An Images Group Publication www.shoesandaccessories.

in

JANUARY 2021 // Vol. 13 // No. 1 // `100 // US$20 TRENDS • MARKETING • RETAILING

EXCLUSIVE
DIGITAL
ISSUE

GALLERY | PIERRE CARDIN

SPACE AGE TO BUBBLE DRESS
EXCLUSIVE | AQEEL PANARUNA
RENEWING THE FUTURE
 INSIGHT | CLARKS
INTERVIEW WITH DR. N MOHAN
 TIPS | SNEAKERS
MEN’S SNEAKERS TO WEAR WITH JOGGERS
 ADVERTORIAL
UPDATES FROM CLE
CONTENTS JANUARY 2021

04) Updates II India II International

12) Launch trends II Editor’s Pick

15) Advertorial II CLE

Updates from Council for Leather Exports
18) Gallery II Pierre Cardin
Space Age to Bubble Dress
20) Insight II Clarks
Interview with Dr. N Mohan

18 24) Exclusive Coverage II Aqeel Panaruna

Renewing the future
30) Opinion II Baby products
Booming Industry in India

12 33) Retail Updates II Sq Ft

Fizzy surprise in Bglore’s Orion Mall
34) Tips II Sneakers
Men’s Sneakers to Wear With Joggers
38) Shoecare II Shoe sprays
Waterproof Shoe sprays

20 42) Gallery II The Artisan

The Artisan by Vikram Uberoi

30

34
33
38
42
 The Month That Was | Updates I India
Metro Brands Plans Aggressive Expansion
M
etro Brands Ltd, India’s second-largest
fashion footwear retailer, has plans for
aggressively expanding its portfolio in
2021 through strategic partnerships with reputed
as well as upcoming brands and Ventures
engaged in tech and innovation in Ecommerce as
well as footwear and accessories pace.
The 73-year-old footwear company clocks
revenues in excess of Rs. 1400 Cr from its offline
business and a double-digit growth rate from its
online vertical. Founded in 1947 as a stand-alone
footwear retailer, the company today houses
brands such as Metro Shoes, Mochi, Walkway
at its outlets and is the national retail partner for
Crocs in India. With a widespread network of over
550 retail stores in 127 cities across the country,
the brand has a store at key locations with
maximum footfall including leading malls, leading
marketplaces, high street locations and airports.
“This year has been challenging for the retail
industry in general, but it has also given us an
opportunity to go back to the drawing board
and re-organize our business strategies to be
ready for future expansion. In 2021, we see a
Pazzion Sets Foot In E-Commerce Business With Amazon
S
ingapore’s fashionable and premium
shoe-label Pazzion, known for its chic
collection and modish yet comfy shoes for
women, has been launched on the e-commerce
giant Amazon India. The launch will enable the
trendiest shoe brand to reach millions of fashion-
conscious women in India.
After debuting its flagship store in India at
DLF Avenue Mall, Saket in August 2020, Pazzion
the high-end shoe brand has now set foot in the
e-commerce business.
Pazzion’s online store on Amazon India has
currently 14 styles of shoes live from its newest
collection and the brand is planning to introduce
203 SKUs in the upcoming days.
Manisha Malik, Master Franchisee & India
Cloudtail’s fee to Amazon India more than doubles in 2 years
C
loudtail, one of the largest sellers on
Amazon India, has seen its marketplace
fee or commission to Amazon India more
than double in the last two years in terms of
the percentage of its revenue it pays to sell on
Amazon India.
Cloudtail, which is a joint-venture between
Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
Ventures and Amazon, paid nearly 9% of its
revenue at Rs 980 crore as platform selling fee
for the year ended March 2020, compared to a
little over 4% in the year ended March 2018 at
4
huge opportunity in India for growth, particularly
through partnerships with new as well as
established International brands. We, at Metro
Brands, have over seven decades of expertise
in opening and operating stores across India, an
omni-channel outreach, knowledge of regional
retail preferences and a robust supply chain
supported with cutting edge technology and
processes, all of which are absolutely essential
Head, Pazzion, said, “Being one of the most
reliable e-commerce platforms in India, Amazon
will help us leverage the online fashion shoppers
by reaching out to more customers. As a leading
e-tailer in India, Amazon has a lot of active users,
which makes it convenient for us to tap more
patrons across the country.”
“Being a new brand in India, we are persistent
in delivering the best of our styles to the
doorsteps of our customers. We are delighted
about this association and look forward to making
Pazzion accessible to the new style-savvy women
across the country,” she added.
Known for its finest leather shoes, Pazzion
emphasizes a lot on quality, comfort mixed with
great craftsmanship. With the launch on Amazon
Rs 315 crore. This component was under 6% in
financial year 2019 at around 561 crore, according
to annual reports of the company. For the financial
year 2020, Cloudtail reported revenue of Rs 11,413
crore. This is a fee that Cloudtail has largely paid
for new brands who want to spread their wings in
the Indian market,” said Farah Malik Bhanji, MD,
Metro Brands Ltd.
The debt-free asset-light brand has two state-
of-the-art warehouses, spread across 3,00,000
sq. ft., and is equipped to support the rapid
expansion of its partners. Metro Brands currently
has strategic partnerships with more than 200
domestic and international vendors.
Established in 1947, Metro Shoes is a
contemporary Indian fashion footwear and
accessories brand, that provides a refreshed
range for all occasions with great quality and
comfort. Be it casuals, trendy footwear, work
wear or bling and embellished footwear for party,
festive or wedding, Metro Shoes provides a wide
range of footwear for the entire family. In addition
to men’s, women’s, and kids’ footwear, it also has
a wide range of handbags, belts, wallets, etc.
As of October 2020, Metro shoes has a wide
network of 214 stores across 113 cities. Metro
Shoes is one of the flagship brands of Metro
Brands Ltd. Metro Brands Ltd, has a network of
550 stores, across over 127 cities.
India, the brand reinforces its omnichannel
strategy by being available online as well as
offline.
to Amazon India for selling its goods through its
marketplace. Though it is attempting to sell on
other marketplaces also, Cloudtail’s core business
comes from Amazon India.
While the jump in commission is significant, it is
still less than the average commission of around
25% which independent third-party sellers pay to
sell goods online.
This has been one of the issues raised by
smaller sellers, who accuse online platforms of
preferential treatments to select large sellers who
move a significant part of their volumes.
Ajanta Shoes eyes Rs 500 crore in FY21
A
janta Shoes is planning to expand its footprint across the country and
targeting a 25 per cent jump in turnover in the current fiscal, despite
disruptions in the market due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a company
official said.
The 64-year-old firm had clocked a revenue of Rs 400 crore in the last
fiscal and is expecting to touch Rs 500 crore turnover this year with the
“right products and marketing strategy” when many footwear companies are
struggling to meet at least the 2019-20 sales.
The company has introduced a new sports shoe brand ‘Impakto’, targeting
youths and the growing segment of fitness-conscious customers.
“COVID-19 has no impact on us as we have got adequate orders. Online
sales are strong. Our wholesale segment also did well during the coronavirus
crisis,” Ajanta Shoes managing director Sagnik Banik said.
He said the company has planned to expand its operations.
“We have plans to take the number of stores to 250 over the next two years
from 105 at present. We are looking to promote the brand across the country,”
he said.
Adidas India slips 2% in revenue, 8% in pro t in FY20
A
didas India, the Indian arm of German sportswear maker, has seen its
revenue slide by around two percent for March-ended fiscal 2019-
20. While income from operations decreased to Rs1,198 crores from
Rs1,221 crores last fiscal, profit after tax (PAT) dipped from Rs174 crore to
Rs160 crore, according to financial data accessed by business intelligence
platform Tofler.
Govt asks ED and RBI to take ‘action’ against Amazon, Flipkart
T
he Modi government has asked the
Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to take
“necessary action” against e-commerce giants
Amazon and Flipkart for alleged violation of the
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy and the
Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
The Confederation of All India Traders
(CAIT) said that the government was acting on
complaints it had filed against the e-commerce
giants. The ED, however, is yet to register a
case in this regard. “We will look into this. No CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal
case has been registered in this regard until said that acting on complaints that the trade
now,” an ED officer was quoted. body had submitted to Union Commerce
He remained optimistic about the new sports shoe brand. Ajanta Shoes has
800 dealers and sub-dealers and 20,000 retailers across the country.
The company, which boasts of brand ambassadors such as actor Ranveer
Singh, cricketer Rohit Sharma and sprinter Hima Das, gets a dominant share
of its revenue from footwear—around Rs755 crore. Contribution of apparels
and accessories to turnover stands at around Rs371 crore and Rs48 crore,
respectively.
The German brand, and the world’s biggest sportswear maker, has been
consistently ceding ground to rival Puma, which entered India in 2006, a good
decade after Adidas set up shop in the country. For calendar year 2019, Puma
logged a revenue of Rs1,413 crore.
Adidas, reckon marketing experts, has been growing at a tardy pace in
India. The German brand, which reportedly had a revenue of Rs186 crore in
fiscal 2006—Puma in contrast had Rs22 crore—has laboured to clock another
Rs1,000 crore over the next 14 years. Adidas reportedly clocked sales of
Rs1,132 crore in 2017-18, up from Rs1,100 crore in 2016-17.
“When the market and the main rival have been growing aggressively,
they can’t be seen to be left behind,” says Jagdeep Kapoor, chairman and
managing director at Samsika Marketing Consultants. What might have also
constrained a wider play for Adidas is balancing another brand within the
group—Reebok—which has had its fair bit of issues in India. Segmentation,
penetration and pricing are things that the brand must look into, says
Kapoor.
Minister Piyush Goyal, the Department of
Promotion of Industries and Internal Trade
(DPIIT), which falls under the ministry, has
written to RBI and the ED to take “necessary
action” against Amazon and Flipkart.
In the letter dated 22 December, the DPIIT
has forwarded four complaints — alleged
violation of the FDI policy in the deal between
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
Flipkart and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail;
e-commerce players misusing FDI policy in
manufacturing for multi-brand retailing of
grocery; alleged violation of FEMA rules by
Amazon and “blatant violation” of FDI and
FEMA loopholes by Flipkart and Amazon.
5
 The Month That Was | Updates I India

HC allows trial run of leather industrial units

A
Double Bench of the Punjab and Haryana
High Court has allowed the trial run of the
leather industrial units which were lying
shut since October 29, 2019.
Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori had
filed an affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana
High Court being as the Chairman of the Punjab
Effluent Treatment Society for Tanneries (PETS)
that an RCC mixing-cum-dilution tank had been
constructed in the leather complex at a cost of Rs
1.45 crore.
Disclosing more information, the Deputy
Commissioner said the Punjab and Haryana High
Court had ordered PETS to file a compliance
report about the dilution tank on January 6, 2020.
The DC said since he joined as the Deputy
Commissioner on June 16, he held multiple
meetings of the PETS and listened to officials from
the PPCB and industrialists.
He said that following which he took up the
matter with high-ups and the construction of
the RCC mixing-cum-dilution tank was initiated
and a compliance report was filed in the High
Court on October 29, 2020.
Meanwhile, KC Dogra of the Punjab Effluent
Treatment Society has said January 19 has been
fixed as the next date of hearing.
With the High Court’s order, representatives
from the leather industry thanked the Deputy
Commissioner for his concerted efforts in
pursuing the case and filing the affidavit.
They said the order had given much-needed
relief to them and their workers as the units
were lying shut for the last one year. Besides,
labourers were facing hardships in the
absence of any employment they added.

Myntra Taps On Virtual Mall Experience As Ecommerce Set To Rise

F
lipkart-owned fashion and retail platform
Myntra has launched a new virtual mall
feature to enable apparel and accessories
companies to create a store-like experience
virtually.
The feature will be available on Myntra’s app
for brands to give a prominent display to its
product for an additional fee. So far, about 30
brands have been leveraging this feature for their
end of reason sale (EORS). These brands include
Hennes & Mauritz, Decathlon, Puma, Max and
Mothercare.
“During these times when there is a lot of
change in shopping behaviour we did not want
customers or brand partners to miss premium
offline malls. EORS is one of our biggest events
where brands who are feeling the pinch of the
pandemic will get to demonstrate their presence
though the virtual mall,” said Lalitha Ramani, chief
product officer at Myntra.
Myntra has launched the twelfth edition of
the sale in June. The company claims to have
witnessed a 86% increase in the number of
customers from Tier II and Tier III during that
week, indicating a shift in consumer behaviour
and preference for online shopping. The company
believes that the virtual mall experience will
accelerate its growth and strengthen its market
position.
The pilot for the new feature was launched a
few weeks ago. Myntra realized that one-third of
the research terms on the app had a brand name
in them. It figured out that several customers
search for products, keeping the brand name in
mind. Therefore, it decided to come up with a way
that will allow the customers to stream through
the collection, like they would in the store.
During the pilot phase of virtual mall feature,
Myntra has witnessed a 30% increase in the
Click Through Rate (CTR) and better customer
engagement. “We are not building to earn
revenue in the beginning. It has been launched to
give brands a platform to leapfrog and brand-
conscious customers an organised digital store,”
Ramani said.
The launch of the feature comes a few days
after Myntra received a capital infusion of INR
1,604 Cr ($103 Mn) from Flipkart’s Singapore-
based subsidiary FK Myntra Holdings. Myntra
Jabong India issued 10,79,136 shares to FK Myntra
Holdings, and 97,058 shares to QuickRoutes
International on October 3, at a price per share of
INR 6,427.
Back in July, Myntra forged a partnership with
Emaar Group to expand its offerings to international
markets as well as launch the fashion brand,
Myntra Fashion, in the Middle East. The expansion
will be facilitated by Myntra’s latest partnership
with Emaar Group-owned regional ecommerce
platform Noon and Namshi that will host Myntra
Fashion brand on their website.
The fashion and retail platform Myntra was
founded by Mukesh Bansal, Ashutosh Lawania
and Vineet Saxena back in 2017. The company
was acquired by the ecommerce giant Flipkart in
May 2014, and came under Walmart banner after
the Flipkart acquisition. By the end of the year
2021, Myntra expects to double the number of
brands and projects one million visits per day on
the digital mall.

Apache to build a Rs. 70-crore leather industry in Pulivendula

A
sign of state government’s keenness in developing Kadapa district as an industrial zone is Chief
Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laying the foundation stone for a unit of Apache Intelligent SEZ,
a well-known footwear manufacturer, in Pulivendula.
Apache will be investing Rs. 70 crore in the leather industry, which will provide employment to around
2,000 local people, officials disclosed. Representatives of Apache Group had recently met District
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Collector Chevuri Harikiran to discuss various issues related to establishment of their unit in Pulivendula.
Anil Kumar Reddy, special officer, Pulivendula Area Development Agency (PADA), recently showed
company representatives the space allotted to Apache in the Industrial Development Park (IDP) of the
town. Company deputy general manager Muthu Govindaswamy and his team inspected the 27.94 acres
area allotted to their unit. Apache’s headquarters is at Inagaluru near Srikalahasti in Chittoor district.
District collector Harikiran reiterated that the CM is determined to develop Kadapa district industrially.

6
India’s e-commerce sector sees big growth in 2021
I
ndia’s online retail sector failed to match the
growth of ecommerce in mature and far larger
markets such as the United States and China
this year, despite recovering quickly after the
nationwide lockdown and the most successful
festive sales period ever.
Ecommerce sales are estimated to have risen
by only 7-8% in 2020, compared to almost 20% in
China and the United States, whose governments
made full use of contactless buying options
to prop up the economy even while enforcing
shutdowns to battle the Covid-19 outbreak,
according to Forrester Research.
“We were not lucky like other countries.
Growth of ecommerce was less than 10%
because we lost a lot of momentum during
those three months (of the lockdown) and the
companies were not ready to deliver essential
goods,” said Satish Meena, senior forecast
analyst at Forrester Research.
The overall ecommerce industry’s gross sales
are estimated at about $33 billion for the calendar
year, he said.
The sector saw big upsides from new online
shoppers, existing shoppers buying more food and
grocery, and mature shoppers moving more of
their spending to online platforms.
Even so, it was not enough for the industry to post
mid-to-high 20s growth, as in the last two years.
Depressed consumer spending, an economic
slowdown and uncertainty also kept the industry
from growing at a faster clip this year.
However, all large players, including Amazon and
Flipkart, are expecting strong sales growth in 2021.
“We are expecting growth to come back to
normal next year. It might be slightly higher too,”
said a senior executive at a leading ecommerce
firm, who did not wish to be named as the
company does not officially share any guidance.
“The number of new shoppers and the categories
they are shopping for is certainly a positive.”
The overall economy may still lag till a Covid-19
Dior collaborates with Bharti Kher
O
ver the years, the Lady Dior has
exemplified blurring of lines through Dior
Lady Art—a series of collaborations with
artists who have reinterpreted and rendered the
bag into unique and entirely new art objects that
are also, almost magically, functional. In its fifth
edition now, Dior Lady Art takes the tradition
forward with 10 artists and collectives across
countries and continents.
One of the 10 collaborations is with artist
Bharti Kher, who brings her characteristic clarity
of thought to the exercise. Bharti says, “Great
art and great fashion touch people in the same
way. Both disciplines are witnesses to time,
but differently.” She believes that fashion is
vaccine is widely available, but several industry
experts and executives believe that ecommerce
will continue to grow as consumers, happy
with the convenience and discounts of online
shopping, will come back.
Online grocery, e-pharmacy and social
commerce are the segments that are expected to
see a bulk of the action in 2021.
While the entry of Reliance Industries in the
online grocery market with Jio Mart has already
sparked a rush, consolidation in the e-pharmacy
market is also expected to drive competition.
“I think consolidation will continue, both
because of offline players looking to get online
and also digital players looking to increase their
serviceability and bulk up in size,” said Ankur
Pahwa, Partner at EY.
Super apps – mobile applications that offer
various services within a single app – will pick up
in 2021, he said.
For instance, China’s WeChat started off as
an instant messaging app, but quickly added
performative, with the body essential to its utility,
while art is the opposite. Opposite, perhaps, but
not necessarily at odds. Kher’s practice explores
issues of identity and culture through works that
straddle mediums and practices and a recurring
motif in her work is the bindi. “It’s both the symbol
of the beginning and the life force, transformation
and healing,” she says. On the Lady Dior, the
bindis fulfil the role of found objects, while also
lending themselves to instinctive figurations.
As different as the end results are, Kher found
the process of making a Lady Dior quite similar
to that of one of her own bindi paintings. “It
typically plays out on a plain surface, where I
test designs and let the patterns emerge and
payments, ecommerce, food ordering, cab hailing
and several other such services to become a
super app. The move to build super apps has
already started with many players getting into the
game, Pahwa said.
Instant messaging platform WhatsApp, which
has enabled payments and also some ecommerce
features like a product cart, is starting the journey
towards being a credible super app.
Investments in segments such as online
grocery and social commerce will maintain their
momentum in 2021, experts said.
“Investments will remain strong in live
streaming, social commerce, group buying and
other similar areas,” said Meena. “Investors are
no longer going to invest in a replica of Amazon
in India, but will if someone is trying a different
model of selling.”
The growth in ecommerce will also drive allied
industries such as logistics, supply chain, agri-
tech and omnichannel sales solutions, which have
already received higher investments in 2020.
guide me to where they want to go,” she says.
“Then the extraordinary craftsmen at Dior
took over, and we found a way to transpose
that vitality of the bindi onto the surface of
this iconic bag.”That she has enjoyed the
process—“It’s been a great way to engage
and have fun with the work,”—comes across
in the design. While undeniably stylish, Kher’s
designs have an element of dynamic playfulness.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
Across the surface of one bag, the colourful,
snake-shaped bindis swarm like a shoal of fish;
on another, they spread out radially like the
petals of a chrysanthemum, or the rays of the
sun. “I wanted my bag to be fun, colourful and
irreverent,” she says.
7
 The Month That Was | Updates I International

Dr. Martens Plans IPO on the London Stock Exchange

T
he British footwear brand Dr. Martens is
planning to launch an initial public offering
on the London Stock Exchange.
The company said it plans to publish a
registration document, laying out its plans for an
IPO, and an eventual free float of 25 percent of
its share capital, with potential for an additional
15 percent of shares to hit the public market,
depending on demand.
Dr. Martens is owned by IngreLux, a
Luxembourg-based company owned by funds
advised by Permira. Since buying the footwear
brand in 2014, the owners said they made
“significant investments in professionalizing the
business, improving its operational backbone and
capabilities,” shifting its focus to emphasize the
direct-to-consumer channel, and allowing it to
grow rapidly, delivering a strong and improving
financial profile in recent years.
The company said the e-commerce channel
has been one of the key contributors to Dr.
Martens’ “substantial growth,” and is expected
to continue to be the main driver of growth in the
coming years.
The group also sells its footwear through
more than 130 own retail stores, which act as
“profitable and important consumer touchpoints.”
It also has concessions, wholesale customers,
distributors and franchisees.
In the twelve months ended March 31, 2020
Dr. Martens generated revenue of 672.2 million
pounds and EBITDA of 184.5 million pounds.
Revenue grew 18 percent year-on-year to 318.2
million pounds in the six months ended Sept.
30, 2020, while EBITDA was 86.3 million pounds
for the same period, growing 30 percent year-
on-year.Kenny Wilson, chief executive of Dr.
Martens, said the plans for an IPO, “reflect the
great achievements of the Dr. Martens team
and brand over the last seven years. Even more
important is the significant global growth potential
for Dr. Martens in the future. We have invested
massively to ensure that we deliver the best
digital and store experiences to connect with our
wearers, and through this we are driving our long-
term, sustainable growth.”
Dr. Martens said that over the past years, it
has built an “integrated global supply chain”
so the business can scale sustainably across
geographies and channels, in addition to reducing
costs. The group said it has a “significant
opportunity” to expand in the 341 billion pounds
global footwear market, and added it already has
a strong customer base in the U.K., France, Italy,
Germany, United States, Japan and China.
The product has long had a democratic,
unisex appeal. Although the brand is most
often associated with punk and counter-culture
movements, the boots are best-known today for
comfort, durability and a tough-chic appeal.
The late Pope John Paul II wore the cushion-
soled work boots and, at one point, ordered 100
pairs for his Vatican staff, including a pair of white
brogues for himself. The Dalai Lama and Madonna
are among the celebrities who have also famously
worn Dr. Martens.

Reebok to Deliver ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Collection

F
ans of “Kung Fu Panda” will soon have a footwear and apparel
collection to pick up in collaboration with Reebok.
The athletic brand revealed its “Kung Fu Panda” lineup, which
was done in partnership with DreamWorks Animation and Universal Brand
Development, featuring new iterations for the entire family of both classic and
fresh silhouettes.
First, Reebok reimagined its classic Instapump Fury for its “Dragon
Warrior” look, which the brand said “embodies Po’s evolution from Panda
to Dragon Warrior.” The shoe features several nods to Po such as the furry
suede uppers with dragon graphics, lining that serves as a nod to his belt
and waist band, TPU midsole shanks with a bamboo finish to represent the
character’s fighting staff and more.
The brand will also deliver two iterations of the Club C: “Master Your Style”
and “Calling All Zodiacs.”
The “Master Your Style” look features nods to the six Kung Fu Masters’
wardrobes. For instance, the toe resembles Crane’s pants, one section of the graphics that are an homage to the golden spirit world that Po entered in the
upper looks like Tigress’s kimono, the heels resemble Po’s patchwork pants third movie in the franchise as well as cherry blossom heel graphics
and more. It also includes a custom Reebok Kanji logo on the heel. and more.
As for the “Calling All Zodiacs” iteration, this look was created to celebrate Reebok also confirmed that the sneakers will come in elevated Lunar New
“the unique ideologies and mentalities of each of the film’s seven Kung Fu Year-inspired packaging, including a red box top as a nod to the red envelopes
Masters.” Adult sizing will retail for $100, and Reebok will also deliver it in exchanged at holiday celebrations. Also, the base of the box will feature a
grade school, preschool and toddler sizing. mashup of images of themes from the “Kung Fu Panda franchise,” and the
Lastly, Reebok will offer the “Master of Tai Chi” take on the Zig Kinetica. It tissue paper serves both as a nod to Po’s apprenticeship at his father’s noodle
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

will also come in grade school, preschool and toddler sizing. shop and features a restaurant-style menu of the footwear in the collection.
This sneaker, according to Reebok, to celebrate the soul, which it said is Additionally, Reebok will deliver a complementary apparel range with
a key theme for the Lunar New Year, and created to encourage the wearer hoodies, sweaters, short sleeve T-shirts and sweatpants.
“to believe in themselves and to trust their inner spirit.” The uppers feature

8
Hoka One One Releases Latest Carbon-Fiber Plate Running Shoe

H
oka One One has released the successor
to its acclaimed carbon-fiber plate Carbon
X running shoe.
After delivering the original Carbon X in May
2019, Hoka One One is back with the Carbon X 2, its
latest running shoe to feature a carbon-fiber plate.
The carbon-fiber plate is embedded in Hoka’s
soft and lightweight Profly midsole, and was
added to offer a smooth and propulsive ride for
greater efficiency, making it ideal for both high
training mileage as well as races. The carbon-
fiber plate and plush cushioning is paired with the
brand’s Meta-Rocker geometry, and altogether
was designed to propel runners forward and keep
them running faster for longer. Hoka One One also
equipped the shoe with rubberized EVA outsoles.
Where the Carbon X 2 differs from its predecessor
is its simplified upper material, which was updated
to provide a lightweight and breathable fit, as well as
its bonded tongue that was designed to offer a more
secure wrap of the foot.
In addition to the shoe’s release, Hoka One
One will host Project Carbon X 2 on Jan. 23, an
event where more than three dozen of the brand’s
sponsored athletes will attempt successive 100K
world record attempts in the U.S. and Japan.
Runners will attempt the record from both Chiba,
Japan and Phoenix, Ariz., and participants include
Jim Walmsley, Camille Herron Elov Olsson,
Caitriona Jennings, Aiko Kanematsu, Yoshiki
Otsuka and others.

Adidas targets 17 mn Pairs With Recycled Plastic Waste

A
didas revealed some of its sustainability plans for the year — and the
goals are lofty.
The German athletic powerhouse stated that more than 60% of its
products will be made with sustainable materials in 2021. This marks the next
step in Adidas’ mission to end plastic waste.
Also, Adidas — a partner of environmental organization Parley for the
Oceans — said it will look to produce 17 million pairs of shoes with recycled
plastic waste from beaches and coastal regions. (The partnership with
Parley started in 2015, which was announced in New York City at the United
Nations. During the event, Adidas revealed an UltraBoost prototype made with
recovered, illegally dumped ocean waste that was created in Germany in just
six days.)
In 2020 alone, Adidas stated it made more than 15 million pairs of shoes with
the waste product and collected alongside Parley almost 7,000 tons of plastic
waste. Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted said in a statement. “To this end, for example, we
Also regarding footwear, it revealed it will launch the successor to the have worked with our suppliers to create the structures that make it possible
UltraBoost DNA Loop that was raffled to consumers in October in a larger to process recycled materials on a large scale. Not only does our commitment
volume in spring ’21. In October, Adidas revealed the model, which was make adidas more sustainable, but it also drives the development of the whole
constructed from a 100% reusable TPU material that’s spun to yarn, knitted, industry.”
molded and attached to a full-length Boost midsole without ever needing to use Additionally, the athletic giant revealed plans for its vegan product line which
glue. includes its expansion. And after launching vegan versions of several classic
“Sustainability is an integral part of the Adidas business philosophy. We have sneakers including the Stan Smith this year, is developing with partners a
continued to invest in sustainability initiatives during the coronavirus pandemic biological leather alternative made from mycelium that will be used in footwear.
and we will significantly expand our range of sustainable products in 2021,” Also, Adidas has banned the use of furs from the manufacturing of its products.

With Sneaker Collection Nike Pays Homage to the Roswell Rayguns

N
ike is honoring the Roswell Rayguns — a 7. Furthering the Rayguns theme is the name of
fictional American Basketball Association the fictional team stamped on the footbed, while a
team led by the time-traveling Dr. Funk and contrasting black and white midsole and outsole
a crew of All-Star hoopers — with a new sneaker complete the look.
collection releasing soon. The last two pairs are flipped from the
The brand’s “Rayguns” collection includes new aforementioned styles with a predominantly white
takes on four basketball models including Brooklyn color palette — but the vibrant orange and yellow
Nets star Kyrie Irving’s current Kyrie 7 signature hits remain intact. According to the shoe’s product
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

shoe, the outdoor-specific Air Raid hoops shoe and color scheme with bold orange and yellow accents descriptions, both styles celebrate the 1970s by
the Air Force 1 Low and the Blazer Mid basketball- throughout the uppers. Tying into the Rayguns featuring a vintage-styled Swoosh design along
turned-lifestyle silhouettes. theme is the signature alien mascot embroidered with other subtle details such as the Roswell
The first two pairs feature a stealthy black-based on the Air Raid’s tongue and on the heel of the Kyrie Rayguns and basketball logos stamped on the heel.

9
 The Month That Was | Updates I India

Mytheresa eyes uptp $150 mn IPO

M
ytheresa is gearing up to go public.
The Germany-based online luxury
marketplace’s parent, MYT Netherlands
Parent B.V., announced that it has publicly filed a
registration statement on Form F-1 with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission. The
filing is related to the proposed initial public offering
of American Depositary Shares representing its
ordinary shares.
The company shared that its proposed maximum
aggregate offering price is $150 million. It plans
to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol “MYTE.”
In a statement accompanying the filing, CEO
Michael Kliger reported that Mytheresa surpassed
486,000 active customers, generated 449.5 million
euros (or $548.87 million at current exchange) in
sales and shipped more than 1.09 million orders
to 133 countries during the 2020 fiscal year. “We
achieved this scale and growth while maintaining
our commitment to luxury with industry-leading
average order values and robust and consistent
customer economics despite a difficult
environment,” he explained.
The company logged an adjusted net income
of 19.3 million euros (or $23.57 million) for the year,
compared with 2019’s 15.8 million euros. For the
three months ended Sept. 30, it posted adjusted
profits of 5.4 million euros ($6.59 million) — an
increase from 3.5 million euros year over year.
Mytheresa has longstanding relationships with
luxury brands like Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga,
Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada, Saint Laurent and
Valentino. This year, its average order value was
600 euros (or roughly $732), with the retailer adding
that approximately 68% of sales came from its top 30
brands. Speculation over Mytheresa’s IPO mounted
in mid-November, when reports suggested that the
e-commerce platform was working with advisors on
the proposal and intends to seek a valuation of roughly
$1 billion to $1.5 billion — depending on its performance
during the crucial holiday shopping season. The
rumored offering, added people with knowledge of the
matter, could occur as soon as early next year.
As the coronavirus pandemic took hold around
the world, apparel and footwear have been among
retail’s hardest-hit sectors, leading only few brands
in the space to make the leap from private to public
this year. Those who remained active in the market
were primarily e-commerce businesses, versus
the traditional brick-and-mortar giants — perhaps
a testament to the strength of digital as more
consumers flock online amid the COVID-19 health
crisis.

Todd Snyder, New Balance Collaborate on ‘Triborough’ 997 Collection

T
odd Snyder has teamed up once again with frequent collaborator — New
Balance. And as with past collaborations, the two worked to create
sophisticated limited-edition shoes.
The New York City-based designer and the Boston-based sportswear brand
will deliver the “Triborough” 997 collection, a lineup consisting of three shoes
that Snyder said were reimagined as “a sleek piece of footwear for the modern
gentleman.”
“The 997 is one of my favorite New Balance silhouettes and I wanted to create
something low-profile, yet eye-catching,” Snyder said in a statement. “We
decided to feature the ‘Flying NB’ logo as an ode to the humble beginnings of the
shoe. It really was the first of its kind.”
For the “Triborough” lineup, Snyder replaced the large signature “N” logo on
the lateral side with the athletic brand’s archival “Flying NB” branding in a more burgundy — which features the hue predominantly on the uppers that sit atop
subtle manner. The sneakers will come in three colorways — gray, blue and white midsoles and gray outsoles.

VF Corp to set up centres in S’pore, KL

N
ew York-listed VF Corp, which owns
outdoor lifestyle brands such as Vans and
Timberland, will open new business centres
in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
The moves come amid plans to shift VF’s regional
operations base from Hong Kong to Shanghai
in a fresh push for the Chinese market, which
contributed to 7 per cent of group revenue in
FY2020.
An Asia supply chain hub in Hong Kong will
relocate to Singapore, while a new service centre
in Kuala Lumpur will support business functions in
areas such as digital technology, finance, human
resources and logistics.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
Steve Rendle, chairman and chief executive
of VF, said there are “significant opportunities in
integration across VF’s global supply chain network,
according to the group.
“The announcement reinforces our commitment
to invest in our business across the Asia-Pacific
region, while also supporting VF’s overall
transformation plan to become a more consumer-
minded, retail-centric and hyper-digital enterprise,”
Rendle noted.
Denver-based VF said in a statement that it aims
to strengthen its relationships with consumers in
China, but added that Hong Kong will remain a key
retail market.
VF’s global production sites include factories in
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines,

The moves, to be done in phases, will start in creating a hyper-digital supply chain with a key hub Thailand and Vietnam, while 13 per cent of the
April and are expected to be completed by mid- in Singapore”. group’s $10.5 billion in revenue came from the Asia-
2022. The planned facility in the Republic will boost Pacific region in the year to March 28 last year.

10
New Balance Reveals Basketball Shoe for 2021
N
ew Balance started its push back into
basketball in November 2018 when it signed
NBA star Kawhi Leonard, and since has
delivered several acclaimed performance and retro
hoops shoes. Next year, the athletic brand will add a
new court-ready look to its product offering.
The Boston-based brand revealed the New
Balance Two Wxy, a shoe it described as a look
for the positionless player. The shoe was shown
in two colorways — one using blue and gold hues
and the other in black, pink, orange and blue — and
although an exact release date wasn’t given, the
brand stated it will launch in 2021.
Although this model isn’t available yet, New
Balance has plenty of performance basketball
sneakers to shop now. For instance, Leonard’s first-
ever signature shoe — dubbed the New Balance
Kawhi — which retails for $160.

Adidas collaborates with Pharrell Williams

P
harrell Williams has delivered
several coveted shoes with
Adidas Originals as of late,
however the latest look could be the
most anticipated of them all.
Another iteration of their collaborative
Hu NMD shoe will arrive before
Christmas, a look that the German
sportswear powerhouse said continues
their “exploration of monochromatic bold
color palettes and linguistic references
from around the world.”
The look, from collar to outsole, is
executed in green tones. It features
green engineered Primeknit textile
uppers that are paired with Boost
cushioned midsoles. It features
contrast in mint details on the midsole
and upper, and black around the
collar. To explore the linguistic theme,
Williams and Adidas Originals added
a stitched graphic on the uppers in a
mint color that reads “Human Race” in
Vietnamese.

Luxury Flip Flop Brand Hari Mari Taps New President

H
ari Mari, the luxury flip flop brand, has named a new president. The
company announced that Jake Szczepanski would be taking the helm,
effective immediately.
In his new role, Szczepanski, who has been a board member at Hari Mari
for the past three years, will help scale and manage the company’s internal
operations and supply chain to keep pace with the brand’s growth plans. In
addition, he will lead the development and launch of Hari Mari’s first apparel line,
which is slated to debut in the spring.
Szczepanski joins Hari Mari after co-founding and serving as CEO of
menswear and womenswear label Billy Reid for 13 years.
“His professionalism combined with his lifetime of consumer good and
brand-building know how is going be an extraordinary feather in our cap as
Hari Mari takes this next natural step into lifestyle and apparel categories,”
said Hari Mari founder Jeremy Stewart. “And, with the sizeable growth Hari
Mari has experienced over the last few years, we look forward to adding Jake’s
experienced voice and leadership to our management team to help foster its
next growth
Hari Mari was founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Jeremy and Lila
Stewart.
While the brand is known for its popular flip flops, its charitable outreach
is a cornerstone of its brand identity. “The Hari Mari brand has established a
foundation and a strategy for continued success alongside a highly talented
management team. As the footwear and fashion industry evolves during
these unprecedented times, Hari Mari is uniquely positioned and poised for
accelerated growth in the years to come,” Szczepanski said in a statement. “I
look forward to leveraging my experience to build on the brand’s momentum,
helping to grow a premium flip flop maker at its core into a fulsome premium
lifestyle label in the months and years to come.”

Urban Out tters Names New CEO, Shakes Up Leadership Ranks

U
rban Outfitters Inc. has named a new
CEO for its namesake label. The fashion
group — also parent to brands including
Anthropologie, Free People, Nuuly and Terrain —
announced the appointment of Sheila Harrington
to the top post at Urban Outfitters. She will enter
the role, as well as hold onto her position as CEO
of Free People, when current Urban Outfitters CEO
Trish Donnelly departs at the end of the month to
pursue a new career opportunity.
lead the brand’s wholesale business. Both Conforti
and Wisden will report to Harrington.
“We thank Trish for her seven years of dedicated
service to the company. During her tenure, she built
a strong, talented team, and the Urban brand grew
revenues by over 10%,” Urban Outfitters Inc. CEO
Richard Hayne said in a statement. “I congratulate
Sheila, Gabrielle and Emma on their promotions and
added responsibility.”
The announcement came in tandem with the
coronavirus pandemic. According to the group,
those same-store sales were partially offset by
strong double-digit growth in e-commerce.
By brand, comps rose 1% at Free People but fell
8% at Urban Outfitters and 12% at Anthropologie.
Wholesale segment sales also sank 1%.
For the 11 months ended Dec. 31, revenues
plummeted 14.3% over the same period last
year. Comps tumbled 12% as government-
mandated restrictions on nonessential retailers
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

What’s more, Gabrielle Conforti, who serves as
chief merchandising officer at Urban Outfitters, was
promoted to president of Urban Outfitters North
America, while Emma Wisden will continue as
managing director of Urban Outfitters Europe and
release of the Philadelphia-based company’s
holiday sales report. For the months of November
and December, Urban Outfitters Inc. saw an
8.4% drop in revenues, while comps decreased
9% due to reduced store traffic as a result of the
in the spring led to the widespread shutdown
of its brick-and-mortar fleet. Even when stores
reopened, Urban Outfitters Inc. noted “lower
store productivity.” The wholesale division was
also down 42%.

11
EDITOR Launch Trends | Editor’s Pick

1
Casual wear by
VON WELLX GERMANY
Healthy footwear brand Von Wellx Germany has launched their casual wear range comprising of sneakers, sandals and floaters.
Keeping in pace with 2021-year trend, the new collection comes with minimalist design but are most versatile and stylish. The newTyler
shoes are made of breathable leather in dual shades that are classic yet fits best to the contemporary vibe. Besides, the collection also
features sandals- a perfect option for the conscious men of today’s timeto whom comfort is high on priority.

Shoe-Mance by
2
ALBERTO TORRESI
Alberto Torresi, a home-grown footwear brand, introduces an exclusive range of Valentine’s Day inspired slip-ons, lace-on sneakers and
women’s boots for the fashion-conscious millennials. With ultra-modish looks, slide into the comfiest shoes perfect to keep your feet
clutched and relaxed. Love affair of the 70’s returned this season with chic-chunk boots, packed with classy and sleeked design these
boots have just the oomph factor you need to take your outfit game a notch higher.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

12
’S PICK 3
Bags by
DA MILANO
Da Milano stands for having fun and breaking the monotony with their bags, featuring standout textures and patterns to celebrate
life in all its forms. Tapping into one of this season’s biggest trends and colours, Da Milano’s range plays with quilting leather type
and colours like red, blue and green to attract the millennials. Team it with your oversized sweater and boots or a chic sweater dress
and step out in style.

Everlasting love By
4
ENTICE, KGK SINCE 1905
In this season of love, Entice, KGK Since 1905 unveils a Valentine’s inspired range of timeless diamond jewellery. Translating the
iconic heart shape into perfectly crafted masterpieces, the enchanting assortment embodies the true essence of eternal love. Heart
cut diamonds and rose/yellow gold or platinum dance together in harmony in this whimsical portrayal of modern love.Aesthetically
mesmerising to suit varied flairs of women for daily adornment, the new range makes for a picture-perfect gift to bestow upon the
significant other.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

13
 Launch Trends | Editor’s Pick

Universe of Love by
5
ORNAZ
Ornaz, engagement rings and diamond brand, has created a beautiful ripple in the “Universe of Love” for Indian couples.
ORNAZ have cutting-edge advanced web - technology with features of Virtual Ring Try On, vivid 360° diamond viewing
experience along with virtual consultations assisted by experts. Ornaz also offers a lifetime diamond upgrade program on all our
GIA graded diamonds. Their legendary rings are crafted by highly skilled artisans and available globally.

Disney Mickey Mouse X Keith Haring

6
Collection by
SWATCH
The latest Swatch collaboration with Disney & the Keith Haring Studio celebrates the iconic 1980’s New York social activist and pop-
artist, renowned for his revolutionary and provocative graffiti-esque pictograms, lines and symbols. The result is a Swatch collection
featuring Disney’s Mickey Mouse reimagined by late Haring’s signature aesthetic, vibrant energy and colors. Big on making art
accessible to all, Swatch mastered collaborations long ago as the first watchmaker in the industry to partner with artists, including
Kiki Picasso, Alfred Hofkunst and David LaChapelle x Amanda Lepore.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

14
Advertorial | CLE

Pre- Budget Consultation Meeting with Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman

Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs for Union Budget 2021-22
December 19, 2020

S
mt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs held the pre-budget consultation meeting with captains of industry, trade
and services on Union Budget 2021-22 through VC on December 19, 2020. Shri P.R. Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman, CLE participated in this meeting.

Chairman, CLE stated that under the leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narenda Modji ji, we have become the most favoured country and today India’s
economy has re-bound and is appreciated worldwide. Chairman, CLE thanked the Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs for the various
packages extended to the industries which have helped in economic revival.
Chairman, CLE took-up various requests for overall export growth and development of the leather and footwear industry in this meeting, including the
following requests.

• The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
(ECLGS 2.0): ECLGS 2.0 has been extended
to 26 sectors as per the report of the expert
Committee on Resolution Framework for COVID
19 related stress headed by Shri V.V. Kamath.
ECLGS 2.0 may kindly be extended to the leather
and footwear industry, as our sector had a
pre-shipment period also, considering that we
are witnessing the adverse impact created
by the Pandemic not seen for the last 100
years. Hence, extension of ECGC coverage is
requested to cover any cancellation of export
orders after production, so as to protect the
exporters.
• Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported
Products (RODTEP): The new RODTEP
Scheme may kindly be considered for the
leather and footwear industry at an earlier
stage, as the MEIS has become WTO
non-compatible and the scheme benefits
are factored in our export prices. Hence,
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

setback on account of COVID 19 Pandemic and
for revival of export, there is a huge working
capital requirement.
• Extension of ECGC coverage for pre-shipment
period: The ECGC coverage be extended for
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI): PLI scheme may
kindly extended to the leather and footwear
sector so as to enhance price competitiveness
and to generate additional employment
opportunities.
RODTEP is required for the survival of the
industry. RODTEP scheme will enhance
price competitiveness of the sector and will
help in promoting exports in the challenging
global market situation.

15
 Advertorial | CLE

Meeting with Shri Nitin Gadkari

Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and MSME
January 5, 2021, New Delhi

S
hri P.R. Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman, CLE had a meeting with Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSME in New
Delhi on January 5, 2021 and discussed about cluster development projects for overall growth and development of the leather and footwear industry.
During the meeting, Chairman, CLE apprised the Hon’ble Minister about the project of Tannery CETP reject Salt Processing Plant proposed by the
tanning industry in Tamil Nadu.

Shri P.R. Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman, CLE with Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSME

Chairman, CLE also apprised the Hon’ble Minister about the approval given by Ministry of Commerce and Industry for establishment of Mega Leather,
Footwear and Accessories Development Cluster (MLFAC) in Kanpur and took-up the request of establishment of Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI) in
Kanpur, similar to the CFTI institutions functioning in Chennai and Agra, so as to provide the required training and consultancy services to the industry in Kanpur.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Meeting with Shri D.K.Singh, Development Commissioner, MSME

Shri P.R.Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman, CLE and Shri R.Selvam,IAS, ED,CLE met Shri D.K. Singh IAS, Development Commissioner ,MSME, Ministry of MSME,
Government of India in New Delhi on January 5 2021 and discussed about MSME development projects in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

16
Advertorial | CLE

Meeting with Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey

Hon’ble Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
January 5, 2021, New Delhi

S
hri P.R. Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman, Leather Sector Skill Council (LSSC) met Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon’ble Union Minister for Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship in New Delhi on January 5, 2021 and apprised the Hon’ble Minister about skill development initiatives in the leather and footwear
industry.

Chairman, CLE thanked the Hon’ble Minister for implementing the flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) under “Skill India Mission”
launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi on 15th of July 2015, to unlock the vision of making India the ‘Skill Capital’ of the world.

Meeting with Virtual Exhibition promoters

S
hri P.R.Aqeel Ahmed, Chairman, CLE along with Shri Sanjay Leekha, Vice- Chairman, CLE had a meeting with the developers/promoters of virtual exhibitions
in New Delhi on January 5, 2021 and discussed about the holding virtual fairs and exhibitions.

SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Meeting with Shri D.K.Singh, Development Commissioner, MSME

17
 Gallery | Pierre Cardin

PIERRE CARDIN:
SPACE AGE TO BUBBLE DRESS
Cardin looked to make fashion democratic and launched women’s ready-to-wear in
1963. Famous fans of his looks included Jackie Kennedy, Jeanne Moreau, Lauren
Bacall, the Beatles and Lady Gaga.

P
ierre Cardin, the legendary French fashion designer and business pioneer,
passed away. He was 98. He died in a hospital in Neuilly, near Paris. The cause
has not been disclosed.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Known for his avant garde, geometric designs, Cardin rose to fame in the
1950s and 1960s for his “Space Age” collection and iconic Bubble Dress. He
also became a master in licensing, not only for his clothing and cosmetics but later for
products ranging from mattresses to cigarettes. Cardin reportedly had 800 licenses in 140
countries, including men’s shoes in the ’70s and ’80s from Smerling Imports.

18
 In the 2000s, Cardin’s designs were continually put on
display through retrospectives in the U.S., Japan, Brazil,
Greece, Italy, France and more. In 2018, Cardin’s 40 years
of work in China was celebrated with a fashion show on the
Great Wall of China.

Italian-born Cardin moved to France at

the age of 2. In 1945, he went to Paris and
worked for designers including Paquin,
Schiaparelli and Christian Dior. In 1950, he
launched his namesake label.
Cardin looked to make fashion
democratic and launched women’s ready-
to-wear in 1963. Famous fans of his looks
included Jackie Kennedy, Jeanne Moreau,
Lauren Bacall, the Beatles and Lady Gaga.
His work we celebrated across the world
throughout the decades. In the 2000s,
Cardin’s designs were continually put on
display through retrospectives in the U.S.,
Japan, Brazil, Greece, Italy, France and
more. In 2018, Cardin’s 40 years of work in
China was celebrated with a fashion show
on the Great Wall of China.
Most recently, he appeared in
September at the Théâtre du Châtelet in
Paris for an event honoring 70 years of
his work. Cardin was joined by Jean Paul
Gaultier, Christian Louboutin, Inès de
la Fressange, among others. There, the
“House of Cardin,” documentary, which
premiered at the Venice Film Festival last
September, was screened for guests.
Cardin was cheered with a standing
ovation.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

“It is a day of great sadness for all

our family. Pierre Cardin is no more,”
Cardin’s family said in a statement. “We
are all proud of his tenacious ambition
and the daring he has shown throughout
his life.”

19
 Insight | Clarks

‘UNIFIED COMMERCE IS
VACCINE FOR RETAIL COVID’
British footwear brand Clarks has strong plans in place for further increasing its
presence in India with around six new store launches slated for the first half of
2021. In the next three years, the brand wants to focus on increasing the store
presence to 100+ from the current 50. It has already launched the first phase of
their omni-channel approach to connect its physical and digital offerings. In an
interview with S&A magazine Dr. N. Mohan, Executive Director and CEO Clarks
India shares some valuable insights.
Dr. N. Mohan

Future plans and expansion plans of the
brand in post-lockdown - New measures,
strategies in place to cope up with the gaps.
The brand has strong plans in place for further
increasing its presence in India with around six
new store launches slated for the first half of
2021 itself. In the next three years, we want to
focus on increasing the store presence to 100+
from the current 50. The brand has already
launched the first phase of their omni-channel
approach to connect its physical and digital
offerings. We will be integrating all our touch-
points to offer a truly seamless experience to
the customers.
Further, the brand is adapting the product
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
even the newly seeded ‘Work From Home’
culture.
One of the key learnings from the year
2020 has been the latent demand from Tier
2 and Tier 3 cities. The consumers in these
markets are more informed and aspire to own
premium products. Being an aspirational
brand we strongly believe in the potential of
these markets and plan to capture this growing
aspiration through various channels.
Impact on Indian footwear industry during
and post Covid -19- Benefits, challenges,
solutions.
Covid has severely affected the retail industry,

offerings to the new normal - revisiting our
archives to bring more Athleisure products.
The idea is to offer products more suited to
the Indian consumer, products that are high
fashion and can be paired with a variety of
looks, including traditional Indian attires and
more so the footwear industry because people
did not step out of their homes for a very long
time. As an industry we witnessed a sharp drop
in sales throughout the period. Sales gradually
picked up around the festive period in October
and November and reached about 70% - 75%

20

of the previous year numbers. We are
confident that the business will be back
to its previous year levels in 2021.
Also, one interesting change that we
observed is that post Covid, people have
become more aware about health and
wellness. People are now conscious
about the products they are purchasing
and its impact on their health. This
is beneficial for a brand like Clarks
because foot health and comfort is a
core fundamental for all our products.
Measures implemented in the
factories, retail stores for the safety of
the customers and employees.
At Clarks, well-being is core to what
we sell. This extends to our employee
culture as well. We ensured our
employees didn’t feel isolated, providing
channels for emotional and financial
support. Free rations were provided
Further, the brand is
adapting the product
offerings to the New Normal
- revisiting our archives
to bring more Athleisure
products. The idea is to offer
products more suited to the
Indian consumer, products
that are high fashion and
can be paired with a variety
of looks, including traditional
Indian attires and even the
newly seeded ‘Work From
Home’ culture.
to staff with big families who faced
challenges in meeting their daily needs.
We also ensured the well-being of our
patrons and staff by deploying stringent
hygiene measures at our stores,
ensuring a safe shopping experience.
This included daily sanitisation of the
products that were tried-on, weekly
sanitisation of entire store and strict
protocols and rosters for the retail staff
to adhere to the Government stated
guidelines of social distancing and
sanitisation.
Apart from this, clear communication
for the customers to follow the social
distancing and hygiene measures
were deployed using in-store POS and
collaterals. Sanitisation stations at the
entrance were also provided at stores.
Quick attempt of reopening Clarks
stores PAN INDIA - Thought and
ground work behind it.
With the lockdown restrictions in place,
businesses especially retail, came to a
halt with store closures for uncertain
period and supply chains impacted. But
we used this time as an opportunity to
go back to the drawing board creating
multiple business scenarios closely
monitoring the Government regulations
pertaining to the Unlock phases.
We evaluated the relative impact of the
Lockdown on the business environment
and reframed our retail policies and
protocols conforming to the new
normal. We rejigged our merchandise
assortment, communications, customer
touch-points and hygiene measures that
would suit the post-lockdown customer
demands with a key objective of ‘building
trust’ within the shopper community.We
also introduced new Unlock SOPs for
our stores and front-end staff ensuring a
safe environment for our teams as well
as our patrons.
How the brand is evolving and
emphasizing on increasing its digital
footprint through the online shopping
format to shore up sales and
customer attention?
2020 was the year of the digital
transformation for our organisation at
a holistic level and not only in terms of
using digital as a tool to sell or market
our brand. Much before the pandemic
set-in, we started re-imagining our
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
methods of doing business including
internal processes, external interactions
and ways to engage our consumers.
Covid-19 only fuelled this change,
helping us turn the crisis into an
opportunity to invest our time and efforts
21
 Insight | Clarks
to develop an omni-channel strategy
with agility to give our stakeholders and
consumers a differentiated experience of
the brand.
Traditionally, our business was
focussed on brick-and-mortar retail
with a relatively smaller presence on
Ecommerce. But the current pandemic
shifted our focus substantially towards
‘unified commerce’ which in my opinion
is a vaccine for the retail covid. Hence,
we pivoted our business to Digital to
create frictionless customer experiences
that can capture those micro-moments.
• We created special collections / ranges
as new product offerings with the help
of ecommerce eg: Casual / Athleisure
Range which we called ‘Formal for the
new normal’
• Launched omni-channel to unify
shopping experiences both inside
and outside the stores by enabling
BOPIS (Buy Online Pick-up InStore) &
BORIS (Buy Online Return In Store)
as well asConversational commerce
using Whatsapp for our existing
loyal customers. It has also assisted
us in enhancing our merchandise
productivity per store and reduced the
risk of lost sales
• Launch B2B Commerce using buying
platforms that enable shopkeepers in
Tier 2 and 3 cities to go online via a
direct access to Clarks’ inventory with
features like flexibility to buy anytime,
anywhere and in any configuration
for the goods to be delivered at their
doorstep. Thishelped in penetrating
to the deeper ends of the Indian
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
market through digital and made
Clarks productsaccessible / billable to
geographies with no Clarks presence
How Clarks has redefined the
modern footwear industry in India
22
We evaluated the relative
impact of the Lockdown on
the business environment and
reframed our Retail policies
and protocols conforming
to the New Normal. We
rejigged our merchandise
assortment, communications,
customer touch-points and
hygiene measures that
would suit the Post-lockdown
customer demands with a
key objective of ‘building
trust’ within the shopper
community.
and has established a leadership
position in the market.
Over the past decade, Clarks has
dramatically expanded the scope of its
offerings to provide an elevated brand
experience encompassing product,
retail design and distribution. During
these years, Clarks has catered to the
needs of their discerning customers
in India, offering shoes for men and
women across youth to old ages
bringing the best in comfort and style
inspired by innovative technology or fine
craftsmanship. Clarks is probably the
only brand in India to provide shoes in
half sizes that ensures every consumer
gets a perfect fit.
India’s demand for innovation has
challenged Clarks to develop more
creative environments to sell shoes. To
meet this demand, Clarks brought its
new store environment PURE to India,
that reflects the brand’s British heritage
and global presence while offering a
range of premium, superior quality
products aligned to the global trends for
today’s fashion conscious consumers.
The brand has also made its products
available by expanding their reach to
smaller but high potential cities.
Since the launch of the brand’s first
exclusive store in Delhi’s Connaught
Place in April 2011, Clarks has come a
long way opening several stores in key
cities and expanding their distribution
footprint through multiple channels in
Wholesale as well as Ecommerce. Today,
Clarks operates through 50 Exclusive
stores, 500 touch points including Large
Format & Multi-brand stores across
key metros including Delhi, Mumbai,
Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai,
Kolkata and Tier 1 / mini metros like
Pune, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur
etc. In terms of the digital footprint,
Clarks retails through their brand portal
– Clarks.in along with a presence on
Marketplaces like Flipkart& Amazon,
Ecommerce fashion destination Myntra
and a few others.
Campaigns and initiatives designed
specifically during Covid-19
As they say – ‘When the going gets
tough, the tough gets going’, we strived
to optimize the resources at hand to
continue the dialogue with our employees,
customers & business partners through
our Facebook page, Store Re-opening
retail communication as well as
internal communications through these
unprecedented times.
Be it the creation of internal
‘motivational film’with the participation
of all the Corporate & Front end teams or
a contemporary rendition of ‘The Clarks
Foot soldier’s tale’ through a comic strip
style storytelling, we ensured the spirits of
the entire Clarks India family remain high
and they remain charged to deliver better
challenging their limits each day.
As one of the key initiatives on the
Business transformation, the brand
pivoted the business to Digital by
activating their Omni-channel and ECom
B2B business too which started showing
positive results from the initial phase itself.
We also kick-started Clarks India’s 10th
Anniversary campaign across our Retail
& Digital formats to keep our audiences
engaged. Amplifying the celebrations, the
‘Feather in The Cap’ for Clarks India was to
be recognised as one of the Best Brands
2020 by Economic Times. The Award
communication was used across all our
Retail stores to build trust among our
customers..
SHOES &
ACCESSORIES
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 EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE
"CHALLENGES EXCITE ME."
Aqeel Panaruna, Chairman Florence Shoe Company Pvt Ltd
is used to confronting challenges. He holds them head on,
taking them in his stride to innovate and cultivate, which is
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
why he didn’t wane when COVID-19 hit.
Refusing to relent to the pandemic and plunging orders, the
Chairman of one of the most successful manufacturing and
exporting firm, Florence Shoes Company Pvt Ltd, relied
instead on his sharply honed instincts to quickly reconfigure
his business and turn around the mindset of his team.
24
AHEAD OF THE PACK
Aqeel Panaruna, a suave personality and fiercely ambitious
has proved to be a smooth and extremely capable leader of
the Company and as well of the Apex body of the Indian
leather and footwear sector – Council for Leather Exports.
Chairman Council for Leather Exports (CLE) Aqeel Ahmed is
a Super statesman and unusually forceful. He has the piety,
reserve and sense of balance that makes him a natural
leader. This pedagogical approach espoused by him, with its
dense prose – established such supremacy in the Council,
would become the set standard for a long time to come.
Shoes & Accessories
HEADQUATERED AT CHENNAI

SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Shoes & Accessories

25
Shoes & Accessories
25 YEARS IN BUSINESS

SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Shoes & Accessories

27
 INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

“In the past 2 years, I have attended and deliberated numerous meetings at all levels and stages, be it with
government officials or international representations. I am thankful to the government of India, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry for extending full support. We, also thank the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME) for the new definition wherein a company with up to Rs 50 crore investments and up to
Rs 250 crore turnover is classified as a medium enterprise. Now the industry constitutes & represents 96%
MSME.” he added, " While, CLE is sure that creativity and technical innovation are the driving forces of the
green industries of the future, and will in turn be the catalyst for green jobs, future growth and more
sustainable development. We recognise the urgent need to protect the world’s ecosystems and reduce the
carbon emissions that come from the creation, distribution and disposal of waste. The industry is fast moving
towards zero waste for direct operations, products and packaging by 2030. Sustainability, recycling, and the
circular economy were among the top industry trends; and they will continue to be so for the next decade to
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

reduce plastic waste, carbon footprints, and emissions. - sustainable development. Industry will adopt very
soon Zero Waste for all their leather productions."

Shoes & Accessories

28
APRIL'21, FSC IS GEARING UP TO REOPEN IT'S
ANOTHER REFURBISHED STATE OF THE ART
FACILITY FOR CASUAL AND ATHLETIC SHOES.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Shoes & Accessories

29
 Opinion | Baby Products

BOOMING
BABY PRODUCTS
INDUSTRY IN INDIA

By Sumit Suneja, Managing Partner at Rabitat (www.Rabitat.com)

Categories like babycare products are projected to grow at 14% between 2020 and 2025. More couples
are now raising their children in nuclear family set ups allowing them the freedom to experiment with
new products for their children which they may not have been able to do in a traditional joint family.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

30
I
f there is one industry, especially
in India, that promises to never
go out of business, it is surely
one to do with baby care. With
twenty seven million babies born
each year in India and fifty one births
occurring each minute, it is safe to say
that there is huge opportunity for all
sorts of baby and children’s products
including skincare, haircare, baby food,
toiletries, footwear, toys, utilities, apparel
and more.
The demand for baby care products
has only seen a consistent rise and is
projected to rise even further in the
coming years. According to the report by
the firm Technavio, the apparel segment
accounts for 90% of the market, followed
by toys at nearly 7% and baby cosmetics,
food, accessories and diapers together
constitute over 2%. The demand for baby care products has only seen a
A walk through your neighbourhood consistent rise and is projected to rise even further in
store or a search on your Amazon app
the coming years. According to the report by the rm
will show you the amount of options
available to parents today - branded, Technavio, the apparel segment accounts for 90% of
unbranded, high end designer wear, the market, followed by toys at nearly 7% and baby
Made in China, Made in USA, Vocal for cosmetics, food, accessories and diapers together
Local, Sustainable; today’s parents are
spoilt for choice. Luckily, these choices constitute over 2%.
are available at a wide price range
allowing new parents to buy a variety of
baby products in their own budget. larger disposable incomes, more children which they may not have been
India as a market is so wide and working women, rapid urbanization and able to do in a traditional joint family.
diverse in its demographic segmentation exposure to the west through travel and
that there is room for everyone and media platforms has led to an increase Rabitat’s Niche
still sometimes parents have a hard in demand by parents for specialized Our own parenting brand, Rabitat was
time finding exactly what they want. baby products. Categories like babycare born from the realization that parents
Parenting styles and preferences are products are projected to grow at 14% in India lacked a good premium brand
so personal that sometimes a product between 2020 and 2025. More couples that they could trust for their babies and
that is a favourite for some proves to be are now raising their children in nuclear young children. My brother and I were
completely useless for other parents. family set ups allowing them the freedom constantly inundated with requests for
Thee rise of tthe
se o e middle class
dd e c ass witht to experiment with new products for their baby products and gear on our trips
abroad. From diaper bags to strollers to
bottles, moisturizers and swaddles, we’ve
lugged it all back for our friends and
family. We wondered why after so many
years of liberalization, people weren’t
happy with what they found in India.
To understand the space better, we dived
into the baby products market in 2016
by launching our distribution company,
Merlin Brands and started reselling some
of the best known international brands
like Skip Hop, Comotomo and Pearhead
in India. We built a robust distribution
network online and offline, ensuring
that our customer base could buy these
premium products with ease. While we
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

found customers lapping these up even at

pretty steep prices, we realized that they
were still left unsatisfied with the value
they were getting at the end of the day.
We started analyzing the customer
feedback we were receiving for these

31
 Opinion | Baby Products
brands and took up the challenge of
actually trying to create even better baby
and toddler products. While studying
the children’s brands available in India,
we primarily found either mass market
brands that were not necessarily the
best quality, international brands that
are always very expensive and not easily
accessible or smaller boutique brands
that again were very niche, expensive
and not readily available.
We created our own niche with Rabitat
to offer world class yet homegrown baby
and toddler products that are easily
available and accessible through mass
production and a great distribution
network. Our products are available
everywhere - online on our website
Rabitat.com, Amazon, Myntra, Nykaa,
Flipkart and offline in major stores like
Hamleys, Mothercare and even your
smaller brick and mortar stores so a
parent can buy Rabitat whenever and
wherever they like.
Having been in the parenting products
niche for 4 years now, we find that
while there is huge opportunity in this
industry, manufacturers, retailers and
distributors walk a tightrope to strike the
right balance. Naturally all parents want
the best for their baby but they are also
very price conscious especially because
babies and young children outgrow their
things very quickly. Hence, a babycare
brand needs to ensure it is offering the
best value to its customers while not
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
compromising on the most important
aspect of safety and quality for the end
user. Compromising on safety can lead to
hard and soft consequences for both the
customer and the brand, spelling doom
in the long run.
32
According to the report
by the firm Technavio, the
apparel segment accounts
for 90% of the market,
followed by toys at nearly
7% and baby cosmetics,
food, accessories and
diapers together constitute
over 2%.
Trust plays a key role among mothers
shopping for baby and child-specific
products. When seeking products in this
category, the main criteria among these
shoppers includes safe, clean products
that contain ethical ingredients with no/
minimal chemicals. Children’s brands
need to keep winning the mother’s
trust over and over again with each
purchase which is why it is essential for
all brands to have their compliances in
place. At Rabitat, we ensure that all of
our products are EN-certified for safety
and we only use GOTS certified fabric
and BPA free plastic for our products.
We spend upto a year in research and
development before introducing a new
product into the market. Our vision is to
be able to take away the parent’s worries
and actually provide a solution through
our products.
The Future
India’s babycare products market is
expected to gain great growth in the
forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data
Bridge Market Research analyses that
the market is growing at a CAGR of
16.9% in the forecast period of 2020 to
2027 and expected to reach USD 5,407.43
million by 2027. Some trends that we
foresee in the near future:
• Eco friendly products: Millennial
parents are looking for more chemical
free products that are made with
natural ingredients and spend a lot
more time researching the products
they intend to buy. Brands will need
to work on making their products
even more eco friendly and gentler for
babies to use.
• Increased online shopping for baby
products: More and more parents
have become comfortable with online
shopping during the pandemic from
a safety perspective and now we see
this continue to grow in 2021 as they
realize the convenience of it while they
multitask in all aspects of their lives.
• Rise in gender neutral products: Like
the west, millennial parents in India
are looking to abandon stereotypes
and break colour codes for boys and
girls. Brands will need to cater to
this demand for more gender neutral
products and will play with more
colours to satisfy the new parents.
As the world struggles to return to
normalcy with glimmers of hope of the
pandemic ending soon, some categories
like strollers and car seats have been
impacted while others have remained
stable. With a steadily increasing baby
population in India, brands need to really
focus on product innovation to cater to
the changing needs of millennial parents
and effective marketing strategies
to differentiate themselves in a fairly
competitive market.
 Retail Updates | Sq. Ft.
A FIZZY SURPRISE IN
BANGALORE’S ORION MALL
O
nline footwear favourite,
Footwear brand Fizzy Goblet opens its doors in Fizzy Goblet launches
Bangalore. Handmade juttis are here to stay its third retail store in
in Namma Ooru! Bangalore’s Orion Brigade
Gateway Mall after its first
two in as many as two years in Mumbai
and Delhi.
Laksheeta Govil, the founder says,
“We have done a lot of pop-up stores in
Bangalore to a great response. I have
personally always enjoyed my time here-
everything from the city’s vibe to its
weather is a dream. Opening our store
here was a long-held plan and it’s exciting
to finally be opening our doors.”
The store was designed by Office of
Cognitive Design, a Bangalore-based
design firm whose brief was to celebrate
India’s artisans and Fizzy Goblet’s artisan
community. The brand’s signature Rose
Gold elements and facade are paired with
an artisan corner.
A first for Fizzy Goblet, the artisan corner
spotlights the master craftspeople who
embroider and build these one-of-a-kind
pieces. A master karigar will embroider
pieces live allowing shoppers a chance
to customize their pieces while observing
one part of the 60 hour process that goes
into making each shoe by hand.
The first 500 in-store shoppers got a
special Fizzy Goblet treat! Anyone walking
into the store got a free mask and a pair of
sliders free with their purchase.
Head over to the Orion Mall in
Bangalore from the 15th of December to
choose from Fizzy Goblet range of classic
and contemporary juttis, Fizzy heels, Fizzy
Kolhas, potlis and the closest envy worth
collaborations with Rahul Mishra, Payal
Singhal, Tribe By Amrapali.
Mention may be made that
Laksheeta Govil launched Fizzy Goblet
at age 24 with the aim of modernizing
the classic jutti and creating a
joyful and youthful brand. Govil
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021
has collaborated with a number of
designers including Payal Singhal and
has dressed a number of Bollywood
celebrities including Priyanka Chopra,
Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor,
Katrina Kaif and more.
33
 Tips | Sneakers

MEN’S
SNEAKERS TO WEAR
WITH JOGGERS
Joggers are great to wear if you want pants that will highlight your sneakers, but choosing the right pair of
kicks to wear at times could be a daunting task.

NIKE AIR ZOOM

TEMPO NEXT%
T he top-tier running shoe from Nike not only performs,
but it also looks great. It features ZoomX foam in
the footbed for energy return that’s paired with a visible
Zoom Air unit, as well as lightweight and durable React
cushioning in the heel. The shoe is also built with a tough
Flyknit and synthetic upper for a secure feel.

ADIDAS ORIGINALS
NMD_R1
T he style-focused shoe with top-tier comfort features responsive
Boost midsole cushioning with TPU overlays and the brand’s
acclaimed Primeknit textile uppers for a sock-like fit.

HOKA ONE ONE

HUPANA EM
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

A lthough geared toward performance, equipped with

breathable engineered knit uppers and springy
rubberized foam outsoles, the Hoka One One Hupana
Flow is arguably the brand’s most stylish look.

34
 NEW BALANCE 327
T he new-look shoe, inspired by NB’s iconic running shoes
of the 1970s, is built with lightweight materials for comfort
and includes large “N” branding on the lateral sides sure to
catch people’s eyes.

REEBOK CLASSIC
NYLON
T his iconic look from the athletic brand first hit
the market in 1984 and remains beloved. It
features lightweight and comfortable EVA midsoles,
abrasion-resistant rubber outsoles and comfort-
focused uppers made from nylon and suede.

HOKA ONE
ONE CLIFTON 7
T he latest addition to the Clifton franchise is equipped with
streamlined engineered mesh uppers, plush collars to
ease Achilles pressure and the plush full-compression EVA
midsoles that Hoka One One is known for.

PUMA CLYDE ALL-PRO

P uma added to its iconic Clyde sneaker
franchise with the release of the Clyde All-Pro,
a lightweight look ready for the basketball court
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

featuring stable ProFoam+ cushioning and the

brand’s durable Matryx engineered knit material
on the uppers.

35
 Tips | Sneakers

SAUCONY
ENDORPHIN PRO
T he road running-ready sneaker looks good. It comes
equipped with lightweight and springy Pwrrun PB
cushioning and the brand’s Speedroll technology designed to
propel you forward so you can run faster rather than harder.

NIKE REACT INFINITY

RUN FLYKNIT
T he Flyknit upper is sleek and durable, and
the shoe is well-cushioned with the brand’s
acclaimed React foam, making the Nike React
Infinity Run Flyknit an ideal look for someone
seeking a shoe that’s both fashion-friendly and
functional.

ADIDAS
ULTRABOOST 20
T he latest look from the acclaimed running shoe
franchise features Primeknit textile uppers for a sock-
like fit, Continental Rubber outsoles for grip — especially
in wet conditions — and, as always, responsive Boost
cushioning.

NIKE REACT PHANTOM

RUN FLYKNIT 2
T
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

his laceless look was created with an elastic

design that paired with the latest in Nike
Flyknit tech helps keep your foot secure. Also, it
features React cushioning technology for a soft
and responsive ride.

36
 NEW BALANCE
FUELCELL SPEEDRIFT
ENERGYSTREAK
T his look from New Balance offers both style and comfort,
featuring energy-returning FuelCell midsoles, breathable
textile uppers and TPU forefoot plates to keep you feeling and
looking good all day long.

NEW BALANCE
FRESH FOAM ROAV
T he highlight of the New Balance Fresh Foam
Roav is the softness that the Fresh Foam midsole
offers. Additionally, the look features bootie upper
construction and the brand’s Ultra Heel design, both
added to provide a snug and supportive fit.

REEBOK ZIG KINETICA

T his look features several acclaimed Reebok technologies
such as its responsive and energized Floatride Fuel
cushioning, the Zig Energy Shell that surrounds the midsole
to return the energy of your stride and its Zig Energy Bands
outsole for further energy return.

PUMA RS-FAST
P uma described its street style-focused RS-Fast as its
fastest and freshest RS sneaker to date, delivered with
a “progressive design that combines early 2000s cues and
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

futuristic vibes.” It is equipped with the brand’s Running

System retro running cushioning technology as well as
mesh uppers with leather overlays.

37
 Shoecare | Waterproof spray

WATERPROOF
SHOE SPRAYS
Rain and snow can wreak havoc on leather, suede and other supple finishes — often beyond repair, yet
you can still rock them when the weather is less severe by treating them with a waterproof shoe spray.
In addition to repelling water on a range of materials, these sprays also help defy salt stains and random
spills from wine, oil and grease.

SCOTCHGARD FABRIC
AND UPHOLSTERY
PROTECTOR
THE ART OF CREP
PROTECT SPRAY
S afe to use on delicate
finishes like silk or wool, this
powerful spray can protect even

D esigned to perform
in all sorts of weather
conditions, this aerosol
your most expensive pairs.

spray works equally

well on suede, canvas,
nubuck and linen. It won’t
discolor materials and the
application should last for
about two weeks.

RUST-OLEUM
NEVERWET BOOT
AND SHOE SPRAY
T his trigger point spray
works on everything from
leather and suede to nubuck,
canvas and more. It’s silicone--
free and need only be applied
once a month for ample
protection.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

38
 KIWI BOOT
WATERPROOFER
Y ou can count on this
aerosol spray to shield
tough work boots and hiking
styles. It’s made to deliver
tough silicone protection for
leather shoes and other fabric
SOF SOLE styles, while allowing the
materials to breathe.
WATERPROOFER
SPRAY
F or easy and thorough
application, this is another
great option. It’s moisture-
and dirt-repellent and safe to
use on nubuck, suede and
most sneaker fabrics. Plus,
it’s silicone-free.

NIKWAX FABRIC
AND LEATHER
PROOF

O ffered in a travel-friendly
size, this option is easy
to pack wherever you go. The
water-based formula can
be used on smooth leather,
synthetic leather, fabric, and
even Gore-tex styles.

UGG SHOE
PROTECTOR

T his 6-ounce spray

from Ugg is non-
toxic, biodegradable and
free of animal products.
It’ll protect your favorite
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

sheepskin boots and

other shoes, too.

39
 Shoecare | Waterproof spray

APPLE BRAND GARDÉ

RAIN & STAIN WATER
REPELLENT
Y ou can use this water and
stain-repeller on leather,
suede and fabric shoes.

GOAT SHIELD SPRAY

T his waterproofing spray
is specifically designed to
protect athletic shoes and lifestyle
sneakers. Although the brand
recommends it should not be
applied to leather or dyed suede,
it’s designed for use on most other
common sneaker materials like
suede, cotton, mesh and vinyl.
Plus, it’s quick-drying.

ECCO REPEL
SHOE SPRAY

E cco’s Repel works on

smooth leather, nubuck
and suede, oiled nubuck
FORCEFIELD
WATERPROOF
leather, combination leather SPRAY
and patent leather. The PFC-
free formula will also offer
extra durability to Gore-tex
F or use on all types of
footwear, this option
cures in under 25 minutes.
shoes. One application is said to
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

last for up to a year.

40
 SNEAKER LAB
SHOE PROTECTOR
CADILLAC SHIELD WATER
& STAIN REPELLENT S neaker Lab’s shoe
protector comes in

T his fine mist spray safeguards

smooth leather, suede, nubuck
as well as oily nubuck and other
a travel-friendly size and
shields leather, suede,
nubuck, canvas, mesh and
materials, exclusing patent or various knits.
vinyls.

RESHOEVN8R
SHOE WATER &
SIMPLE SHINE. STAIN REPELLENT
WATERPROOF SPRAY

U se this on smooth finished

leathers, reptile and exotic
R eshoevn8r is also
effective on leather,
suede, canvas, mesh and
skins, vinyls and more. nylon shoes.
SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

41
 Gallery | The Artisan

THE ARTISAN BY
VIKRAM UBEROI
Ladies wallet
Each piece is hand carved on leatherband hand painted.
Inspuration derived from the inlay work of the forts and
palaces of india

Back pack made of suede and hand carved leather

Bikers wallet hand crafted hand carved and painted

SHOES & ACCESSORIES JANUARY 2021

Clutchhand carved and hand painted

42
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