Footwear News back issues from January 2008:
HOUSE OF MELLON.(appointment of Joshua Schulman at Jimmy Choo)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... In an FN exclusive, Tamara Mellon talks openly about Jimmy Choo's big plans for 2008, the arrival of new CEO Joshua ...
GCO/FINL FIASCO ONGOING; DESPITE A RECENT FAVORABLE RULING FOR GENESCO, FOCUS OF ITS FINISH LINE MERGER SHIFTS TO SOLVENCY CLAIMS.(Genesco Inc.)(Finish Line Inc.)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK - Genesco Inc. may have won the first round of lawsuits, but it's far from certain that its deal with Finish Line Inc. will come to fruition. After a Nashville, Tenn., judge ruled on Dec. 27, 2007, that Finish Line is in breach of its ...
ON DEADLINE.(Finish Line Inc. report on sales)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Finish Line Q3 Hurt by Weak Sales, Merger Costs Finish Line Inc. reported last Thursday after the market closed a wider third-quarter net loss of $16 million, or 34 cents a diluted share, which compared with a loss of $3 million, or 6 cents, in the prior-year period. The ...
HOLIDAY SALES UNEVEN FOR RETAILERS.
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Nicole Urbanowicz NEW YORK - Ugg once again proved to be a big bright spot this holiday season, while sales across the rest of the footwear sector were mixed. Without Ugg, "it would have been very challenging," said Tip Top Shoes owner Danny Wasserman in ...
GOOD TIMES CLICK FOR E-TAILERS.(footwear stores uses online services for marketing)(Brief article)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Lindsay E. Sammon NEW YORK - While some e-tailers saw sales grow at slower rates this season, a number of footwear sites reported robust results. "We had a great Christmas season. It was a little slow the week before, but the week of Christmas was great," said ...
WSA BEGINS NEW CHAPTER WITH ENK.(ENK International manages trade show WSA of footwear industry)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: WAYNE NIEMI LOS ANGELES - Footwear vendors were upbeat about WSA's recent sale to ENK International - provided that the new partnership helps strengthen the show. "We've got to find a way to make these shows stronger, not weaker, so anything that makes WSA ...
DATTA TAKES REINS AT NEW FOOTWEAR FIRM.(appointment of Killick Datta at Titan Apparel)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Wayne Niemi LOS ANGELES - Killick Datta is looking to make a comeback. After the assets of his former company, Global Brand Marketing Inc., were purchased by Titan Global Holdings in late December, Datta has assumed the role of president and CEO of Titan's ...
EMPIRE BUILDERS; IN A FOOTWEAR NEWS EXCLUSIVE, JIMMY CHOO PRESIDENT TAMARA MELLON AND CEO JOSHUA SCHULMAN SPEAK OUT ON THE BRAND'S BLOCKBUSTER GROWTH, THE POWER OF CELEBRITY AND THEIR BOLD PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.(Interview)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Katie Abel LONDON - On a bright, brisk afternoon in mid-December, Tamara Mellon arrives at Jimmy Choo's stylish headquarters in Kensington smiling and looking relaxed. She's just back from Art Basel in Miami, where she hosted one of the festival's most-talked-about ...
SHOEMALL.COM PREPS FOR GROWTH.
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Lindsay E. Sammon NEW YORK - ShoeMall.com is looking to become a more competitive online footwear destination. "The online footwear industry is booming," said Jodi Bresina, Internet director at ShoeMall.com. "It's currently a $3 billion [industry], and it ...
CHINA LAW COULD RAISE LABOR COSTS.
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Wayne Niemi LOS ANGELES - Already plagued by increasing labor costs, footwear firms could see further pricing pressures in 2008 with the introduction of a new Chinese labor law. The 98-article law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, features a slate of new ...
FALL COLORS.(Nanette Lepore, Ruthie Davis and Devi Kroell receives awards)
Jan 07, 2008 ... Designers' fall '08 collections take shape in FN's exclusive sketch gallery, revealing some of the season's pumped-up takes on platforms, peep-toe booties and luxurious embellishments such as skins, fur, feathers and jewels. 1. NANETTE LEPORE 2. REN CAOVILLA 3. SAM ...
ROCK CULTURE; SHOES WITH AN ATTITUDE FIND A HOME OFF THE BEATEN TRAIL IN VENICE, CALIF.
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Wayne Niemi Name: Dewey Address: 1108 Abbot Kinney, Venice, Calif. Square footage: 600 Established: September 2006 Owners: Maya Lieberman and Gretchen Patch Footwear brands: Casadei, Cynthia Vincent, ...
CORSET AGE.
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Regina Smith Popp Designers opted for corset-style lacing to give spring's shoe booties classic Victorian charm ....
SHOP TALK: LACROIX'S NY PAD...FLUEVOG OPENS NEW FLAGSHIP...MACY'S TO SHUTTER NINE DOORS.(Christian Lacroix S.A., Macy's Atlanta Inc.)
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Natalie Zmuda Lacroix's NY Pad Christian Lacroix opened its first boutique in New York at 36 East 57th St. late last month. The designer operates one other shop in the U.S. at Las Vegas' The Forum Shops at Caesars. "I will never forget how supportive the ...
TAKING STOCK: THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE SHOE BIZ.
Jan 07, 2008 ... Byline: Jeanine Poggi STOCKS IN THE NEW YEAR: The stock market plunged during the first day of trading in 2008, affected, in part, by surging oil prices that reached over $100 a barrel for the first time ever and were negatively impacted by violence in Nigeria. The Dow Jones ...
5 PICKS: KICK IT LIKE KAK...OH, RATS...HARDWARE HAPPY...WORKOUT WONDER...
Jan 07, 2008; ... Byline: Lindsay E. Sammon Kick It Like Kaka' This month, Adidas launched the buzzworthy adiPure soccer cleat, an upgrade of the top-selling Copa boot. Single-name soccer star Kak's signature and sporty advice is printed on the box the shoes come in, so you can get ...
FRESH BREAD.
Jan 14, 2008 ... Hot skate and skate-inspired looks from the hippest brands compete for the spotlight at this week's Bread and Butter show in Barcelona. Caption(s): On The ...
SPAIN AIMS FOR HIGH-END NICHE IN TOUGH TIMES.
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: Nicole Urbanowicz NEW YORK - Spanish footwear producers are sharpening their focus on high-end product to stay afloat in a difficult environment. It's no secret that the past few years have been challenging for the market - China has captured the vast majority ...
INSIDER: MISCHA'S MESS...GLOBE-AL DISASTER?
Jan 14, 2008; ... MISCHA'S MESS Poor Mischa Barton. The beleaguered actress may be trying to move on with her life - she'll be at Sundance later this month for the premiere of her film, "The Assassination of a High School President" - but that DUI arrest over the holidays continues to make ...
BOARD GAMES.
Jan 14, 2008 ... On the street or at the skatepark, the best looks for spring '08 use bold hits of neon shades, fresh patterns and slim silhouettes to make a statement. Caption(s): From left: Turquoise, green and gray shoe by ADIDAS; black-and-turquoise style by VANS. Hat and skateboard from ...
SPANISH STEPS; BARCELONA-BASED HERMENEGILDO MUXART ENSURES THAT HIS SHOPS ARE AS WELL DESIGNED AS HIS SHOES.
Jan 14, 2008; ... Byline: Tara Stevens Name: Muxart Address: Rambla Catalunya 47, Barcelona (flagship) Square footage: 820 Established: 1989 Owner/designer: Hermenegildo Muxart Footwear brands: Muxart Hermenegildo Muxart, born ...
ANKLE SUPPORT.
Jan 14, 2008 ... Byline: Regina Smith Popp Spanish designers are upping the ante by adding attention-getting ankle straps to ...
TAKING STOCK:THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE SHOE BIZ.
Jan 14, 2008 ... Byline: NIcole Urbanowicz, Jennifer Ernst CROCS DECLINE: Crocs Inc. is feeling the heat - again. The company's stock plunged last week after concerns resurfaced regarding the brand's sales. An article in the Rocky Mountain News quoted Crocs as saying it had a "slow cycle of ...
PLANET ADIDAS.(Brief article)
Jan 21, 2008 ... Herbert Hainer and his team are on a serious mission to take the Adidas Group to the top of the athletic world. They are charging ahead with plans for a major global ...
ISAAC'S JUGGLING ACT; AS HE BEGINS HIS NEW GIG AT LIZ CLAIBORNE, ISAAC MIZRAHI IS MOVING AHEAD WITH BIG PLANS FOR FOOTWEAR.(Interview)
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Nicole Urbanowicz NEW YORK - Isaac Mizrahi might be moving his cheap-chic footwear line out of Target, but he's going full speed ahead on his namesake shoe collections. Following the designer's surprise appointment as the creative director at Liz Claiborne ...
CLASSIC LOOKS RETURN TO PITTI UOMO.(Brief article)
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Luisa Zargani FLORENCE - Classic styles with a sportswear twist stood out at menswear show Pitti Uomo, which ran here Jan. 9-12 and showcased collections for fall/winter '08. "From the board room to the slopes," is how Antonio Gallo, head of the Pirelli PZero ...
ON DEADLINE.
Jan 21, 2008 ... Byline: Andrew Roberts Claudia Ciuti Inks Deal For Badgley Mischka Couture Line At press time last Thursday, Iconix Brand Group, owner of the Badgley Mischka line, and Claudia Ciuti confirmed they had struck an agreement for the launch of Badgley Mischka Couture ...
INSIDER: ON OPRAH'S COUCH...RIPA LOVES RYKA...TE CASAN, TAKE TWO! ...L.A. HEARTS CHOO...INSIDER HEARS....SEEN.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: With contributions from Lindsay E. Sammon and Wayne Niemi ON OPRAH'S COUCH The shoestruck were buzzing last week: Media queen Oprah was planning to interview red-sole king Christian Louboutin, but when the show aired last Tuesday, viewers got a little ...
KELSEY, MULBERRY TEAM UP FOR LINE.(and)(Brief article)
Jan 21, 2008 ... Byline: Elisa Anniss LONDON - Up-and-coming designer Jonathan Kelsey is expanding his reach via a new partnership with British fashion player Mulberry. Kelsey is designing the firm's first collection of shoes, debuting for fall '08. The line will be ...
STAFF PROMOTIONS.(Footwear News promoted Lindsay E. Sammon as assistant news editor)(Brief article)
Jan 21, 2008 ... Lindsay E. Sammon has been promoted to assistant news editor from editorial assistant. Sammon, who joined Footwear News in February 2007, graduated ...
CORRECTIONS.(Correction notice)
Jan 21, 2008 ... - In a page 2 story in the Jan. 14 issue, Peggy Kim Meill was quoted as saying that Soles4Souls' $1 million donation to Two Ten Footwear Foundation is the largest single relief endowment received in the past 70 years. The donation, however, ...
FACES.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Meredith Derby and Nicole Urbanowicz The state of the luxury market was on the minds of executives last Monday during Financo Inc.'s annual merchandising seminar and dinner at Manhattan's Harmonie Club. The event drew an impressive list of big-name retailers and fashion ...
THE NEW FACE OF ADIDAS.(Brief article)
Jan 21, 2008 ... Make no mistake, Adidas AG wants to rule the athletic world in 2008. Armed with an aggressive expansion agenda and a powerful brand roster, the company is working overtime to capture a bigger piece of the global business - and become a more formidable competitor to Nike. ...
GOING FOR GOLD; HERBERT HAINER HAS ALREADY MADE THE ADIDAS GROUP A GLOBAL FORCE. NOW HE WANTS TO MAKE BIG WAVES IN THE EMERGING MARKETS, REENERGIZE REEBOK AND CHALLENGE NIKE FOR GLOBAL DOMINANCE.(Interview)
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Katie Abel HERZOGENAURACH, Germany - It's the day before the Adidas Group's annual year-end bash and the company's sprawling headquarters is buzzing with activity. In the futuristic Adidas brand center, a small group of employees check out new product. Across ...
AMERICAN EXPRESS.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Jennifer Ernst PORTLAND, Ore. - Adidas is determined to be No.1 in the U.S. athletic market, and its U.S. president wants to take it there - possibly as soon as 2010. In one of his first interviews since assuming the top spot at Adidas' U.S. operations last ...
ADIDAS' GLOBAL AGENDA.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Katie Abel HERZOGENAURACH, Germany - Erich Stamminger lives and breathes Adidas. A company veteran, Stamminger took the reins of the Adidas brand two years ago after a stint as CEO of Adidas America - and he hasn't slowed down since. Under his watch, Adidas has seen ...
REEBOK'S TURNAROUND MAN.(Company overview)
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Jennifer Ernst CANTON, Mass. - "If I had my druthers, I'd be in the center of the building," said Paul Harrington, Reebok's president and CEO, while standing in his capacious office, once the domain of the company's legendary founder, Paul Fireman. Located up and over ...
ROCKPORT GEARS UP FOR INTERNATIONAL PUSH.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Nicole Urbanowicz NEW YORK - With a former Adidas AG executive and German-native now at its helm, Canton, Mass.-based Rockport has set its sights on going global. Michael Rupp, recently appointed CEO and president of the company, is working to expand ...
TRAIL BLAZERS.
Jan 21, 2008 ... Style goes off-road for fall '08, with eye-catching brights giving performance trail shoes extra punch. On her: SAUCONY's ProGrid Xodus trail runners. Jacket by Stella McCartney for Adidas, leggings by American Apparel. On him: SAUCONY's Pro Grid Xodus style. Pullover ...
HEADING NORTH; THE DESIGN TEAM BEHIND ROCKETFISH IS TAKING THE XTERRA BRAND INTO THE OUTDOOR MARKET.
Jan 21, 2008 ... Byline: Jennifer Ernst In 2004, T.J. Gray zipped up a wetsuit and changed his life. The designer - who, along with Ashley Brown, is one-half of athletic design firm Rocketfish - was competing in a triathlon and wearing a wetsuit branded with the logo of the outdoor ...
INSIDE EDITION.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Jennifer Ernst Outdoor brands are warming things up for fall by adding plush fleece, wool and ...
OUTDOOR BUZZ: END GAME...WALK THE LINE...GOING HI-TEC...BLURRING THE LINES.
Jan 21, 2008 ... End Game Trail runners with an eco-conscience have a new brand to consider. ENDOutdoor, a line of high-performance mountain trail running shoes, will launch at this week's Outdoor Retailer show with seven fall '08 styles for men and women (at left). The West Linn, Ore.-based ...
SUPPORTING ROLE; FOOT PETALS FOUNDER TINA ALDATZ-NORRIS HOPES TO TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF LOOKING PRETTY.(Interview)
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Barbara Schneider-Levy Tina Aldatz-Norris is the first to admit she's never bought a pair of comfort shoes. But that doesn't mean the founder of Foot Petals, whose collection of cushions and insoles have become staples for celebs such as Marcia Cross and Justine Bateman, ...
FEBRUARY WSA 2008 PREVIEW.
Jan 21, 2008 ... A guide to what's new in Vegas and ...
RETAILERS SKITTISH ON FALL BUYS; FACED WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ECONOMY, FOOTWEAR BUYERS BRACE FOR WHAT COULD BE A DIFFICULT FALL SEASON.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Nola Sarkisian-Miller For most footwear retailers, the other shoe hasn't dropped - yet. As the country's economic outlook grows increasingly cautious, with retailers reporting less-than-brisk holiday sales, there's a feeling among industry buyers that sales ...
THE SHOW GOES ON; ON THE HEELS OF ITS ACQUISITION BY ENK PRODUCTIONS, WSA SHOW ORGANIZERS PREPARE TO DEBUT THE MATERIALS SHOW, NEW BUYER FEATURES AND AN EXPANDED ARRAY OF EXHIBITORS DURING THE FEBRUARY INSTALLMENT OF THE TWICE-YEARLY EVENT.
Jan 21, 2008 ... Byline: Waayen Niemi LOS ANGELES - The new year has brought new ownership for the WSA Show, and the February installment of the biannual event kicks off a number of new initiatives. The upcoming show will be the first since ENK Productions announced earlier this ...
THE WEEK'S CALENDAR.(Calendar)
Jan 21, 2008 ... Byline: Kristen Carr Tuesday, Feb. 19 Materials at WSA exhibits open at 9 a.m. Seminar: Examining Material Innovation from Fashion, Technology & Performance Speaker: Paolo Marenghi Bellini Ballroom 2101 2 p.m ....
IT'S SHOWTIME; FROM MUSIC TO COMEDY TO BROADWAY, VEGAS HAS ENOUGH SHOWS - BOTH OLD AND NEW - TO KEEP EVEN THE MOST SEASONED SHOW GOERS ENTERTAINED. HERE IS FN'S GUIDE TO THE MUST-SEE PERFORMANCES UP AND DOWN THE STRIP.
Jan 21, 2008 ... Byline: Jennifer Carofano New and Noteworthy Goodbye, Cline. Hello, Bette! Be one of the first to catch Bette Midler in her Vegas-themed show, "The Showgirl Must Go On," on view Feb. 22-23 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Tickets: $110-$265. Call: 877.723.8836 ....
FIRMS REMAIN WARY AT EXPO RIVA SCHUH.(Brief article)
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Kerry Olsen RIVA DEL GARDA, Italy - A cautious mood prevailed at last week's Expo Riva Schuh show, held here from Jan. 12-15, as vendors and retailers expressed concern over China's dominance and a weakened retail environment. "Buyers continue to be ...
4 PICKS: BOTTLE ROCKET...RENAISSANCE REVISITED...TREAD LIGHTLY...BLOG ON, LADIES.
Jan 21, 2008; ... Byline: Jennifer Ernst, Nicole Urbanowicz, Lindsay E. Sammon Bottle Rocket Put down that water bottle. Keds is taking a shoe stand and airing its concerns about the consumption of plastic bottles via a women's-only shoe style designed in conjunction with Boston-based ...
ROCK & SOLE.
Jan 28, 2008 ... Whether they're tuned in to punk, metal or classic, designers are staging a glam rock revival for fall. Here, GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI's ...
FFANY UNVEILS AUGUST PLANS.(Fashion Footwear Association of New York)
Jan 28, 2008; ... Byline: Katie Abel NEW YORK - One week before the February FFANY show kicks off, the organization is already gearing up for a new August installment. At press time, 12 companies comprising 35 brands - including Nine West, Camuto Group and Schwartz & Benjamin - had ...
BARNEYS GOES GLAM WITH NEW VEGAS UNIT.
Jan 28, 2008 ... Byline: Nicole Urbanowicz NEW YORK - Barneys New York has placed its bets on Vegas for the first time, and its glitzy shoe salon is off to a strong start. "The shoe department is endless - it's fabulous," said Barneys New York Creative Director Simon Doonan. "It's ...
ON DEADLINE.(Brief article)
Jan 28, 2008; ... Byline: Jennifer Ernst OR Gets Under Way With More Shoes, Green Focus A ramped-up footwear presence, increasing overlap between the athletic and outdoor worlds and a continuing emphasis on green fabrics and materials were the major themes as Outdoor Retailer kicked ...
KEY BILLS COULD RESHAPE FOOTWEAR BIZ; INDUSTRY PLAYERS ARE WATCHING CONGRESS' EVERY MOVE WITH THE AFFORDABLE FOOTWEAR ACT, CHINA BILL AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS ON THE DOCKET.
Jan 28, 2008; ... Byline: Kristi Ellis WASHINGTON - Amid volatile election-year politics and an economic downturn, Congress has reconvened with an agenda that has significant relevance for the footwear industry. Legislators are considering a number of major issues, from an economic ...
STAFF PROMOTIONS.
Jan 28, 2008 ... Sandi Mines has been promoted to associate publisher from ...
B&B MOMENTUM CONTINUES.(Bread & Butter trade show of footware)
Jan 28, 2008 ... Byline: Elisa Anniss BARCELONA, Spain - The specter of an impending recession did little to shake continued enthusiasm for Bread & Butter, held in Barcelona from Jan. 16-19. "It was fabulous, better than ever before," said the exhibition's organizer, Karl-Heinz ...
NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief article)
Jan 28, 2008 ... Mellon Files $10 Million Lawsuit Against Mother Tamara Mellon is in a legal battle with her mother. The Jimmy Choo president last week sued Ann Yeardye for $10 million in California Supreme Court. According to a statement from Mellon's lawyer, the lawsuit was filed ...
BRAZILIAN FOOTWEAR PLAYERS UPBEAT AT COUROMODA SHOW.
Jan 28, 2008 ... Byline: Jason Bermingham SO PAULO, Brazil - Despite widespread uncertainty, vendors and retailers at the recent Couromoda show were upbeat about the year ahead. "Brazil's economy has been good, and footwear sales normally go hand-in-hand with GDP growth," said Carla ...
MEDIABANK: REINVENTED...DUNST-STRUCK...GLOWER POWER.
Jan 28, 2008; ... Byline: Wayne Niemi REINVENTED: Asics last week launched its spring '08 campaign - its first global effort and largest advertising push ever. Execs have gone so far as to call the rebranding a "relaunch" of the Asics name. "Historically, for Asics, we've focused on our core, ...
FINISH LINE, UBS LAUNCH APPEAL EFFORTS.(Brief article)
Jan 28, 2008; ... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK - Call it the merger-lawsuit that never ends. Finish Line Inc. and UBS AG have filed separate motions seeking permission to appeal a Nashville, Tenn., judge's order issued in late December that said the merger between Finish Line and ...
ANALYSTS BEARISH ON FOOTWEAR; WEAK SPANDING, A DROP OFF IN MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS AND A LACK OF NEW TRENDS HAVE MARKET WATCHERS WORRIED.
Jan 28, 2008; ... Byline: Meredith Derby NEW YORK - By all accounts, it's going to be another challenging year for the footwear industry. With financial markets crumbling and the health of the U.S. job market under a microscope, consumers are already scaling back as the new year kicks ...
SHOE STAR KICKS OFF.(Fashion Footwear Association of New York's tradeshow announced the winner of best footware designer)
Jan 28, 2008 ... Who has what it takes to become the footwear industry's next up-and-coming designer? Footwear News and Nine West, in association with New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, are putting seven promising designers to the test in the first Shoe Star contest. The contestants were chosen ...
VIVE LE ROCK.
Jan 28, 2008 ... Designers adopted a hard rock attitude for fall '08, breaking out studs, buckles, chainmail and animal prints to amp up the edge factor. Caption(s): Silver woven chain sandal by CALVIN KLEIN. Silver jacket by Miss Sixty, black catsuit by Kova & T. / Clockwise from top: ...
COMPANY CACHE; AS THE VINTAGE TREND SOARS, THREE FOOTWEAR COMPANIES ARE ARCHIVING THE PAST TO SHAPE THE FUTURE.(Keds Corp.)(Nina Footwear Inc.)(Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A.)
Jan 28, 2008; ... Byline: Lindsay E. Sammon, With contributions from Clair Windsor Footwear execs are banking on the past. To preserve hit styles and tout storied corporate histories, many brands are spending big bucks on their archives. While the process can be arduous - from ...