Footwear Insight

BOOT BOOK 32 • Footwear Insight ~ July/August 2022 footwearinsight.com "Although not necessarily new innovations we do continue to see the rise in demand for effortless work footwear. Consumers have embraced the ease of a Chelsea boot, the ability to slip it on and off quickly while offering the comfort of a sneaker is very appealing to today's workers. Kodiak's existing Chelsea boot offerings span both genders and are available in both composite toe as well as so-toe." — Karen McSorley, Kodiak Brand Manager "Over the last several years, as new- younger employees have joined the workforce the trend has been towards 'Athletic Safety Shoes.' e consumer has demanded athletic comfort and athletic styling like they grew up wearing. Technologies like our dual density IMPULSE.FOAM midsoles or our EFFECT.FOAM midsoles that is similar to a running shoe feel. Even the traditional leather work boots are expected to have athletic features and athletic flare. e PUMA SAFETY products are right on trend, and it shows as retailer sell-through has been fantastic." — John Spotts, Director of Sales, Puma Safety Shoes North America "There is so much innovation happening in the boot category. At Twisted X, we're seeing across the board that consumers want and expect comfort, especially in work wear, to keep up with their rigorous lifestyles. We're also seeing consumers specifically ask for sustainable features in the products they purchase more than ever. Outdoor consumers, in particular, have been very appreciative of the advances we've made in sustainability because these materials do not compromise the integrity of the shoe. In fact, we've seen that use of sustainable materials actually leads to better quality footwear. It's a win-win." — Lee Lemon, VP of Sales, Twisted X "For our Wolverine work boots, it's all about comfort. Our consumers wear their boots for hours on end in different environments and conditions, so comfort is oen the Outdoor and Work Boots that Work Hard, Play Hard, Look Good… and Get the Job Done. By Cara Griffin Let's Talk About Innovation Performance. Sustainability. Athletic. Feature-Rich. Innovative Comfort. ese are some of the buzzwords that jump off the page when looking at the latest work and outdoor boot offerings. Where is innovation happening right now in the boot category? And what types of technology and innovation are consumers demanding right now from their boots? Brand execs offer up some insight here as we highlight standout styles for Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. Work & Play

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