The AW12 collection introduces styles with a timeworn feel, burnished leathers and weathered upper materials. The craftsmanship of the ccollection is exhibited through the attention to detail and fine touches included within the product.   The finish and construction of the 1958 collection exudes the look of casual sophistication and craftsmanship. Maximizing on Hush Puppies heritage, this vintage inspired collection is a true reflection of how the brands values of comfort are never compromised by styling within Hush Puppies.

A focus on new talent with the BFA Designer Collective 12-14 February 2012 | London Olympia. the leading edge of footwear fashion, the UK is famous for nurturing innovative and creative design    talent.  To celebrate this, the British Footwear Association (BFA)has teamed up with Pure London to provide a unique opportunity for brand new UK footwear labels to launch their collections at the show.

Following the administration of the Barratts Priceless Group, Jacobson Group has bought the intellectual property rights to the Dolcis brand. Dolcis is a great complement to the Jacobson stable of brands; it will sit well in the group’s existing portfolio which includes Gola, Lotus, Ravel and Frank Wright. 

Following the administration of the Barratts Priceless Group, Jacobson Group has bought the intellectual property rights to the Dolcis brand. Dolcis is a great complement to the Jacobson stable of brands; it will sit well in the group’s existing portfolio which includes Gola, Lotus, Ravel and Frank Wright. 

A celebration of Marshall’s life was held in Clydebank, Glasgow on 12^th July, attended by well over 200 of his friends and colleagues. Marshall entered the shoe trade in 1963, joining Barkers of Earls Barton, and taking over from his Uncle as the Scottish agent.  Marshall was known as The Godfather of sales agents, organizing stockrooms with military precision, and fighting for reps rights; he famously fought for agents to be paid commission on shoes ordered not on shoes delivered !  During his time, he was also the representative for the Florida Group- Van-dal Shoes, Callaghan, Paul Green, and Ara.   

The best of both worlds – combined in innovative shoes and boots for a promising autumn/winter season.  When the world’s brand leader for waterproof, breathable membranes and the pioneering maker of lightweight shoes – LEGERO – bundle their combined innovative strength in a joint collection there is no room for compromise. Here are the highlights that will create a furore! Legero outdoor competence with GORE-TEX® inside. It couldn’t be better.

This Spring, Lunar will be exhibiting the magnificent Autumn/Winter `12 collection. The range is the largest ever offered by the brand with an even vaster array of fantastic styles, colours, and fabulous new materials.  Our Elegance collection, has gone from strength to strength, and with this season bringing more stunning modern platform styles, along with a good selection of low heel designs, it is certain there is a style to cater for every age or occasion.

Expo Riva Schuh, the most important international fair dedicated to the production footwear sector, closes today. The event, held at Riva del Garda from 14-17 January, concludes its 77th edition with 12,513 visitors, recording a substantial performance compared to January 2011.

This year the Championship returns to Scotland for the first    time since 2001 at the North Berwick Golf Club and the Glen Golf Club.The illustrious West Links, and the North Berwick Golf Club have admirably stood the test of time, along with St Andrews, Prestwick and Muirfield it has protectedand maintained its traditions and high standards as one of the most celebrated Scottish links courses. Originally founded in 1832 it is also one of the oldest Golfclubs in the realm, and next year when the Open is at Muirfield it will be one of the main qualifying courses.

London – Clarks, the British heritage shoe brand, today announced the appointment of Nick Cullen to the role of Group Supply Chain Director. Nick will become a member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting to Melissa Potter, Chief Executive. In this newly created role, Nick will work to unify the supply chain organisation for the entire Clarks group in order to deliver improved costs and customer service. His appointment reinforces Clarks’ business strategy of leveraging the scale of the combined UK, North American and international businesses.

William Lamb Holdings Ltd has acquired the entire share capital of Rushton Ablett from Paul Ablett with immediate effect. The two companies have worked together for many years and have shared the same liaison offices in China since 2003. Paul Ablett and Ian Ferris have joined the board of William Lamb Footwear Ltd.

AW12 represents an exciting move on for the Van Dal brand. Whilst a consistent performer in the formal shoe listings in magazines such as Drapers and your very own Footwear Today the brand continues to make significant progress in modernising its collection and mainstream appeal. This season the brand has invested heavily in broadening its collection further still with new categories including waterproof boots, autumnal wedges and heritage inspired brogues and loafers. All add a contemporary mix to their core offering demonstrating a wider appreciation of changing consumer taste and trends which have been the starting point for the seasons development.

2011 was a more positive year for the British high street than initially anticipated as widespread discounting helped boost sales in the run-up to Christmas. Footfall in December rose by 5.1% compared to last year, with local High Streets benefiting the most from the increase in shopper numbers, according to a report from retail footfall specialist Springboard, featured by Pure London.

KindredSole.com is up for ‘Footwear Brand of the Year’ at The Footwear Industry Awards. The awards promote high achieving brands and retailers. The brand was established in 2009 by Lizzie Leary and Beth Widdowson after graduating from Fashion Retail Buying at de Montfort University, Leicester.

For the 12^th year running, this February 2010 will see the return of trade shows LondonEdge and London Central to London’s Olympia National Hall which is joined for the second time by The Ledge Show, increasing their sector coverage from alternative and streetwear to skatewear clothing, hardwear and accessories.

BCM Imports, which has been creating footwear under the Nitelife brand since 2005, has announced that all new products are now being produced under the Erosella brand, aptly named after “Eros” the God of Love. Under the Erosella Collection Label, Erosella Footwear will replace the Nitelife-Footwear brand which will be phased out. There are two new collections which compliment the footwear, a Dancewear Collection and a Lingerie Collection.

With a great start to the new season’s courses this September, the Society of Shoe Fitters are going to go on booking the 10 month course through to the end of February until the start of their new 5 month course – 1st  March 2012. The new course format is allowing them to be far more flexible and in tune with people’s needs as they have reduced the number of Workshops from three to two, but are repeating them within the same year, so if students miss one they don’t have to wait too long to attend the one they’ve missed.  Another change taking place is the presentation of their qualification.  Whereas students who completed their coursework early had to wait until Workshop 3 to receive their certificates, goodie bags etc., now they will be sent immediately upon approval of their Tutor.

Nominations for the Annual  Footwear Industry Awards have now closed and voting began on 12^th December: Society Members can vote for themselves (if they have been nominated) or for others they would like to promote/reward (see award categories below) via www.footwearindustryawards.com/voting, or by email to: jandrews@datateam.co.uk. John has promised you strict confidentiality. The Awards are:

George Gummers, BSc. Hons London University, qualified as a leather chemist and spent the first part of his adult life working as a leather tanner. Before many years had passed, he became Managing Director of Millom Leathers, Cumbria. When manufacturing collapsed in the late 1970s George decided to open a shoe shop, as he felt his knowledge of leather and his obvious contacts in the trade would provide a good basis for a business. He opened Footlight in Millom in 1979. Two years later, in 1981, he took over the footwear retai1ers F.Dickinson in the centuries-old Cumbrian town of Ulverston, when the owners were retiring.

“Retailers are being squeezed by increased rates and reduced traffic, and something needs to be done to help our high streets,” warns Rupert Eastell, Head of Retail at Baker Tilly. “The Portas report provides a call to action at a critical time. Regardless of whether you love her or hate her, Mary Portas’ report should stimulate debate about the future of the British high street and if it leads to just one high street making changes for the better, it will be a success.

Smaller retailers in the fashion trade often just can’t compete with the website budgets of the big retailers selling online – or else it can be a serious squeeze to pay website design costs. Now, with brand new website building package Mr Site Storefront, new and established fashion and accessories retailers can create an e-commerce shop to challenge even major e-retail sites like Topshop and ASOS.

We've starteda new page in Footwear Today this month (Jan). Called Best Sellers, we're setting up a panel of indepedent footwear retailers to find out about their star performers. We want to know your five best selling brands in each cateogory, each month, starting from December '11. In return we will feature you and your shop in our Retailer Of The Month page. We need to know your five best sellers overall, for Men Women and Children. Also, for Men's Comfort/Casuals, Men's Formal, Ladies Comfort/Casuals, Ladies: Fashion/Contemporary footwear, Ladies Formal, Ladies Boots. For Children, Pre-Walkers, Walkers and School Shoes. Contact Cheryl Taylor, editor, cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com, Tel. 01622 862962.

Splats is a brand new high tech functional footwear label with an urban twist. Launching in February 2012 with rainSplats – these ‘go to’ boots are waterproof, breathable and flexible making them ideal for Spring showers, Summer rain and Autumn downpours. Unlike Wellies that are clumsy, unsupportive and hard to wear all day, rainSplats have a form fitting insole and adjustable Velcro strap allowing kids to run, jump, climb, cycle, scoot and splash without fear of water running into their boots.

Rieker the world’s leading antistress footwear brand has taken inspiration from the East for their 2012 Spring/Summer collection. Rieker has used an array of colours and jewel embellishments that is set to be a huge fashion statement.

Rieker knows what men expect from footwear and for Spring/Summer 2012 versatility and comfort is key. The style is set to be a little more laid back with casual styling. Two tone uppers with stripes and textures are both big news for 2012. The shoes look great with linen trousers or shorts. Browns and taupes are popular themes but blues and greys are also making an appearance.

Next year GDS - International Event for Shoes & Accessories – and GLOBAL SHOES – leading trade show for sourcing – will be held from 14 to 16 March and from 5 to 7 September 2012. For the dates from 2013 various surveys are currently being conducted at home and abroad in order to identify visitors’ and exhibitors’ views and wishes.

JJ Footwear is using its Facebook page to announce that it is looking for UK models to wear its lovely range of boots. The scheme was first run in Holland and proved very successful, according to Nina Townsend, UK Business Manager, JJ footwear:  “All the ladies featured on our website are our customers and we have found that it is a fantastic way to spread the message about our range.

Clarks Originals role within the history of music and style comes alive once more this Spring Summer 12 as the iconic footwear brand celebrates a limited edition British Rock Royalty inspired collection of Desert Boots. ‘Rock Royalty’ is a quartet of limited edition Desert Boots reworked in a salute to four of music’s greatest moments. From the magical mystery of psychadelia to the shimmering swagger of glam. From the three chord trash of punk to the rocksteady beat of rudeboys and girls, the Clarks Originals Desert Boot has been along for the ride. So what better way to celebrate than with a homage collection to the defining moments that shaped style as we know it.

World-renowned shoe designer Jimmy Choo has been honoured for his outstanding achievements in the footwear industry. As part of its annual recognition of the world’s most outstanding Chinese designer, the Hong Kong Design Center (HKDC) has awarded Dato Professor Jimmy Choo OBE with its 2011 accolade.

The University of Northampton’s School of Science and Technology and Institute for Creative Leather Technologies recently welcomed Mukhtarul Amin, Managing Director of the Superhouse Group in Kanpur, India, to Park Campus where he signed a memorandum of understanding with the University.

Clarks Village Outlet Shopping Centre in Somerset was awarded the prestigious Green Apple Environment Award at the Houses of Parliament last week. Clarks Village, which is managed by specialist retail property management, REALM Limited, on behalf of Hermes and LaSalle, was presented with the award at the exclusive ceremony in Westminster on the 15th November. They received the award for their outstanding contribution to an environmental project that allows for the outlet centre to develop multiple recycling streams.

Retail sales figures show good news for the high street and even better news for online retailers
Official figures today reveal promising news for retailers. Data from the Office of National Statistics show sales figures to be considerably higher than the same period last year. With the weather set to take a turn for the worse and more people feeling a pinch in their pockets, online shopping sales have surged as people look for good deals.

Clarks Originals role within the history of music and style comes alive once more this Spring Summer 12 as the iconic footwear brand celebrates a limited edition British Rock Royalty inspired collection of Desert Boots.

Clarks Originals are giving music fans the opportunity to get their hands on one the hottest gig tickets of the year, with the chance to join Little Dragon for an intimate show at Rough Trade East on November 25^th at 7:00pm.

Heritage footwear brand Loake will increase its presence in the UK market with the opening of a London store this autumn. The new shop in Piccadilly’s Prince’s Arcade will open in mid November and showcase the English shoemaker’s craftsmanship.

Abingdon, UK, 7 November 2011: P2i, the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, has coated 1,200 pairs of the brand new Magnum H4H running trainer: V-Lite Intrepid HPi H4H, free of charge in a bid to help raise £10,000 for the ‘Help for Heroes’ charity

On Friday 4 November, Guy West, who founded Jeffery-West shoes with childhood friend Mark Jeffery in 1987, came to Leicester to share his knowledge of footwear design with DMU’s students. In An Audience with Guy West, the renowned designer delivered a masterclass to (BA) Hons Footwear Design students, talking about his diverse career and the lessons he has learned in almost 25 years as a men’s shoe designer.

For Spring / Summer 2012 Hush Puppies launches its second season collaboration with fashion designer Anna Sui.  The collaboration for Spring/Summer 2012, takes on a fresh and fun new twist to footwear that can only be the influence of the designer known for her hip and exuberant style.  From delightful cherry ornaments on colourful sandals to kissing fish embellishments on canvas wedges, the product exudes summer style with a fun but chic edge. The feminine silhouettes feature bold stripes and colours with combinations of materials including snake print and patent.

Sweatshop, the leading running specialty retailer in the UK, has chosen Footbalance as it´s custom insole and foot analysis solution. Stocking Footbalance further supports the retailer’s emphasis on service and expertise. Sweatshop staff will deploy the Footbalance system to more efficiently help customers select the right shoes for their own foot type and to customise their selection for a perfect fit.

"Retail Technology are pleased to be a part of the new footwear industry awards and delighted to be sponsoring the “Best Use of Technology/EPOS Award.”', said Kim De Sylva, "It is fantastic to see the support and involvement of more of the industry associations in the Footwear Awards, which will undoubtedly be a larger, more prestigious event."

Joining luxury department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols as well as top British fashion houses such as Burberry and Mulberry, UGG® Australia will open a flagship store on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge on Friday, 4 November 2011. UGG® Australia, Knightsbridge will carry the brand’s complete range of footwear collections along with handbags, outerwear, and cold weather accessories from the autumn 2011 collection, ranging from classic styles to high-fashion footwear for women, men and children. The

There is a lot going on with the British Footwear Association – your trade body –

Spartoo.com, Europe's number one online shoe store, is still carrying on with its international development, with an increase of more than 350 % in 2011 in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom. Launched in 2009 in the United Kingdom, Spartoo.com sold more than one million pairs of shoes in the first months of 2011 in Europe. The group has also bought his English competitor www.Rubbersole.co.uk

Vanilla Moon are very honoured to be co sponsors of the New Footwear Awards

It all began one Saturday night, Glastonbury on TV and the WedgeWelly trio on the sofa.  V Festival was the topic of conversation, Laura and Sarah were all wrapped up in fashion, frantically discussing what to wear, hair and footwear!  So in this moment during a conversation about much loved high heels and rubber Wellies, WedgeWelly was born.  

The Footwear Friends Annual Awards are now in their fifth year and in that short time, have been recognised by the trade as an important way of spotting and rewarding British talent in the Footwear Industry. The winners in the various categories are:

"Rieker is delighted be involved in these new Footwear awards and especially pleased to be sponsoring the Best Ladies Independent Retailer Award. The independent retailer has a very challenging task running their business especially in the current economic climate. Rieker is honoured to be able to put their name to an award that recognises this hard work. We are sure that the night will prove to be a huge success and will become one of the highlight evenings of the year for the Footwear Industry."  said Chris Gorrod, Managing Director of Rieker.

Nick West of the footwear agency Compass Footwear (responsible for Spanish brand Garvalin and Danish brand Bisgaard) is a big supporter and fundraiser of various trade events.  Nick was therefore delighted to hear that Datateam are pulling the industry together to reward many unsung hero's of the trade and has already enlisted Garvalin as a sponsor for the Children's Retailer of the Year Award. "The timing to coincide with MODA and knowing all the trade media are involved is a double bonus because networking and promotion is key to all our businesses" said Nick  "This is not a good time to bury one's head in the sand and hope the good bits will exceed the bad bits - you have to get out there and make it happen and this event will help."

“This year’s Footwear Friends Annual Awards is going to be even bigger and better than last”, proclaimed Charity President Richard Kottler.  “We have had extraordinarily good quality entries from young designers and entrepreneurs and I think our ‘dragon’s den’ team are going to be hard pushed to make a decision when they meet in a week’s time.” The fully sponsored Footwear Friends Annual Awards is now in its 5^th year and during this time has become an established way of recognising and rewarding British talent.

 Industry leaders welcome major Footwear Awards event: Commenting on the Footwear Awards – an annual event for the industry, run by the industry, which will be held on 19^thFebruary  to coincide with the Moda Show, at the Forest of Arden Hotel, a Marriott Hotel and Country Club,  only 4 miles from Birmingham NEC - Richard Kottler, CEO of the British Footwear Association, said: “The Moda Show is an important one for BFA member companies and we are delighted that a major Footwear Industry Awards event is planned for the coming Spring edition. The list of Award categories covers many of the sectors represented by BFA members and we are sure they will give the event an enthusiastic response and ensure the evening will be successful – and fun !

"I am absolutely delighted that The Florida Group has been nominated as one of 6 finalists in the 2011 EDP (Eastern Daily Press) Business Awards. We are nominated in the prestigious "Barclays Business of the Year" category, said the Group's Managing Director, Tony Linford

The 2011 conference promises to be better than ever with a variety of professional speakers covering occupational health issues; permits to work; a REACH update and very special presentations on safe systems of work. As usual, this event will take place at SATRA’s conference facilities in Kettering and the delegate fee is at the 2009 rate of £30 per head – absolute value for money! Details and entry forms will be sent to member companies shortly but, in the meantime, please feel contact elaine@britfoot.com for further information.

 This year our seminar will help you avoid the problems which can arise when

Outline of the benefits of Membership of the Independent Footwear Retailers Association (IFRA): IFRA provides an individual forum for those whose main professional activity is the retailing of footwear.  Because we share many common problems – and opportunities – we are able as a group (not as individual traders) to find relevant answers and to assist each other in such areas as improving relations with our suppliers, relations with our staff, relations with our local authority and, critically, greater profitability.

Detmold, 15 September 2011: The Wortmann Group, based in Detmold, Germanyhas announced its final figures for the past financial year 2010/11 (ending 31 May). Group turnover rose by 15.1 % to 957.7 million Euros (GBP 816.3 million). In the previous year, total turnover amounted to 832.1 million Euros. With a record rise of over 125 million Euros, the business group achieved the highest growth rate in the company's history.

The next Society of Shoe Fitters course starts on October 1st and they are taking bookings now.  'We have an exciting year ahead' says Laura West, the Secretary, as the Student of the Year will be Awarded in February at the new Awards Dinner which is shaping up to be an amazing event, and we have two new 5 month courses starting March 2st and September 1st straight after MODA'.  

GEOX the premier Italian brand famous for the innovative use of breathable technology and the renown British shoe designer Patrick Cox have teamed up to create a capsule footwear collection for Spring Summer 2012. The collection is an exciting fusion of sportswear and urban chic and will be launched during the Micam footwear fair in Milan this weekend.

Physiological footwear pioneer MBT this season opens a new flagship store at Westfield Stratford City, London’s newest shopping destination, stocking its exclusive F/W ‘11 collection and offering its latest, award winning functional shoe, the Ari.

German shoe retailer Deichmann, which has more than 3,000 stores in Europe and the US and sells shoes at a starting price of £9.99, will mark its 10th UK anniversary with the opening of a second flagship store at Westfield Stratford City.  The Group also confirmed plans to open an additional 10 stores before the end of the year, taking its UK footprint up to 60 outlets. 

Helly Hansen has announced the appointment of a number of dedicated Footwear and Accessory Sales Agents for the lifestyle market. The new appointments have been made in support of the brand’s ongoing strategy to further increase its continuing sales efforts, and consumer awareness within this competitive category

Gola is pleased to welcome John Broe as a brand consultant. Broe joins Gola having

September 2011 The British Fashion Council (BFC) announces the shortlist of nominees for the British Fashion Awards 2011. The event recognises the most influential people in fashion today and celebrates the reputation and development of British fashion. The winners will be announced at the British Fashion Awards on Monday 28th November. The evening is attended by the most influential industry leaders, designers, retailers, models, celebrities and media to celebrate the best in British fashion.

Montreal, Quebec—“Change everything.”  That’s the slogan embraced by Urshuz, a new shoe brand which recently launched an innovative line of men’s footwear.  The uppers and soles of these revolutionary shoes are detachable and interchangeable, allowing you to create your own custom look by mixing and matching colors and styles, or even converting a pair of sneakers into flip flops or slides.  Urshuz even boast 100% recyclable soles.

GORE-TEX® footwear with SURROUND™ product technology is seen as one of the greatest innovations in the footwear industry. Its open sole structure and waterproofness surrounds your feet with climate comfort. In spring/summer 2012 it will be playing an even more important role in the collections of Gore’s brand partners, appearing in stores all over Europe for the first time.

Northamptonshire Police are seeking to identify the shoe that produced the impression shown below.  This image is representative and the exact shape and dimensions are unknown.  This footwear mark was recovered from a crime scene in May 2011 where two adults and two children were murdered in Northampton.  If you recognise this outsole design or can assist in identifying its origins please contact the Operation Nene incident room on 03000 111 222.

Introducing Innovative Move Frame Technology for UK Consumers - UK, August 26, 2011 – PROSPECS, the sports lifestyle brand of LS Networks, Korea, announces the showcase of its dedicated walking shoe line, PROSPECS W at the Korean Brands Exhibition, Harrods, London 28th August – 24th September 2011. Designed for the unique stresses and impact of walking, the PROSPECS W line departs from standard running shoes to enhance walking-based exercise and bring added comfort and support though its unique Move Frame Technology.

Greetings from the President – JAN PARRY Of Parry’s, Pembroke Dock, S. Wales. How quickly time flies when you are having fun... We are just into the buying season and that should be the fun bit, but of course it is all too easy to get carried away and go over budget when each brand of shoes shows you another lot of cases full of wonderful designs and colour-ways. This is when it is good to have someone else holding the purse strings and ensuring that they are doing the maths as you go along!  

Skechers are pleased to announce the launch of their new Shop-in-Shop within Harrods. The new space opened earlier this month and sits within the fitness department on the 5^th floor of the luxurious retailer.

Hess. Oldendorf / Hauenstein, 22.07.2011. The business MARC shoes based in Fischbeck, Germany and the shoe company JOSEF SEIBEL are to begin a cooperation of their international sales forces.

Pure London is to hold its future events under one roof at Olympia with effect from February 2012. The development of a new double-decker hall and other improvements at Olympia will enable Pure to provide the additional space and facilities that exhibitors and visitors demand under one roof.  Pure Spirit will move out of Earls Court but continue to provide on–trend, creative fashion for the young fashion market in its own hall, the National, at Olympia, in February 2012.

969 miles, 13 days, 294,000 pedal revolutions and 28,800 calories after setting off from Land’s End, charity bike riders Mark Stevens and Gary Goude arrived at John O’Groats. Looking back, they both now realise how big this challenge was. Neither would describe themselves as experienced cyclists, so as the training and research progressed and injuries came and went leading up to the big day they didn’t know what was in front of them only that it was going to be hard work – and they weren’t wrong!

The new collection is all about daring to try new concepts, new shapes and taking risks. The adventurous brand is bringing out lots of new designs including flip-flops, sandals, moccasins, new sole constructions and exciting colour options.

Colour is the new kid on the block and footwear experts Romika show us how it’s done...Although fur-lined boots will shortly be delivered to the stores, it is time to put those wintery feelings to one side and welcome the brighter thoughts of the spring 2012 season!

Finding the balance between style and comfort is never an easy task. Let your customers make the most of the great outdoors with footwear that will stand the heat while still looking gorgeous with new ranges for men and women from Josef Seibel.

Today Greenpeace launched a new global campaign to stop the widespread and severe water pollution caused by China's textile industry, the largest in the world. Activists branded the world's largest Adidas store and a nearby Nike store in Beijing with the campaign's 'Detox' logo, calling on the sportswear giants to remove toxic chemicals from their supply chains and from their products. The demand comes as the result of a year-long Greenpeace investigation into toxic water pollution in China.

NEW YORK — Nathan Clark, the architect behind Clarks’ iconic Desert Boot, died on June 23. He was 94.

  The British Fashion Council (BFC) today announced the historic China / Britain Fashion Alliance; a combined initiative between the BFC, the Beijing International Brand Management Centre (BIBMC) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC).

Chatham Marine has expanded its sales team covering the South West and South East of England, Ireland and Scotland; and Denmark, Germany, Holland, Sweden.  The move will see Chatham widen its footwear and clothing distribution in the UK and Europe.

With the beginning of the new business year on 1^st June 2011, the Wortmann Group, Detmold, has acquired all the shares of the ara Group Lagenfeld in a+w shoes GmbH & Co. KG. This makes Wortmann now sole shareholders of a+w shoes – subject to the expected approval of the Federal    Cartel Office.  a+w sells its shoe collections under the brand name of Jana and focuses its activities on the comfort shoe sector.

Pure London now moves into its 30^th season and will open its doors from 7^th-9^th August 2011 in two venues: London Olympia and Earls Court.  Attracting visitors from across the globe, Pure London is widely acknowledged as one of the key events in the buying calendar

Florida Group Announce 2010 Results - Norwich based The Florida Group (TFG) are proud to announce that the turnaround plan which begun in 2008 continued to bear fruit in 2010. TFG, primarily manufacturers of ladies shoe brand Van Dal, had a turnover increase of 15% to £10.7m with an operating profit up 78% to £493k in 2010.

To launch Kiwi’s sponsorship of the Royal Navy Cricket team, the squad have donned their cricket gear and boarded HMS Westminster in Portsmouth for a good old game of British cricket. The friendly match was a warm up for the Inter Services Twenty20 (IST20) tournament which will take place at the prestigious Lord’s cricket ground on Tuesday 28 June.

Los Angeles, Calif. (June XX, 2011) – The U.S. Department of Commerce and MAGIC are hosting an Americas Pavilion and Summit – “Sourcing in the Americas” – to highlight the United States and Western Hemisphere supply chain network.  “Sourcing in the Americas” will showcase apparel, footwear, fabric and yarn mills, trims/component suppliers, and service providers, as well as promote business and investment in the Western Hemisphere.

David Price, owner and founder of the well known footwear brands Cosyfeet and Walktall, has sold the parent company Foot Shop Ltd, for an undisclosed sum, to its current Executive Board.

Featuring a mix of vibrant colours, playful patterns and classic, very wearable timeless shoe shapes, Yull puts the style back into any step. With names such as ‘Ascot’, ‘Green Park’, ‘Silverstone’ and ‘Hoxton’, each design has been inspired by a British place or pastime and with a patriotic wink, each shoe is emblazoned with a small Union Jack flag on its base.

VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a leader in branded lifestyle apparel, and The Timberland Company (“Timberland”; NYSE: TBL) today jointly announced that they have signed a definitive merger agreement. VF will pay Timberland shareholders $43 per share, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $2 billion net of cash acquired. The merger agreement was unanimously approved by both companies’ Boards of Directors.

Jacobson Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Paul Grogan to the position of sales executive for the Babycham footwear brand. Grogan will be responsible for selling Babycham branded footwear and accessories to key, targeted accounts

Wanting to reward their customers loyalty, Jacobson Group recently launched a competition to their customer database. An opportunity was given for the chance for a weekend break for two people, in a UK location of their choice.

Global Sport and Outdoor Company HI-TEC are celebrating the grand opening of their Amsterdam Headquarters. During the spectacular launch event held on the 9^th May, Chairman and Founder, Frank van Wezel, was joined on stage by his entire family to proudly announce the opening of the brand new, state-of-the-art, 3000 square foot facilities.

Stitch, the dedicated menswear and accessories trade show, has secured an exciting selection of footwear brands to show at their SS12 event this August 2011, at the larger, new and improved Earls Court 2 venue.

London, UK: 14 June 2011: ASICS has today been unveiled as the official sportswear and running shoe partner of the Bupa Great Run Series. The three year sponsorship package will see ASICS, the market leader in the performance running footwear market, partner with the world’s biggest running programme. ASICS will display, promote and sell products at some of the largest running events in the UK and will create a dedicated area on the Great Run website to give product and training advice for runners.

Sarah comes from a strong sales background and is well known within ths Wolverine group after contributing to the Wolverine business since 2003 ,where she has represented the UK sales of the Hush Puppies and Cushe brands.

LEICESTERSHIRE’S  shoe care supplier and lace manufacturer, Shoe-String have embarked on an exciting new partnership with German shoe shine and sole cleaning machine manufacturer, Heute, to become the exclusive UK distributor of these world renown machines.

The Jones Group Inc. has acquired Kurt Geiger, Europe’s largest luxury shoe retailer based in the United Kingdom, from Graphite Capital, a leading UK mid-market private equity firm, for approximately $350 million (or £215 million) in cash, inclusive of debt acquired.  The transaction, which was financed with cash on hand, is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings per share, exclusive of any required purchase accounting adjustments.

The Josef Seibel Group has expanded its Hungarian shoe production capacity in Csenger with an investment worth €4.44 million. The boost was necessitated because the group has decided, as a result of increasing costs and more limited production control, to transfer part of its manufacturing back from Asia and Moldova to the Josef Seibel Group Company based in Hungary.

The sixth Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge supported by Footwear Today took place in scenic Cannock Chase on 21 May, raising an incredible £63,895 for CARE International.

Unlike regular wellingtons, Muddies™ are warm, durable, insulated Chloroprene boots. They will keep kid’s feet warm and their faces smiling. In a range of fun and vibrant colours these innovative boots are as every bit technical as an adult walking boot. With three different ranges; Icicle, Puddle and Luge there is a boot for every child. Icicle comes with a fleece lining and it is suitable for temperatures down to -10°. Luge and Puddle both contain a terry towelling lining and all ranges have hands-free removal for kids and parents alike with their kick rims functionality

Clarks Originals and Thistle & Broom previewed the results of their 10-month long collaboration for AW11/12 ladies collection, a limited edition take on Clarks ubiquitous Desert Boot featuring a hand-knit shoe ‘cuff’ reminiscent of an Arran jumper. 

The Rocket Dog footwear collection for Spring/Summer 2012 is a fantastic mix of colours, textures, prints and beautiful finishing touches. Ranging from beach flats through sporty pumps to glamorous heels, the collection encapsulates the Californian roots of the brand and delivers fantastic footwear for the discerning footwear buyer.

Rebecca Gray a 26 year old ethical entrepreneur and founder of Nottingham based fair trade fashion and green products company Fresh Cargo, has re-invented a hundred years of Maasai Warrior sandal making in order to support the Maasai community and globalise recycled tyre flip flops.

Stay light on your feet with Redfoot Man, the super stylish and superlight folding loafer from Redfoot, creators of the original folding shoe. Combining sleek style andintelligent design into one very compact package, Redfoot Man is the ultimate purchase or gift for business travelers, jetsetters – or any man that likes to travel light. Arguably the most technically advanced footwear in the world, this luxurious leather loafer features Redfoot’s patented split-sole technology, allowing the shoe to be strong and durable, yet fold completely in half.  

 
Following the success of Pretty Green’s Desert Boot, the straight-talking British clothing label is proud to announce the release of its new footwear collection. Subtle, stylish and versatile, the new collection is a combination of easy slip-ons, casual canvas plimsolls and smart suede lace-ups.
 

The Josef Seibel Group, which recently made a big move into the retail sector with the acquisition of a major stake in the Bahner/Leiser group of Germany, has opened its first German multi-brand Josef Seibel & Friends stores in Dortmund, Germany and Leicester, UK. Besides its own brands, Josef Seibel and Romika, the stores also carry others such as Gabor, Paul Green, Marc and Birkenstock. The group has, up until now, been running similar stores only outsides its home market with four stores in Moscow

~Deborah Meaden visits people starting up businesses using loans through new micro-lending website lendwithcare.org ~ Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden came face to face with entrepreneurs who she described as ‘inspirational’ during a recent trip to Cambodia with leading aid and development agency CARE International UK.
 

Franklin, TN – April 5, 2011 – Mephisto USA is pleased to announce the opening of its newest flagship store in New York City.The fantastic new store is located at 1040 3rd Avenue - between 61st and 62nd Streets. “Opening a location in this premier market will allow us to reach out to new customers as well as Mephisto aficionados. With our superior-quality products and personalized service, the New York shoe shopping experience will reach a fresh new level,” said Rusty Hall, President and CEO of MEPHISTO USA

21 May 2011: Challenge yourself and challenge poverty in the Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge. A marathon distance on foot, bike and canoe in scenic Cannock Chase, Staffordshire for fashion and retail industry professionals. Supporting leading aid and development charity CARE International www.carechallenge.org.uk/primasolutions 020 7934 9470.

The  July edition of Chic, The UK’s dedicated handbag, accessory and travel goods fair is moving to thethree brand new halls at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Many visitors and exhibitors recall the   earlyChicshowswith fondness when it was held at the National Motorcycle Museum. Spreading the showacross  three intimate halls will create a more interesting buying experience reminiscent of the former ambienceas each hall has a different feel. There is an exclusive entrance with parking even closer than before and luxurious bar, restaurant and toilet facilities. As always the line up of brands features some of the biggest names in the industry plus many that do not show at any other UK show.

Brand’s most technically advanced shoe, the Ari, is recognized for design excellence   MBT is proud to announce that the Ari, the inaugural style in the Brand’s new “Ultimate” category, garnered this year’s red dot award for product design— the first shoe in the physiological footwear arena to do so. The award is just the latest example of MBT’s leadership and expertise in making footwear that provides the perfect blend of function and style.

Kids Shoe Factory has teamed up with the Yorkshire based children’s charity Candle Lighters to help raise money for the services they provide to young cancer patients and their families here in Yorkshire. Kids Shoe Factory will be sponsoring the annual Candlelighters Fun Run that will be held at Wetherby Rugby Club on 22^nd May 2011. The event will involve a fun packed family 2km run and a 5km run for the competitive folk amongst us. 

Functional footwear pioneer, MBT launched their flagship stand alone store at Westfield, London today, March 9^th. The 28 sq m store is MBT’s first mono brand store in London. Designed in house, the store reflects the brand’s international store portfolio, featuring the white and red logo and the brand’s unique Masai sensor on fixtures and fittings.  The 28 sq m store is MBT’s first mono brand store in London. Designed in house, the store reflects the brand’s international store portfolio, featuring the white and red logo and the brand’s unique Masai sensor on fixtures and fittings.

Following a successful launch into the fashion sector, Scarpa has now extended its lifestyle range for winter 2011 to offer a more complete collection for high street retailers. The new season’s range will now include the Mojito Snow, Nomos and Logic, as well as the Caipirinha, Cosmopolitan and Mojito, all offering the same quality and craftsmanship synonymous with the Scarpa brand.  With the lifestyle offering, consumers will benefit from the comfort and fit associated with Scarpa footwear in the hills and mountains, whilst pounding the pavements of the high street and shopping malls of the UK’s cities.

Record numbers of buyers have been registering for the Spring Off-Price Show (13th-14th March, Olympia, London), where the newest addition to the event is The Village, a special new zone within the show for buyers to meet up-and-coming companies. The Village promises to be a vibrant and bustling area with trendy ranges of clothing, footwear, lingerie, jewellery, hats and bags on offer. Although situated on the main show floor, The Village will have its own entrance and café  and aims to be an intimate shop window for buyers looking to view great product from new suppliers.

A multitude of contemporary and respected retailers were attracted to London Olympia in February to the highly regarded Pure exhibition.  Buyers en masse were drawn to the Ravel stand that was debuting its irresistible autumn/winter 2011 collection.  As such, the brand is delighted to report that Pure was its best UK exhibition since the re-launch under Jacobson Group in 2008.

Padders No 1 Brand Padders were once again delighted to be voted 'Best Men's Brand' for the 5th year running at the IFRA awards dinner on Sunday 20 February at The Hilton Metropole Hotel, NEC Birmingham. Padders were also nominated for the 'Best Ladies Brand', 'Best Customer Service' and 'Best Comfort Brand' categories. The awards are presented by IFRA (Independent Footwear Retailers Association) and voted for by IFRA members.

 With 15 years of expertise in wellness footwear, MBT is the original and most innovative brand in this category.  In addition to the Spring Summer 2011 premium collection, offering the best in comfort and performance, we are excited to announce the launch of Jambo, a casual introductory line to the MBT’s world of balance and motion.  

 21 May 2011: Challenge yourself and challenge poverty in the Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge. A marathon distance on foot, bike and canoe in scenic Cannock Chase, Staffordshire for fashion and retail industry professionals. Supporting leading aid and development charity CARE International www.carechallenge.org.uk/primasolutions 020 7934 9470.  
 

Ben Sherman Footwear license holders, Hudson Shoe Company are pleased to announce that they have appointed Blue Sky Moda Sport Ltd to represent the brand in the UK and Eire selling to independent retailers starting January 1^st 2011.

Jacobson Footwear has appointed footwear agency L 4 Leather as its representative in Ireland.  The change in representation comes following Kevin Cooke’s retirement from the footwear industry where he leaves a 50 year legacy. L 4 Leather is well respected in the footwear sector, holding a stable of established brands.  The agency, headed by John McHugh, will be represented by Damien Mahon who will carry Jacobson’s instock branded range which includes Odeon, Trueform, Manfield, Dunlop, Lonsdale and new high fashion brand Glitterati.

Robert Lambert joins wellness footwear specialist as new Head of Sales for UK/Ireland

Greater Manchester Police are investigating the murder of a woman in the late 1970's or early 1980's. In January 2010 contractors in Manchester City Centre unearthed a skeleton whilst clearing a piece of land for development. The post mortem revealed that she had been murdered after suffering fractures to her jaw bone, collar bone and neck. Experts have put the time of her murder between 1975 - 1985.

Winter has really gripped Britain and Ireland over the last 2 years and looks set to continue in 2011. This has led to a high demand for warm lined waterproof boots. Austrian brand Superfit have a large collection of these boots for boys and girls in their AW11 range.

Inspired by their birthplace, the Santiago shoes come in vibrant, saturated colours including Living Coral and Mimosa. The latest collection, which includes women’s, men’s and children’s versions, as well as an infant-only Mary Jane, is available to buy from March at www.keenfootwear.com 

This February, Riva and Enzo of Florence will be displaying their exciting ranges at Pure, UK’s leading trade fashion event for sourcing contemporary and directional womenswear, young creative fashion for men and women, accessory and footwear brands.

Jacobson Group has entered into a joint venture with Daren Roe to launch a men’s fashion footwear brand called ‘Dispair’.  Roe will utilise Jacobson Group’s extensive brand and footwear wholesaling infrastructure including finance, warehousing, distribution and marketing.

We are sad to announce that David Golledge footwear agent, has passed away. David represented many companies during his long and successful career. Starting at Pococks as a young man, David went on to work for K. Shoes, Wilfords and Blu Shu amongst others. He travelled in an area covering the whole of Wales, The west Country, and as far East as Hampshire and the Isle of Wight building up a very large portfolio of customers.

Leading premium outdoor footwear brand, Scarpa, takes a giant leap into the lifestyle sector for Spring 2011, with the launch of a new collection designed to set pulses racing along the high street.

Bridging the gap between style and comfort for over 100 years, Josef Seibel is a master at producing beautiful footwear to put that extra ‘spring’ in your step. The autumn 2010 season launched new products which jumped into the best seller arena. Military inspired Palmira from the women’s collection in vibrant green and natural bark led the way and Kingfisher, offering the hiking look on a heel, closely followed pushing Josef Seibel into the fashion environment with comfort at the core.

What a season stockists of the Romika brand have experienced this autumn with reports of some of the strongest performing product within quality independents, multiples and department stores! Repeat orders at the brand have increased by an incredible 302% on the previous year and could have moved far beyond this if stock had allowed.

What a season stockists of the Romika brand have experienced this autumn with reports of some of the strongest performing product within quality independents, multiples and department stores! Repeat orders at the brand have increased by an incredible 302% on the previous year and could have moved far beyond this if stock had allowed.

Redfoot – the innovative folding shoe brand – has been awarded a Disney Halo for best experiential product for their Disney Limited Edition range. Over 200 guests, including Dragon’s Den celebrity James Caan, beat the blizzard to attend Disney’s annual ceremony held at London’s Vinopolis in December 2010.

Renowned for its performance range of quality technical outdoor footwear, Meindl has a comprehensive line up of models suitable for children.  As feet grow, extra growing room is needed to make footwear last even longer.  To make sizing easier every pair of children’s footwear from Meindl includes a removable ‘Best Fit’ footbed, which features a ‘Best Fit’ line on the insole, outlining that essential 12mm of extra growing room.

Hi – Tec and the National Trust have teamed up to create a new environmentally-friendly walking boot. Inspired by the landscapes the National Trust cares for, the boot has been designed with the product’s environmental ‘footprint’ in mind, including recycled materials and minimal use of chemicals normally found in footwear.

Many areas of the country gound to a standstill this winter keeping large sections of the population housebound for fear of injury from the treacherous conditions underfoot. But now, with the introduction of Yaktrax, walking (or even running!) on packed snow and ice promises to give you the same solid, predictable grip you are accustomed to feeling on dry surfaces. Our intrepid team at Footwear Today have road tested Yaktrax on snow and ice and have found them invaluable for preventing slips and falls. Read our review in the February edition of Footwear Today!

Leading aid and development agency CARE International is urging teams from across the fashion and retail industry to challenge themselves and challenge poverty, in the Prima Solutions Adventure Challenge supported by Footwear Today on 21st May 2011. Taking place in scenic Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, the challenge combines outdoor activities in a day of exhilarating fun. The day includes a fast-paced canoe relay, a demanding mountain biking course and a trail challenge on foot through the forest… all in the target time of ten hours.

Tuesday November 2 saw the fourth Footwear Friends Annual Awards presentations take place at the London Canal Museum. Around 160 movers and shakers from the trade joined in a celebration of the achievements of the 18 nominees who submitted themselves to a Dragon’s Den type process to identify those who had the right combination of beautiful product and credible business plan.

 IRON FIST will be at at Bread and Butter Berlin from 19th – 22nd January 2011. Visit STYLE SOCIETY’s exclusive showroom ST1.2 to view the new collection in a warm and relaxed environment, with chesterfield sofas, complimentary coffee bar and creative mannequin display.

Following  six successive seasons at the show, you will be dazzled by the 150sqm showroom that will showcase an outstanding season of amazing styles, colours and inspirations. IRON FIST have grown and developed as a truly unique brand which integrates the true sense of STYLE SOCIETY.

 The Wolverine iCS technology is designed for every foot – all you need to do is select your perfect setting.. With a history forged through innovation and marked by a passion for excellence, Wolverine never stops innovating and delivering on the brands promise, which is why customers trust it to combine authentic performance with the latest comfort technologies.

The Kensington Shoe Event closed its doors on September 28 on yet another successful show. Popular with footwear and fashion buyers, the three-day Event has become a premier show for medium-to-high quality footwear, but it still remains deliciously compact and customer-friendly. 

Linda Ginn a member of the Society of Shoe Fitters, was surprised and delighted to be awarded the MBE.  Whilst she is a newly qualified shoefitter, she has been a chiropodist for some time.  The MBE award was made for the work that she has set up locally where she lives in East Suffolk under the auspices of Parish Nursing Ministries UK.  

Created in collaboration with footwear technologists and podiatrists, Terra Plana’s VivoBarefoot Kids is a lightweight and super-flexible shoe line with a thin puncture-resistant sole designed to mimic what foot specialists have long known... that children walk best barefoot. ecause of the high proportion of cartilage and other soft tissue, the developing foot can be deformed under the persistent pressure of wearing incorrectly shaped or rigid shoes. The child’s foot does not fully mature until age 18–19 for girls and 20–21 for boys and growing evidence supports that children’s shoes should be designed on the barefoot model More than 80% of foot problems are attributed to misshaped and inflexible shoes, but modern day life means children can’t always be shoeless. VivoBarefoot Kids offers a close alternative for everyday use.

Following the initial success of the ‘New Life’ boot campaign at retailers across the UK, Meindl has extended the initiative until July 31^st 2010 to encourage on-going donations and raise continued awareness of the campaign and its cause.