sportstyle

Lightweight Tech & Modern Looks Define Next Season's Boot Assortment. By Suzanne Blecher EVERYDAY ADVENTURES Brand execs weigh in on the key outdoor and work boot trends to watch for in 2021. "Athletic inspired. Work brands are realizing there is a large portion of consumers that have never worn a boot and look at them as being heavy and uncomfortable. Hytest is focused on incorporating materials and technologies from the athletic brands to bring performance, comfort and lighter weight styles to traditional work boots without sacrificing durability." Matt Gould, Product Development Manager, Hytest "One trend that is set to impact the outdoor boot category substantially in 2021 is the need for cooling technology. Additionally, as the industrial work and outdoor footwear category grows, we are seeing a demand for different styles of workwear — similar to the lifestyle category. For customers, function and safety come first, but a close second is style. We've seen the division between work and life grow increasingly blurred, and consumers now expect pairs that can be worn on and off the job site." Soyala Breen, Senior Director, Footwear Merchandising, Work, Ariat "Versatility in footwear continues to be extremely important to consumers. More shoes for the outdoors are being purchased than ever before, as consumers continue to spend a significant time there. Footwear that combines functionality and style is integral to be able to wear for multiple activities. We also continue to see sales of soft toe boots grow, as consumers can wear them for their work needs, but also doing projects around the house and casual wear." Lauren Poole, Brand Marketing Director, Wolverine Wolverine Torrent Hytest Foot Rests 2.0 Charge 6" Ariat Women's Casey 6" MetGuard Composite Toe Work Boot 36 • sportstyle • March 2021 sportstylemag.com FOOTWEAR

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