Fashion flip-flop

Source: http://www.lowellsun.com/lifestyles/ci_9751185

Whether it’s crystal-encrusted or an old-school beach sandal, it’s summer’s must footwear

By Ashley Morris, Sun Correspondent

Article Last Updated: 01/07/2008

Back in the ’60s when flip-flops were called thongs, they were a simple summer accessory worn and sold only at the beach. Only within the last decade could they be found dressy and bedazzled for formal attire.Many consider the original shoes or sandals that people wore in the Egyptian period the original flip-flops.

Nowadays, the technological world has left its mark on this ancient summer footwear. The flip-flop has been upgraded to fit the expectation of a generation chock full of high-tech gadgets.

“I have a mild flip-flop obsession but that’s mostly because I hate heels and hate real shoes, other than sneakers” says Beth Stack, a 30-year-old teacher and mom from Lowell.

“I own over 25 pairs, mostly Teva and Reefs. Most of mine are casual or athletic ones. My favorite flops are my green Reefs with the bottle opener in the bottom-they’re my favorite color.”

The Reef’s fanning flip-flop has a built-in bottle opener just in case your beverage is not a screw-top. The Reef Stash flip-flop also has a style with a built-in compartment in the sole where one can store money or a credit card. This is perfect for men or women who hate taking pocketbooks to the beach and is available at Reef.com.

For those of you who did not lose that 20 pounds you promised yourself and realized summer was here last Friday, here’s something to ease your bikini-baring anxieties. The Bath and Body Works’ fit flop claims to improve muscle tone, increase circulation, improve balance and posture as well as burn calories.

“I’m burning calories and starting to see more definition in my calves,” says Dagny Runyan, a 28-year-old swim coach from Lowell.

Even Swarovski Crystal has jumped on the flip-flop bandwagon. Designer Stewart Weitzman is selling “Indiana Jelly” flip-flops with crystal detail for $155. They come in clear and gold and can be purchased at Bloomingdales.com.

There is a wide variety of price ranges when it comes to flip-flops. Old Navy still sells your basic summer flop for under $4. Wal-Mart sells its own brands, Faded Glory and Sand Sun, for around $5. Reebok, Nike and Adidas can usually be found on sale from $15 to $25. These sports brands come in a variety of styles and colors. Adidas makes Ayuna 2, a flip-flop with a fitFOAM cushion that molds to your foot. It’s lightweight comfort that comes in a variety of eye-catching colors.

After surveying a group of people on their stance on flip-flops and what brands or styles they prefer, the results are split. half really like their inexpensive, simple flip-flops. “I buy my flip-flops at Wal-Mart,” says 19-year-old Megan McLellan of Lowell.

Whether you love them or hate them, favor the expensive brands or a simple pair of Old Navy’s flip-flops, the super-casual footwear isn’t going anywhere, at least until September. Millions are sold annually and with new features to catch the eye of buyers, it’s more likely that flip-flops will be an ongoing success rather then a super flop.

Vi-Ga Footwear bags Best SME Award 2007

Source:

July 01, 2008 (India)

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Vi-Ga, one of the fastest growing footwear company has won the Best SME Award 2007 organized by the Indian Chamber of Small and Medium Business Limited. This Award, which is the highest honour in the SME Chamber, has been conferred on Mr. Vinayak Mahtani, CEO, Vi-Ga for his tremendous contribution to the SMEs.

Vi-Ga was awarded the trophy of the National level SMS Excellence Award 2007, by the Small & Medium Business Development Chamber of India on the occasion of 6th international conference on SME Financing, Better Banking Regulation and Integration of SMEs.

Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister while handing over the award said, “Vi-Ga has firmly established itself as a leading player in the retail footwear category in the country. Vi-Ga has built an incredibly successful business from scratch, one which has had a truly transformational impact on our industry, on the customers it serves and on India’s economy.

Mr. Mahtani’s brave and ambitious strategies will continue to resonate across the country, our industry and the business community globally, becoming a benchmark for emerging footwear markets worldwide. We congratulate Vinayak Mahtani, on what has been an immense personal contribution to the vitality of the Footwear world.”

On the receiving the award Mr. Vinayak Mahtani said, “This is a tremendous honour and I would like to thank the Chamber of India for considering us worthy of this award. This award is a tribute to the SME integration in India, Vi-Ga’s vision and the emergence of Retail boom on the Indian horizon. It has been a privilege for me personally and Vi-Ga to have been a part of this revolution that has delivered affordable services for all and has contributed to the lives of millions across India.”

“We are delighted and honored to receive this prestigious award from Government of India. We would like to thank our customers for their strong support in a short span of three years and we will continue to focus on bringing high fashion, quality products throughout the region with the vision to provide international fashion at pocket friendly prices.” Added Mr Mahtani

In the quest for the unique and unusual Vi-Ga describes itself the finest for the fashion footwear at affordable prices for the entire family. All the buying for Vi-Ga happens internationally as well as nationally with designing teams in Dubai, Düsseldorf, Delhi & Singapore. A strong growing retail presence in North of India, Vi-Ga aims to provide “fashion footwear at affordable prices” to the fashion conscious patrons.

Vi-ga, ‘good shoes better prices’ is famous and enjoyed for its variety available in accessories like bags, wallets and footwear. Vi-Ga, has categorized its extensive range into sub-brands like Maharani, Page 3, Logo, Easy step, Fifth Avenue, Victory for ladies; Logo, Wall Street, Victory, Easy Step, Wanted for Men whereas Junior, Ms. Attitude, Mini,Victory for kids each catering to exclusive categories & designs.

Mr. Chandrakant Salunkhe, Chairman, SME Chamber of India said “ He is now extending his business plans to Indian retail on the pan India basis by opening 100 more stores in India by 2010. I just know he will do for this sector what he has done for the Indian Retail – and Indian consumers will be the big winners.”

MBT shoes: do they actually work?

Source: July 1, 2008

MBT trainers seem like an unlikely item of footwear to catch the imagination of the young and trendy. With their thick, curved sole and sensible wide straps, they look like the sort of thing you need to wear if one of your legs is shorter than the other. Despite their distinct un-beauty, MBT trainers have, for the last eight years, been cited as the answer to modern-day solution for anything from back problems to cellulite on your bum.

A Sheffield Hallam University study concluded that wearing MBTs was better for the knees, hips and ankles than wearing conventional shoes.

However, recently there has been speculation that MBTs may not be for everyone. The claims as to assisting posture, back, hip and knee problems are not supported by evidence or any good rational explanation.

Article in The Independent discusses the issue

Read more . . .

Complete Article  mbt-shoes-do-they-actually-work.pdf

CHINA: 100-store target for China Shoe

30 June 2008 | Source: just-style.com

Footwear maker China Shoe Holdings has provided more details of its retail expansion in China, where it hopes to open up to 100 stores in the Shanghai region this year followed by a nationwide roll-out programme next year.

As of today the company has opened nine stores under its CCR brand with six more underway, and two stores under the company’s Kanggies brand. Read more…

Flip flops: the footwear that hurts so good

Beware before u wear

read more | digg story

Nike Unveils Team USA’s Most Innovative, Lightest Footwear and Apparel Designs Ever

July 01, 2008

Source:  NikeBiz

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EUGENE, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nike athletes, including Lauryn Williams, premiered Nike’s USA Track and Field (USATF) uniforms, which will be worn by members of the 2008 Olympic Team for Track & Field, before a sold-out crowd of 20,000 fans at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.

Nike was born in Eugene, Ore. and first introduced its iconic Swoosh on Hayward Field at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials. Over 30 years and hundreds of medals later, Nike continues to innovate for the world’s top athletes.

Nike’s USATF uniforms feature new Nike Swift materials, reducing weight to achieve less drag and faster times, and also include Nike Aerographics and the “We the People” graphic. With seven percent less drag than the Athens version, wearing the new Nike Swift Suit translates to a benefit of about .02 of a second in the 100m.

Nike Swift System of Dress

The Nike Swift System of Dress lets athletes customize what they’re wearing while increasing aerodynamic advantages on key parts of the body. Socks, gloves and arm coverings — an entire system of dress — were developed by Nike so sprinters could run faster. For example, the Nike Swift gloves and arm coverings have dimpled fabrics like a golf ball to cut wind resistance and allow arms to slice through the air faster. In testing, the design team found that compared with bare skin, the gloves and arm coverings reduce drag by 19 percent and the socks by 12.5 percent.

“Our new innovations are truly game changing and industry defining. It is the lightest footwear and apparel we’ve ever created,” said Sean McDowell, Nike’s Footwear Design Director. “The world’s top Nike athletes are wearing Flywire technology at the trials because they want gold.”

“The difference between making the team and not making the team comes down to mere hundredths of a second,” said U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr. “Nike’s ability to deliver ground-breaking apparel and footwear with cutting-edge technology has been incredible. We are proud to have worked so closely with Nike to develop this amazing, innovative and eye-catching Olympic collection.”

Nike Track and Field Footwear

The uniform also features footwear with Nike’s industry-leading new Flywire technology. Nike athletes Kara Goucher and Bernard Lagat will perform in the Zoom Matumbo, Nike’s lightest distance track spike. Lagat will also wear the Zoom Victory Spike, currently Nike’s lightest middle distance track spike. Both shoes are lighter than Michael Johnson’s famed gold spikes from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

For the first time, Nike is making more athlete innovations available to consumers with footwear such as: The LunaRacer+, LunarTrainer+, Zoom Victory+, Zoom Matumbo and Zoom Victory Spike. Now, every runner can benefit from Nike’s Flywire and Lunarlite technology. This footwear is available to consumers beginning in July and rolling out through October, 2008.

Skills & Low-cost Benefits Underpinning China Footwear Industry

July 1, 2008

Source: PR Minds/ For complete Report

With advantages of low production cost and technical skills, China is expected to remain the world’s largest producer and exporter of footwear, says RNCOS report.

According to “China Footwear Market Analysis”, a new market research report by RNCOS, the footwear production industry is now shifting towards Asian countries due to the huge availability of raw material and low cost of production in these countries, especially in China, the largest footwear producer.

As per the report, a large pool of skilled labor available at substantially low cost in China is proving advantageous, particularly for the labor-intensive industries such as footwear and leather goods manufacturing. Also, China is one of the lowest cost footwear producers among the major footwear producing countries, says the report. In addition to low-cost, the country also boasts of the largest technically-trained human resources in leather craft across the globe.

Apart from this, operating conditions in the Chinese footwear industry also distinguish it from other countries. The footwear industry is not restricted by ethical issues and red tape and gains from the protective political rule with rather compliant workforce and low labor unrest.

Supported by the technical skills and low cost benefits, China has gained a competitive edge over its competitors, becoming the largest exporter of footwear worldwide. And in the absence of a close competitor, the country is expected to retain its status of the largest footwear exporter in near future.

The research study “China Footwear Market Analysis” provides detailed analysis and data on the footwear industry of China to help client in identifying the opportunities to tap in the Chinese footwear industry. It presents a rational and objective forecast on per head disposable income and volume of footwear retail sales in the country. The forecast given in the report is based on a correlation between past market growth and growth of base drivers and gives a direction to clients in which the industry is likely to move.

Spencer`s goes for image makeover – Plans Footwear Range

Source:

June 30, 2008

According to a new report in Business Standard Spencer’s Retail is planning for private labels in fashion accessories as well as footwear brand Mark Nicolas for men and women

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Pradipta Mukherjee / Kolkata June 30, 2008

Spencer’s Retail, the Rs 800-crore retail arm of the RPG Group, will expand its range of fashion merchandise with the launch of private labels as well as foreign apparel brands, in an attempt to revamp its image as a fashion-centric brand instead of just a food retail chain.

“We have always been known as a food and retailing brand. We now intend to change our image and tap the fashion segment as well,” Samar Singh Sheikhawat, vice-president (marketing), Spencer’s Retail, said.

Currently, the sale of fashion merchandise makes up 10 per cent of the total revenues of Spencer’s Retail.

“We expect sale of fashion merchandise to contribute 25-30 per cent to the overall revenues by the end of March 2009, when the company will have a turnover of Rs 2,000 crore,” Sheikhawat said.

Spencer’s fashion offerings will be positioned as ‘affordable’, with prices in the range of Rs 199 to Rs 1,000.

To begin with, the fashion merchandise will be available only in Spencer’s large-format stores. It will allocate 25 per cent of the 25,000 to 70,000 sq ft space in such stores to fashion merchandise, up from 10 per cent now.

The company will introduce its private labels in apparels like Island Monks (casual wear for men and women), Mark Nicolas (formal wear), Scorez (sportswear), Detailz (basic wear), Asankhya (ethnic and fusion wear), Puddles (for children up to two years of age) and Little Devils (for children between 2 and 14 years).

Spencer’s will also launch private labels in fashion accessories under the brand U n I, comprising bag, junk jewellery, leather items, belts, etc, as well as footwear brand Mark Nicolas for men and women. It will also launch larger sizes for plus-sized adults.

The company is restructuring its marketing team to include more designers and people with experience in fashion merchandise retailing. “The designers will be selected from design schools in India, while the manufacturing will be handled by third-party contract manufacturers,” Sheikhawat said.

Going forward, Spencer’s also plans to host fashion shows of the stature of ‘Lakme Fashion Week’ or ‘Wills Fashion Week’.

Apart from its private labels, the firm is also looking at bringing two apparel brands from the UK and the US to India this year, one of which will be for children and the other for grown-ups. Both the brands will be allotted close to 2,500 sq ft each and will be retailed in a shop-in-shop environment inside Spencer’s large-format stores.

Reebok on expansion spree, to open 230 stores in FY’08

Source: PTI/ Economic Times/ Business Standard

New Delhi June 30, 2008

Link   Economic Times; Business Standard

Global sports wear brand Reebok today said it is on a major expansion in India which would see the company open one store in almost every two days, taking the total number of stores to 850 by the end of 2008-09.

“The company, which currently has 620 stores across the country, is going for a substantial increase in its distribution, which will see its sales going up by 30 per cent per annum,” Reebok India Managing Director Suvhinder Singh said.

“Besides consolidating our existing position in metros and tier I cities, we are also going for a major expansion in tier-II and tier-III and lower-tier cities, he added.

However, he refused to divulge any investment details.

“It is not the company’s policy to reveal investment and sales figures,” he said on the sidelines of the Pure & Play Retail Summit here today.

The company has grown six-time in the last five years and controls 53 per cent of Indian footwear market, Singh said, adding that they would be also bringing in new products.

“We want to maintain the current position and bring new innovation and formats in various segments. We are bringing out 20 new footwear models every quarter, besides a new apparel in every 45 days,” he said.

Reebok is also planning to open specialised junior stores for its young customers. As many as seven such stores will come up in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi among other cities.

The company would be aggressive on its marketing strategy as it plans to expand its business in the country.

“As part of our marketing strategy we have roped in Bollywood stars and cricketers as means of communication platform as Indian customers have a tendency to associate with them,” he said, adding that the company wants to utilise this for expanding into smaller cities.

Online ordering helps Office stride ahead

Source:

Published: June 29 2008 22:42 in FT

Office, the fashion footwear chain, in UK has emerged as one of the few clothing retailers to have escaped the fall-out of the consumer squeeze with rising sales and profits.

The company, owned by Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital, recorded a sharp increase in annual pre-tax profit from £3.6m to £5.5m, driven in particular by the growth of online transactions.

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According to Brian McCluskey, Office chief executive, there was “massive inflation” hitting the sector, which has experienced a decade of falling prices and they are holding to their margins but with great difficulty.

His comments follow a report last Friday from JPMorgan Chase, the bank, that painted a dramatic picture of inflation across the retail sector, coming from a variety of areas such as increased Chinese labour costs and higher fuel prices.

Simon Irwin, JPMorgan analyst, wrote: “We expect to see cost inflation for European apparel retailers of 2-6 per cent in 2009 and we expect them to try to pass this on in higher prices.

“Longer term, we see inflation as a positive for the sector, but short term it has come at a bad time.”

Office has seen like-for-like sales increase 6 per cent since the financial year-end in January, outperforming rivals, many of whom have seen sales fall, and improving on a like-for-like sales decline of 0.8 per cent in the previous 12 months.

Internet sales rose 200 per cent last year, contributing to overall revenue of £101m, up from £92.8m in the year to January 2007. “This year we’ll do £111m,” said Mr McCluskey.

Mr McCluskey attributed much of Office’s success to its team of in-house designers and a decision to bring most of its manufacturing back from China two years ago.

He said the Office designs had been so popular that four high street retailers had made direct copies.