Footwear Insight

24 • Footwear Insight ~ July/August 2022 footwearinsight.com Are you seeing the "dressed up comfort" trend and how are you responding? "We are absolutely seeing the trend of dressing up but with a modern twist of casualness. For us it's essential to incorporate a non-compromised comfort and laid-back attitude, while having the ability to style up. We are introducing several new programs for spring that are versatile and can easily be dressed up or down, including the Janelle and Malena." – Kelsey Jayne, footwear design director, Dansko "e way consumers think about their office attire has changed. Working from home created a shi to comfort casual, which we continue to see as people return to the office. is shi has opened the clog category as a top choice for dressed up comfort. Our KLOGS design team has layered on new materials and colors to our fan-favorite casuals that work perfectly in this new climate." – Matt Dieckhaus, VP of sales and marketing, Latitudes "We have some new patterns coming out with ornamentation on shoes. In the past we have used it on our sandals, and that has always sold well for us, as our designers know how to source ornaments that are quality and also stand the test of time. Consumers are looking for a cross between dress and comfort; casual and dressy; and multi-purpose with ease. We have a lot of slip-ons without working buckles coming into fall. We are also seeing a resurgence in heels." – Ayelet Lax Levy, president, Naot USA "ere's no doubt that over the past year we've seen a spike in dress and what we'd call 'polished casual' shoes. We've seen demand for Rockport's 'event-ready' category of shoes pick-up, and the past three months show an 18% increase compared to last year. Professionals headed back to the office, even in a hybrid model, are investing in new work attire and are excited to do so. Recent Rockport data shows nearly half (48%) of professionals are very or somewhat excited to dress for the office again." – Lisa Laich, chief marketing officer, Rockport "We are seeing this for both men and women. Customers are looking for a fashion comfort causal shoe that can easily transition into a dressier shoe if, and when, needed. We accomplish this by using mixed materials, hardware, and neutral colors." – Rich Rask, president, Rieker Shoe Corp. "Hälsa is starting to see a change in attitude for versatile fall styles with fashion/comfort so that the consumer can go from the office to going out. Bold, fresh looks are what Hälsa is offering; along with a fully removeable insole so it's like a vacation on their feet." – Tony Adams, VP of sales, Hälsa "During the 2020 and 2021 seasons there was a major pendulum shi to comfy casual, easy-on, easy-off disposable footwear. We see this currently swinging back to something more in the middle. Due to more social and group settings to celebrate weddings, graduations and the like, dress shoes are in high demand. is category will return to being about 25%-30% of our total business, where it dipped aer the pandemic to almost zero. As some people go back into the office, this category will continue to grow, although now in a more balanced way." – Frank Cammarata, founder, e Enjoiya Group "The past two years have emphasized a trend that was already ongoing: comfort has become an essential element of the modern living. Today 95% of the world's population wear rubber-soled shoes, for leisure and also for business or formal occasions. anks to our special patented technologies and our Italian DNA, we offer people stylish and extremely comfortable shoes, be these sneakers or more formal styles." – Mario Moretti Polegato, founder, Geox "We couldn't agree more! e consumer is tired of wearing her sneakers and slippers; she's ready to step back into her favorite heels. We are responding with fresh silhouettes worth feminine details, bling, rich materials like velvet, and bringing back dress boots in a big way for fall." – Danielle Kalish, senior designer, LifeStride "Finding the sweet spot between dress and comfort has been Dressed Up COMFORT It's true – consumers have decided that now is the time to refresh their wardrobes and purchase new shoes.

• Cover