Footwear Insight

24 • Footwear Insight ~ January/February 2018 footwearinsight.com ing director for the brand. Both the Trans-Seasonal Solstice, which is a moto-inspired low bootie, and the Grammercy, a vintage lace-entry bootie, feature 100 percent wool uppers and removable 100 percent pure wool covered contoured EVA footbeds. Both are treated with NeverWet, a DWR coating by Rust- Oleum. "Knowing the unpredictability of weather patterns, these are great for year-round wear," according to the exec. Patrick Armitage, director of product for men's and kids' at Ugg, explains that "the trend is in a luxurious and comfortable space now," including after-sport slides and easy slip-on/off athletic offerings. Although both the Ascot and Scuff have been in the brand's assortment for years, "there is recently a younger, cooler kid wearing these brand styles. It's exciting to see and be a part of," he says. Wool and sheepskin combine to be a cornerstone for Ugg's offerings, including the Neumel, which Armitage refers to as "a staple of street style for its chukka silhouette and soft wool lining." It features HyperWool, which replaces cotton in the brand's popular HyperWeave knit with thermostatic wool. In the athletic space, Hoka One One recently updated its Hupana running sneaker with a wool upper for Fall 2018, while Merrell's Trail Glove 4 Knit Wool style features a wooly 3D knit upper for a sock- like fit. And Topo Athletic takes wool into both the lifestyle and athletic space with a breathable wool upper in its new Rekovr shoe. O House Shoes for The Outdoors "We've heard from several of our customers that they find themselves in the grocery store, having forgotten to take their slippers off prior to leaving the house, because they were just so comfortable," says Matt Tracy, president of Giesswein USA. Arch supporting footbeds in the brand's house and lodge shoes, paired with a waterproof rubber outsole and modern design in its Innsbruck and Camden styles, allow them to be suit- able for the outside. Some consumers follow what Europeans have been doing for decades to maintain house cleanliness (and keep away germs), "they buy a second pair – ones as an outdoor pair and one as a houseshoe exclusively," he says. Glerups' Ryan calls his offering "the indoor shoe for every day, everywhere," as customers are known to wear the slippers both indoors and on city streets. Timberland Jayne Warm Gaiter Boot Ugg Ascot . Giesswein Ammern Birkenstock Arizona Bearpaw Solstice Dr. Scholl's Elison Merrell Trail Glove 4 Knit Wool Dr. Scholl's Conquer Dr. Scholl's Gia Slide Giesswein Clara Timberland Britton Hill with NXTWool Glerups Open Heel Glerups Low Boot Cat Footwear Ceil MATERIALS

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