman and Pelosini

. 10 I N S I D E R

xecutives dash in and out of the Jessica Simpson showroom, which is lined with racks of denim pants,

trendy blouses and handbags bear-ing the label of the billion-dollar fashion brand. A freshly made-up model struts across the fl oor en route to her next close-up as a hip-hop tune reverberates from the room’s speakers. Just outside the door, an aroma coming from the kitchen of Martha Stewart has spilled into the hallway.

Navigating this maze of rambunc-tious activity at Sequential Brands Group Inc.’s New York headquarters is CEO Yehuda Shmidman. This is the house that he built.

In 2015, Shmidman — who took the helm of the brand management fi rm three years prior — ledSequential to add three notable names to its roster. The 35-year-old mogul snapped up a majority stake in the Jessica Simpson label from

Camuto Group in April. A few months later, in a bid to make its mark in media and housewares, Sequential announced its merger with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. The acquisition of Joe’s Jeans Inc. followed in September.

And 2016 is not a year of tapering down for the fi rm. Last week, Sequential announced its purchase of popular yoga brand Gaiam.

“This company has come together, and the table is set for the next chapter of growth,” Shmidman told Footwear News during a tour of the company’s headquar-ters last month. “The

fi rst few years of Sequential — and we’re still a young company — were about building the team, the infra-structure and the brand portfolio. If you look at what we are today, we’ve got a well-oiled machine with terrifi c people and brands that matter.”

In January, Shmidman moved most of Sequential’s labels and its people into Martha Stewart’s giant headquarters in the Starrett-Lehigh Building, overlooking New York’s Hudson River.

“There is a team and a resource pool here that are dedicated to grow-ing these brands,” Shmidman said, adding that the brands are fi nding new synergies in the shared space. “I think that’s why Jessica Simpson chose to work with us and why Martha Stewart chose to work with us — we want to make sure that one day when you go back and ask them, they’ll tell you that.”

Tina Simpson, co-creative direc-tor and brand manager for the Jessica Simpson Collection, said the choice to align with Sequential was a well-informed one that is already yielding positive results.

“Our partnership with Sequential last year was strategic,” Simpson said. “They had the best team in place to help us continue to build off the successes of the past 10 years and, more importantly, launch a new phase of category growth.”

While Simpson’s team may have jumped at the opportunity to part-ner with Sequential, competition in the brand management space is heating up. As an increasing number of private equity fi rms engage in heavy bidding for top footwear and apparel names, there has also been instability in the arena. The public struggles of Iconix Brand Group Inc. threatened to cast a negative light on brand management companies.

Canaccord Genuity Inc. analyst Camilo Lyon had even posited that “turmoil” at Iconix — owner and licensee for brands such as Candie’s, Ed Hardy and Material Girl —inadvertently pressured Sequential’s stock last year.

Still, Sequential continues to make major revenue gains, seeing a 150 percent rise in sales in the most recent quarter while expanding the reach of its new and existing brands.

When Shmidman got his hands on the Jessica Simpson brand, it was already raking in billions, but the CEO said he quickly began thinking of untapped categories for growth.

“One of the areas we felt we could add to the brand was activewear,” Shmidman said. “We launched ap-parel activewear in the fall of 2015, and we will be launching fashion athletic footwear for fall ’16. I think that’s going to be a big business.”

Tina Simpson, who is Jessica Simpson’s mother as well as her top partner in the label, shared Shmid-man’s enthusiasm about taking the brand into the athletic space.

“The strategy for building the

E Sizing Up Sequential

Why CEO Yehuda Shmidman’s high-powered deal-making is shaking up the industry.

By Sheena Butler-Young

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“[Sequential] had the best team

in place to help us continue to build off the successes of the past 10 years.”

Tina Simpson

Jessica Simpson in her activewear line

A style by And1

Jessica Simpson lifestyle brand is a very organic, natural one,” Tina Simpson said. “We have allowed Jessica’s true lifestyle to refl ect [the] categories we build. This way we keep the brand real, authentic and true to who Jessica is herself. She is an avid workout guru who does cardio, weight training, plyo-metrics and yoga.”

Not to mention that the athletic space is red-hot right now. And Shmidman and his team are get-ting more aggressive about pushing their brands — And1 and Avia — that play heavily in the space.

“Both the Avia and And1 busi-nesses had a very strong 2015,” Shmidman said. “As a company, we are doing about a half a billion dollars in footwear. Within that total, a good chunk of that is in the athletic space.”

Last month, the fi rm announced the launch of And1 in Wal-Mart stores in Canada. It has plans to grow its other athletic-inspired

shoe label Heelys with more brand-ed partnerships, including one with Disney’s “Frozen” franchise.

“Heelys is the biggest driver in our lifestyle business,” Shmid-man said. “We have an incredible manufacturing partner in BBC [International]. We’ve been seeing an uptick in our U.S. business and in international, particularly in Europe and Asia.”

With footwear driving a large share of his fi rm’s revenues, Shmid-man now has plans to ramp up the shoe business for several of the company’s apparel labels.

“We have plans in store forWilliam Rast in footwear — es-pecially on the men’s side with both casual and dressy sneakers,” he said. “We also have some new footwear initiatives in the works for Joe’s Jeans. In addition to the existing shoe business that we have under the Sequential umbrella, we’ll have some new things coming this year.”

1 On today’s con-sumer landscape:“On one hand, they’re

screaming ,‘We’re in arecession,’ and people seem to be panicking about retail. On the other hand, gas prices are low and unemployment is low. Two-thirds of the economy is driven by the consumer. Our view is that not only are we not in a recession, the consumer is actually doing great. Our focus is on our brands and making sure that they are available where people are shopping.

Behavior may be changing — people are clearly shop-ping more online than they have been before — but we do not believe that people have stopped shopping.”

2 On managing labels that have big-name

celebrities behind them:“Our brands have incredible DNA that is not made over-night. It’s real and genuine. When we’re lucky enough to [work with] the living, breathing personalities, founders and entrepre-

neurs who are behind those brands, that takes it to a whole new level.”

3 On what’s next for Jessica Simpson:“A year into our

partnership, we wereable to launch athletic ap-parel. We have the fashion athletic footwear coming, and we’ve also launched the e-commerce business. When we think about the future, one of the pillars would be global growth, which could include Jessica Simpson stores.”

TAKE THREEYehuda Shmidman talks brick-and-mortar for Jessica Simpson, handling superstar stakeholders and the current retail environment.

Heelys spring ’16 campaign

avaianas continues to remain bullish on U.S. retail even as other big names scale back.

The brand is partnering with entrepreneurs to sig-nificantly grow its store base through a new licensed program.

“We have more than 400 styles that we launch every year, so for customers to have a full experience, they need to go to a Havaianas store and be able to see all the collections and touch the product,” said U.S. president Marcio Moura. “That’s the role that this retail channel is going to have in the future.It helps us drive brand aware-ness, but it’s primarily about customer experience and product awareness.”

Havaianas has eight retaillocations throughout the U.S. —including its permanent and seasonal stores. With this licensing program, the brand is expected to have at least 10 more stores in the near future and will begin launching them during the third quarterof 2016.

“We want to make sure that we open stores in the largest metropoli-tan areas in the U.S.,” Moura added. “We are talking about having stores in California, Florida, Texas and Nevada.”

As the brand continues to ramp up its retail presence, it is also garnering buzz through its col-laborations. The flip-flop company has had success with partnerships with Missoni, Valentino and, most

recently, Charlotte Olympia and the U.K. department store Liberty. “It’s important for the brand, these types of partnerships,” said Moura. “We are always bringing in something new for the customers and also something that is stylish. That’s one thing that a lot of customers expect.”

After teaming up with Disney last year, Moura said that partnership is gaining traction and consumers will

see products sold within the theme parks as early as June.

And with the Olympics less than 100 days away, the road to Rio has begun. Havaianas is

hoping its hometown advantage will prove to be advantageous this year — even as

controversy continues to swirl around this

year’s Games.The brand’s new-

est campaign is called “The Original. From Brazil Since 1962,” and

it highlights the country’s culture, landscape and history. Havaianas will also release a USA-inspired collection on May 19 that features six different styles.

Moving forward, Havaianas will focus on extensions outside of flip-flops. The company has explored minibags, towels, espadrilles and rain boots, with sunglasses expected to launch next year. “Retail stores are going to play an important role in that because it’s the perfect avenue to push those brand extensions,” Moura said.

Havaianas’ Road to Retail To drive product awareness, the Brazilian flip-flop brandis rolling out a licensed store program in the U.S. market.

By Nikara Johns

H

Inside Havaianas’L.A. location

An Olympiastyle (above) and Liberty look

11

After early warnings that traffic declines and lackluster sales from the holiday season would carry into the first quarter of 2016, department stores confirmed many concerns last week in the latest round of earnings.Macy’s slashed its outlook after quarterly revenue slipped 7.4 percent

to $5.77 billion compared with last year. Kohl’s reported that its comp store sales fell 3.9 percent against an expected increase. Some analysts point to off-price retail as a potential opportunity, but overall weak consumer confidence is keeping shoppers at home. Cowen and Co. released a note saying that a cool spring and rocky U.S. politics were hurting sales. The problems were compounded by sluggish results from traditionally big promotional events. “This ‘roller coaster’ of lackluster highs and lower lows has proven difficult for retailers to gain any kind of sustainable traction,” Cowen analysts reported.

Adidas’ Other SuperstarAdidas Originals may have a winner in Kanye West’s Yeezy collection, but there is another star in the mix bringing in big buzz. Pharrell Williams’ latest collection, called Pink Beach, draws inspiration from Williams’ personal paintings and beach culture. After the initial release sold out, Adidas unveiled the second capsule last week featuring two new shoe styles. The slip-on and lace-up kicks are another driver for the lifestyle division.

Curry Makes History Again With his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Award, Stephen Curry made history by becoming the first to win by a unanimous vote. And with the news, brand sponsor Under Armour also scored a huge win. Its special-edition MVP sneakers were sold out in a matter of minutes after hitting the Web for presale. There’s a good reason why UA is betting big on the athlete: Curry shoes helped to drive a 64 percent increase in footwear sales in the first quarter for the brand.

Retailer Woes Continue

QUOTES OF THE WEEKOverheard in the industry

“Baby Yeezys are going to be launched in August — the black ones and the original blue- and-cream mix.”Kim Kardashian West,

in an episode of “Keeping Up

With the Kardashians,” on

infant Yeezy Boost releases.

“Hey Justin Bieber, walk barefoot with purpose today. Take a pic #withoutshoes and Toms will donate a pair to a child in need.”Toms founder Blake Mycoskie

on Twitter after Justin Bieber

was spotted last week without

shoes following a concert. TO P

STO RY

W H A T ’ S T R E N D I N G

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INSTAGRAMS OF THE WEEKThe 5 most-liked photos

from @FootwearNews

Fancy finds at the @marchesafashion trunk show in NYC @akhgrp

It’s always a standout shoe day when you’re on set with @sjpcollection

Who knew grandma’s china could be so chic? @fillingpieces x @bdgastore

@gucci’s newest concept shop has landed at @saks in New York

12 Saks Fifth Avenue unveiled a Gucci shop-in-shop at its New York flagship store last week.I N S I D E R

Celebrating the new @aquazzura store with its signature pineapple

“I don’t know why they didn’t like my waist, but I didn’t approve that video, and it went out for the world, so I’m embarrassed.” Skechers ambassador

Meghan Trainor, referring to

the release of an unauthorized

Photoshopped version of

her “Me Too” music video.

Macy’s Herald Square

New York store

Pink Beach shoes

Curry MVP Back 2 Back Pack

1

2

3

4

5

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Pre-FFANYISSUE May 30CLOSE DATE May 18

FFANYISSUE June 6CLOSE DATE May 25

Show Issues

Leading in Challenging TimesS

ATTEND: SUE JIN LEE, SLEE@WWD.COM, 646.438.1542 SPONSOR: ALEXIS COYLE, ACOYLE@WWD.COM, 646.356.4719

FAIRCHILDSUMMITSANNUALPARTNERS

EVENT SPONSORS

Jeff EspersenZAPPOS.COM

Dick JohnsonFOOT LOCKER INC.

Jay SchmidtCALERES

Pierre HardyPIERRE HARDY

Jim WeberBROOKS RUNNING COMPANY

summits.wwd.com

Ultra BeamsRunning’s top

brands deliver high speed for fall ’16. Technology-packed styles go lightweight with plush cushioning and streamlined uppers.

Photographed by Jonathon Kambouris

Fashion Director: Mosha Lundström Halbert

Associate Editor: Christian Allaire

Market Editor: Peter Verry

Out From The DarkUNDER ARMOUR

Charged Bandit 2

with two-piece

Charged Cushioning

and Micro G midsole;

ON Cloudsurfer

featuring responsive

Rebound-Rubber

outsole

15

00

Neon SceneSAUCONY Zealot

ISO 2 with Everun

and Isofit

technologies;

361 DEGREES

361-Voltar featuring

Quikfoam cushioning

00

Bright SpotsSKECHERS GOmeb

Speed 3 with inde-

pendent circular

GOimpulse sen-

sors; FILA Matador

360 Energized

featuring Memory

Foam sockliner

17

Glow SticksZOOT Makai

with Race-Lock

lacing system;

PUMA Speed

600 S Ignite with

dual layer Ignite

midsole

19

Burning It Up361 DEGREES

361-Voltar with carbon

rubber heel pods for

durability; KARHU

Fast 6 boasting a full-

length fulcrum

Palette PleasersALTRA Impulse

featuring its

StabiliPod technology

in the outsole; APL

Phanotom boasting

Propelium technol-

ogy

21

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The New Balance 860v7 will retail for $120. 23

Star TrekA bold color palette isn’t the only reason runners might select New Balance’s 860v7 to hit the road for fall ’16. The lightweight sneaker is constructed much like its celebrated predecessor, but features a refined shape and enhanced toe spring for a better ride and fit.

T H E L I S T

S H O EO F T H EW E E K1

2H O K A’S N E XT

ST E PS

3O LY M P I A N E ATS ( A N D S N E A KS )

4R E D - H OT T RA I L

ST Y L ES

5LO N G H O R N S LOV E LU K E ’S

6P I C K FO R M OST

I M P ROV E D

7RY K A R E- U PS

8T RAC K I N G

3 6 1 D EG R E ES

+M O R E

oka One One is credited with usher-ing in the trend for super-plush sneakers that appealed to niche

audiences such as trail runners and ultra-marathoners.

Now executives at the perfor-mance footwear label are workingto grow its market share by investingin elite events, new cushioningtechnology and more top racers.

Since its 2009 inception, Hoka has enjoyed consistent double-digit sales growth and developed a strong presence in retail with maximum-cushioned running shoes. At the end of 2015, it had an account base of 2,072 doors domestically, and this year it aims to increase that number by 10 percent.

But while the brandhas rapidly gained wall space, it’s still a niche player in the category.According toSportsOneSource, Hoka’s market share improvedin 2015, and itwas a Top 10 brand across all segments, but it only accountedfor a low single-digit portionof the market.

To further build momentum for the business, Deckers Brands — Hoka’s parent company since 2012 — moved the operation in October to its headquarters in Goleta, Calif., from Richmond, Calif.

“It’s a move that allows us to better leverage key expertise and

resources that are available here at the global headquarters,” said Wendy Yang, president of Deckers Brands’ Performance Lifestyle Group, which also includes Sanuk and Teva. Yang said the move also allows Hoka to gain insight and use the expertiseof other Deckers companies, includ-ing Ugg.

Yang, who joined Deckers in May 2015 to oversee Teva, replaced former Hoka president Jim Van Dine in an interim role in October. The interim tag was removed in Janu-ary. (Other new faces at the brand include Gretchen Weimer, who came on as VP of product marketing in December, and Lee Cox, who was named director of global marketing

in January.)Since assum-

ing leadership of the brand, Yang has taken steps to bolster Hoka’s presence in tar-get markets such as the triathlon community. The label recently signed on as the offi cial shoe partner of the 2016 Ironman U.S. Series, as well as the 2016 Escape From Alcatraz Triath-lon. In addition,

Yang said that Hoka plans to recruit more athletes as brand ambassadors and to further engage consumers via social media.

Those marketing eff orts could help Hoka overcome certain hesita-tions among consumers.

“For some shoppers, there’s a

Hoka-sponsored athlete Kellyn Taylor fi nished sixth in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

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24 T H E L I S T ATHLETIC

Maximum Potential

Now ensconced inthe Deckers Brands headquarters, Hoka One One is taking steps to strengthenits market position.

By Peter Verry

H

“Sometimes what makes you different and special is what gives you your success. If you start going along with the other guys, what’s the reason people are going to buy you?”Ben Sigle, Manhattan Running Co.

The men’sVanquish 2

A runner hitsthe streets inHoka sneakers

2

Magdalena Boulet

Dave Scott

Kellyn Taylor

Leo Manzano

Sage Canaday

PRO PALSFive elite runners currently sponsored by Hoka One One.

barrier to [Hoka’s shoes] because of the way they look,” said Ben Sigle, co-owner of Manhattan, Kansas-based Manhattan Running Co. He noted that the oversized soles that made Hoka popular have hindered it somewhat from gaining mainstream acceptance: “People don’t want to try them on because of how thick the heel looks.”

Sigle said that at Manhattan Running Co., Hoka accounted for 2 percent of sales in 2015, compared with 32 percent for Brooks — a brand that Yang labeled as one of Hoka’s biggest competitors.

However, Sigle believes the brand shouldn’t stray too far from its defin-ing product characteristics.

“Sometimes what makes you dif-ferent and special is what gives you your success,” he said. “If you start going along with the other guys, what’s the reason people are going to buy you? It could be your downfall if you do too much of the stuff that’s already being done.”

Fortunately for retailers such as Manhattan Running Co., Yang said Hoka has no desire to deviate from the maximum-cushioned movement it spearheaded.

For fall ’16, Hoka will update the Clifton 3, a neutral road shoe with an improved no-sew Speed-Frame constructed upper. And for the trails, the brand is introducing the Speed Instinct, featuring an early stage meta-rocker and Pro2Lite midsole.

“We’re going to continue doing what we do best, and that is making supportive, comfortable, cushioned shoes that are unbelievably light-weight,” said Yang. “We’re going to strive and innovate with various footwear technologies.”

A fall ’16 stylefor women

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With several second-place fi nishes under her belt, Desiree Linden jokingly describes herself as a “professional runner-up.” But after earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team with a second-place performance in February at the Trials in Los Angeles, the 32-year-old runner will look to trade silver for gold at the Summer Games in Rio. The Rochester Hills, Mich., resident told FN she’s been running 70 to 80 miles a week, but this month will boost her mileage to 120 a week. For the lighter training, Linden — a Brooks-sponsored athlete since turning pro in 2005 — said she’s rotating between the Glycerin 13 and Ravenna 7 shoes, switching to the new fall ’16 Hyperion style for her marathon-pace training sessions. “It’s like putting on your Superman outfi t — you go out and fl y in those things,” she said of the Hyperion. Although Linden humbly confessed she’s “great at second place,” the Arizona State University alum hopes to surprise everyone with her upcoming performance at the Games. “The U.S. team is fantastic, and we should have someone fi ghting for a podium spot,” she said. “I would love for that to be me.”

Desiree LindenThe Brooks-sponsored runner dishes on where to eat in her hometown and the shoes she’s training in. By Peter Verry

GOOD TASTE

PHONE APP OBSESSION:

“Twitter. It’s the best news source.”

LAST BOOK I READ:

“ ‘Goodbye to the Nervous Apprehension’ by Michael Heald.”

DATE NIGHT WITH MY HUSBAND:

“Usually on the couch catching up on ‘Scandal.’ ”

FAVORITE RUNNING MOVIE:

“ ‘Without Limits,’ [which is] about Steve Prefontaine.”

ATHLETE I ADMIRE MOST:

“Joan Benoit. She’s an icon in running.”

FAVORITE RACE:

“The Boston Marathon. It’s just a big party.”

T H E L I S T26 Linden works with the Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project, which helps college runners transition to the pros. ATHLETIC

3

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THE P OWER OF CONTENT

TRADE SHOW PLANNER

ISSUE June 20CLOSE DATE June 8

S E T Y O U R

I T I N E R A R Y

R

The season’s hottest color story will fi re up runners to head off -road in

these men’s trail styles.

Seeing Red

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FALL TREND

T H E L I S T28 Newton will also off er a weather-resistant trail shoe this fall, the Boco AT II.ATHLETIC

Mazama by Brookswith propulsion plate

Boco Sol from Newton with anatomical metatarsal stretch panels

Adidas Outdoor Terrex Skychaser with Boost midsole

Inov-8’s TrailClaw 275 with two-piece Powerfl ow midsole

Trail N3 by Pearl Izumiwith seamless upper

Salomon’s Speedcross 4 with Wet Traction Contagrip outsole

4

att Lucas knows the running industry like the back of his hand. He has, after all, been in the shoe business

since he was a middle schooler.“I was in the eighth grade when

my parents started the store, and before that, we had been running the business through our living room,” said Matt Lucas, president of the running specialty store Luke’s Locker in central Texas. “[My three brothers and I] cleaned floors and stocked the back room and got to know the business.”

The Dallas-based specialty chain, which opened in 1970, now counts 10 doors around central Texas and remains one of the region’s major players in athletic and running retail. Starting next year, Lucas said there are more stores in the works

M

This summer, the Luke’s Locker website will debut expanded e-commerce and online shoe-fit sessions.

its oldest vendors. “We started doing business with Nike when it was Blue Ribbon Sports. They’ve been our real grassroots partner since day one,” he said. “We’ve had the same relation-ship with Asics — or Onitsuka Tiger, as it was known in the 1970s. We take a lot of pride in working with our vendors.”

In addition, Brooks has been a partner since 1982, and the brand’s VP of specialty retail accounts, Rick Wilhelm, said that Luke’s Locker has distinguished itself through its diverse approach to running.

“Luke’s Locker is unique because of its commitment to providing ser-vice to runners and to those who run for their varied fitness lifestyles,” said Wilhelm. “The stores and staff host training programs, and they work hard to expose their customers to other training methods such as yoga and Pilates. Luke’s has a heritage of being customer-oriented and deliver-

in current markets, and the broth-ers hope to add future locations elsewhere in Texas.

Luke’s Locker stocks footwear and apparel from major athletic labels including New Balance, Saucony and Hoka One One. But Lucas said Nike and Asics are among some of

Texas retailer Luke’s Locker keeps sales moving with diverse product and an eye on community service. By Margaret Sutherlin

The Right Combination

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Trail Ways Luke’s Locker stays active

in the community by sup-

porting local running trails.

Store president Matt Lucas

said the paths are important

both to city residents and to

his own business, since most

of the stores are built near

run trails for easy access for

customers and events.

“We want access to nice

and safe running areas when

we choose store locations.

We also like them to be

maintained and improved,

too,” Lucas said.

He cited the Katy Trail in

Dallas as one example. The

converted railroad line runs

through the heart of the city

and is used as a jogging,

walking and cycling path.

“The Katy Trail is some-

thing that needs public and

private investment,” said Lu-

cas. “We helped the Friends

of the Katy Trail to put on an

annual road race that sup-

ports the trail, and it’s been

very successful financially.”

Since starting 18 years

ago, the Katy 5K has raised

at least $200,000 annually

for the trail.

Luke’s Locker stores and local runningevents

The Katy Trail

29T H E L I S TATHLETIC

ing excellent service to all types of runners — qualities that make them a great partner for us.”

Lucas observed that over the years, the Texas running community has changed significantly — not only in terms of increased participa-tion, but also in what people expect in a running shoe and a running retail store.

“A big trend now is that so many of my customers are doing multiple activities and have running as a part of their weekly exercises,” he said. “The thing people are asking for is shoes and clothing that are very versatile.”

In response, Luke’s Locker offers numerous training footwear options. Some key performers for the retailer are Under Armour’s Gemini and Fortis sneakers, Nike’s Metcon 2 shoe and the New Balance Minimus.

Lucas said the training category has helped insulate the business from retail slowdowns in the past few years. In fact, the company has been growing thanks to its communi-ty-facing projects and well-rounded product mix.

But while training is an important part of the store’s selection, running remains its bread and butter. Lucas said performance running shoes account for about three-quarters of the chain’s total footwear sales.

And the retailer continues to make local running communities a priority.

“We’re in a climate where you can pretty much be outdoors year-round, and we have a pretty strong athletic population here,” said Lucas, adding that the retailer has helped to get 5K and 10K races started and supported local runs such as annual Thanksgiv-ing turkey trots. “We’ve evolved our brand to help in that capacity, and it’s how we got our name out in the community. It’s also what we think our customers want to be doing.”

6

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Kris HartnerOwner, Naperville Running Co., Naperville, Ill.

“New Balance is fi nally nailing it. The product is the most dialed-in it’s ever been. Their 860v6 is ourNo. 1 shoe — the fi t is good, and our customers have really liked the new design. And the [Fresh Foam] 1080v6 is selling six-fold what the previous 1080 model was doing.”

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Specialty retailers weigh in on the labels making the most progress.

By Peter Verry

BURNING QUESTION

Which running

brand is the most

improved?

Genie BeaverOwner, West Stride, Atlanta

“We’ve been very pleased with New Balance over the past year to 18 months. The [Fresh Foam] Zante and Zante v2 have done really well for us. They’re comfortable and fi t a variety of feet, [and] New Balance has been innovative with the midsoles. In the minds of many, New Balance was that heavy stability shoe. The Zante broke them out of that mold.”

Jason Page Co-owner, Bull City Running Co., Durham, N.C.

“Based on employee confi dence in fi t and feel, New Balance. The recent changes to a broad spectrum of lightweight to standard shoes in neutral and control categories have steadily improved their position here. I would also highlight their investment in the specialty channel. Designating select shoes for specialty distribution refl ects their support for independently owned specialty stores.”

Lance MuzslayCo-owner, Sole Sports Running Zone, Arizona

“Adidas. Their Boost midsole material is the main driver, [and] the Ultra Boost model has been really successful for us. It’s a premium shoe, retails at $180 — a pretty high price point for us — but we haven’t had problems with people paying it because it’s a great value for the shoe. It’s midsole has a unique feel and it’s slightly elastic knit material upper fi ts a lot of people’s feet well.”

AdidasUltra Boost

John ClarkHead of purchasing, Skinny Raven, Anchorage, Alaska

“Saucony is one we’re seeing improvements with, specifi cally to their new midsole technology, Everun. It has been well received in the models that we have, particularly the trail shoe, the Peregrine 6. Trail is really big for us. With that, I would also say Adidas Outdoor trail is coming back in the U.S. in a serious way. We’re seeing some good options with their Boost technology in trail.”

NewBalance

Vazee Pace

T H E L I S T30 Saucony’s Razor Ice fall ’16 trail shoe will feature the Vibram Arctic Grip outsole.ATHLETIC

New BalanceFresh Foam

Zante v2

New Balance860v6

6

SauconyPeregrine 6

31To support its running line, Ryka will launch a print and digital campaign called “Women Run the World” in July. T H E L I S TATHLETIC

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Ryka Running

FIRST LOOK

PRICES: $60-$85

TARGETED TO: Casual and serious female runners

MADE IN: Asia

Ryka is stepping back into the women’s running market this fall after a three-year hiatus. Parent company Caleres re-engineered the collection to address the technological and aesthetic needs of a woman. “We’ve been actively engaged with our consumer to better understand her and her fitness activities,” said Ryka SVP and GM Deb Krivelow, highlighting consider-ations such as the shape of a woman’s foot and the angle of her stride. The four-style collec-tion includes such looks as the Nalu, a run-walk hybrid inspired by the maximal running trend, and the Knock Out, featuring a molded neoprene overlay. — Barbara Schneider-Levy

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ILA

hoe executive Jim Monahan walked away from his decade-plus tenure as Asics America’s VP of footwear in 2014 because he was intrigued by

the opportunity of introducing China-based performance label 361 Degrees to the U.S.

In the athletic brand’s fi rst year in the market, Monahan worked to make inroads with the specialty running channel. And in 2015, he hit the 100-store mark, with retail partners including Runner’s Depot in Florida, Elite Feet in Kansas and Paragon Sporting Goods in New York.

Now Monahan is focused on expanding the label’s distribution. He anticipates that by year’s end, 361 Degrees will have more than 200 retail accounts, with a continued emphasis on specialty running. However, the brand is also looking to boost itse-commerce presence.

“Running specialty is very important for us. It’s an environment where we want our product to fi t,” the executive explained. “[But] online can’t be ignored. You’ve got to fi nd the [right] mix.”

To cater to running stores, the brand is touting performance product such as its

361-Strata and 361-Chaser running shoes, retailing for $150 and $100, respectively. On the training side, the $110 361-BioSpeed will be a key style for fall. All three of those styles feature the brand’s proprietary Quikfoam midsole compound, which is advertised as being both soft and fast — something Monahan believes is atypical in fi tness footwear today.

The executive said the brand exceeded its fi rst-year sales goals in 2015, and it aims to double that number in 2016. But Monahan admitted that the brand faces challenges. “We understand the running consumer is extremely loyal,” he said. “It’s going to be our job to give them an alternative they don’t get today and make sure we’re making a connection with them beyond just product.”

To form a connection with consumers, the 361 Degrees team will have a presence at more than 200 events this year, such as 5Ks, marathons and fi tness expos. The label will also continue to employ its Sheepa mascot — introduced in November to represent Quikfoam’s fast and soft charac-teristics — throughout its digital marketing campaigns and in-store activations.

In its second year in the States, 361 Degreesis pushing for more wall space. By Peter Verry

Fast StartS

361-BioSpeedtrail runner for men

JON EPSTEINThe president of Fila North America on collaborations and the brand’s most successful categories.

By Peter Verry

1What is the strongest area of Fila’s business?The biggest category is running — it’s where we sell the most units. In the U.S., that business is close to 20 million shoes. [And] we have a wide business today [including] our top-end product featuring Energized rubber, positioned in the marketplace as an authentic performance product. It’s also the category where technology is launched fi rst.

2Which category is growing fastest?Our heritage business is exploding right now. We have shoes from the 1970s and ’80s that are starting to re-emerge and resonate with consumers who want that retro, authentic look. Because of that [interest], we’ve opened many new trade channels for the brand. These products carry high price points and they’re narrowly distributed, so we keep them in high demand, and we think we’re at just the beginning of the bell curve.

3Does your aff ordable pricing give you an advantage?In the running category, we’re po-sitioned at a better value than for instance Nike, but we don’t have brand credibility in performance

like we had in the 1970s. Our sell-through has been strong, [though], and that’s partially because of the way we build it and the value it represents next to bigger brands that cost more and give less.

4You’ve launched some interest-ing collaborations recently. Any highlights for you? We’ve partnered with interesting companies like Sweet Chick — a cool restaurant in Brooklyn, N.Y. They connect with a consumer

who understands sport and fashion. We’re launching

product this holiday with Comme des

Garçons [by] Gosha

Rubchinskiy. The distribution will be

about 400 points around the world, including Dover Street Market. You’ll see Fila in the most prestigious places in the world. Some important designers have contacted us and said, “How do we get involved? We see the trend coming and we want to get in on this early.”

5What are your views on new media versus traditional advertising? New media is important because our consumer is getting younger and is defi nitely connected. [But] most cities in the U.S. are not walking cities — you have to drive. Because everybody has moved to new media, we took advantage of pricing for old media [like billboards], which give us an opportunity to show up in a big way. We do connect with consumers through social media, [and] while we don’t boast the biggest position there, one of our major initiatives will be to start advertising on sneaker websites.

5 QUESTIONS

HeritageFila looksfor fall

T H E L I S T32 Fila opened a new 30,000-sq.-ft. showroom in New York last August. ATHLETIC

Aspect 2Energized

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Team BuildingTreksta’s team in North America is growing. The Korea-based brand — offering outdoor and running products with its NestFIT technology — announced last week it has made a pair of hires to its sales force, both with more than 30 years of outdoor industry experience. Noel Lemke of Whatcom Creek

Sales, the former owner of Sports-man Chalet outdoor specialty

shop in Bellingham, Wash., has been hired to cover the brand’s Northwest region. For the Northeast region, the brand has tapped Kirk Miller of

Results Sales & Marketing, a former EVP of Eastern Mountain Sports.

Moving UpBrooks has promoted a pair of longtime team members to strengthen its relationships in the specialty running channel. Mike Billish, a 13-year brand veteran who started as a tech rep, has been named the VP of U.S. sales. Marc

Misiewicz, who started at Brooks 16 years ago also as a tech rep, will become the director of national accounts. “[Mike and Marc] and their teams understand runners, and they under-stand the uniqueness of the channels they work in,” Dan Sheridan, Brooks EVP and GM of North America, said in a statement. “We’re confident their leadership will serve the business and the community well.”

Trail BlazingSwitzerland-based athletic brand On will enter the U.S. trail running market June 17 with a collection of four shoes boasting its patented CloudTec technology. The line consists of the Cloudventure and the Cloudventure Midtop trail runners, retailing for $150 and $160, respectively, as well as two waterproof silhouettes: the Cloudventure Shield ($170)

and the Cloudventure Midtop Shield ($180). The shoes feature On’s flexible,

three-dimensional Speedboard plate for a powerful takeoff

and rubber toe caps for frontal impact protection.

BUZZ

Athletic News

Bolt ApprovedThe fastest man in the world — and the face of Puma running — is now also the face of a new insole company. Usain Bolt, a six-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time IAFF World Champion, has signed on as an ambassador for the Enertor sport insole, designed to help improve an athlete’s performance and reduce injury. The insole, which is due to launch in the U.S. this summer, is constructed using a patented material from D3O that cushions the foot when a runner is moving slowly but locks together on impact to absorb and disperse energy. According to Enertor, the insole can be used for various activities, such as running, hiking, basketball, soccer and football.

TrekstaMega Wave

Usain Bolt

CloudventureMidtop

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Footwear News 2016 Editorial Calendar

ISSUE DATE SPACE CLOSE EDITORIAL FEATURE

MAY

5/30 5/18 FFANY Pre-Show, Women In Power Distribution: FFANY, FN Summit

JUNE

6/6 5/25 Toms Milestone, FN Summit, FFANY Show Bonus Distribution: FFANY, FN Summit

6/13 6/1 FN Summit Coverage, FFANY Wrap-Up

6/20 6/8 Trade Show PLANNER, International Trade Show Guide: 2nd Half 2016

6/27 6/15 Athletic Bonus Distribution: Shoe Market of Americas, Agenda Show

JULY

7/11 6/29 Men’s, Men’s Runway, Paris Couture Bonus Distribution: Project Sole NYC

7/18 7/6 Outdoor Retailer Show, Olympics, Materials & Components Bonus Distribution: FDRA Summit (NYC), Outdoor Retailer

7/25 7/13 Keds Milestone, FFANY Pre-Show Bonus Distribution: FFANY

AUGUST

8/1 7/20 FFANY Show Bonus Distribution: FFANY

FN IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF FAIRCHILD PUBLISHING, LLC. COPYRIGHT ©2016 FAIRCHILD PUBLISHING, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. VOLUME 72, NO. 17. May 16, 2016. FN (ISSN 0162-914X) is published weekly (except for the first week in July, second week in December, third week in January and April, fourth week in May, September and December, fifth week in February, August and October) by Fairchild Publishing, LLC, which is a division of Penske Business Media, LLC. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 475 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10017. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing offices. Canada Post: return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 503, RPO West Beaver Cre, Rich-Hill, ON L4B 4R6. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO FOOTWEAR NEWS, P.O. Box 6357, Harlan, IA, 51593. FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADDRESS CHANGES, ADJUSTMENTS, OR BACK ISSUE INQUIRIES: Please write to FOOTWEAR NEWS, P.O. Box 6357, Harlan, IA, 51593, call 866-963-7335, or e-mail customer service at footwearnews@cdsfulfillment.com. Please include both new and old addresses as printed on most recent label. For New York Hand Delivery Service address changes or inquiries, please contact Mitchell’s NY at 1-800-662-2275, option 7. One-year subscription price: U.S. $72, Canadian $149, foreign $295. Single-copy cost $10. Subscribers: If the Post Office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. If during your subscription term or up to one year after the magazine becomes undeliver-able, you are ever dissatisfied with your subscription, let us know. You will receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. First copy of a new subscription will be mailed within four weeks after receipt of order. We reserve the right to change the number of issues contained in a sub-scription term and/or the way the product is delivered. Address all editorial, business, and production correspondence to FOOTWEAR NEWS, 475 5th Ave, 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10017. For permissions and editorial requests, e-mail licensing@pmc.com. Visit us online at www.footwearnews.com. To subscribe to other Fairchild Publishing, LLC magazines on the World Wide Web, visit www.wwd.com/subscriptions. FOOTWEAR NEWS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETURN OR LOSS OF, OR FOR DAMAGE OR ANY OTHER INJURY TO, UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS, UNSOLICITE ART WORK (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND TRANSPARENCIES), OR ANY OTHER UNSOLICITED MATERIALS. THOSE SUBMITTING MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, ART WORK, OR OTHER MATERIALS FOR CONSIDERATION SHOULD NOT SEND ORIGINALS, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TO DO SO BY FOOTWEAR NEWS IN WRITING. MANUSCRIPTS , PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER MATERIALS SUBMITTED MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.

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PickDolled Up

Anna Kendrick hit the Cannes Film Festival in France last week to promote her upcoming DreamWorks animated movie, “Trolls.” The actress looked colorful in Soebedar Dona pumps in red leather. She completed the outfit with a Marc Jacobs mini dress for the film’s photo call surrounded by models clad in troll-inspired wigs.

THE RIDE 9

OUT OF THE LAB AND READY TO RUN.

WITHCONTINUOUS CUSHIONING

Breakthrough Cushioning

BreakthroughConstruction

83% Energy Return*

See the film at saucony.com/ride

* Results reflect EVERUN material compared to traditional EVA. For comparative, testing and product information please visit saucony.com/EVERUN