Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/839488
CERTAINTY *ULY s /UTDOOR )NSIGHT s outdoorinsightmag.com M erging performance and great looks is the product designer's holy grail — and Timberland's Gregg Duffy says the stakes are higher than ever, across the board. "When you look at Apple and Tesla, functionality is absolutely paramount, it's as high as it can be, but the look is clean, ergonomic and beautiful," the senior director of performance footwear, says. Style and technology, he says, are "merging like they never have before. Now we have the science to match up to the art." Timberland's new FlyRoam collection is the brand's best expression of that trend, Duffy says. The styles, which include oxford, mid-cut boot and chukka looks, feature the brand's Aerocore technology, an athleti- cally inspired, super-high rebound outsole-midsole material. The lightweight cushioning gives the shoes and boots a springy, comfortable and durable ride, but pairs with more designed, crafted uppers that take their cues from Timberland's leather boot heritage. "We see the trend heading back to consumer-facing features and benefits and performance," as opposed to over-the-top visible technology, Duffy says. "Style has to come first: Nobody wants an ugly shoe. But when you look at the foundation, it needs to be a little different, something tangible other than style. We want to make it beautiful but to stick our stake in, and for Timberland that has always been our performance." O FIVE FOOTWEAR TRENDS TO WATCH By Jennifer Ernst Beaudry / Is uncertainty the new normal? Retailers and vendors heading into next month's Outdoor Retailer trade show don't know how this summer will shake out, what weather to expect in 2018 and even where the show will be held and how it will look in the post-Salt Lake City, post-SIA Snow Show merger future. One thing that is sure — industry trends are strong and several key stories will dominate the footwear piece. Outdoor Insight surveyed the brand landscape to highlight the trends that brands are banking on for Spring '18 — here, the trends to watch at OR Summer Market. 1. SUBSTANCE AND STYLE