Premium footwear OluKai launches first Spring/Summer Line
26 Apr '06
3 min read
US based leading premium footwear, OluKai has launched its first season with an exclusive line of premium men's and women's sandals that reflect the comfort and ease of the ocean-oriented lifestyle with the finest fabrications and construction in the market.
The line, which is available in selected surf/specialty and boutique locations, is divided into two categories: Mauka, the Hawaiian word for "inland," and Makai, the word for "towards the ocean."
The Makai styles are designed for use in and around water, while the Mauka styles feature premium leather fabrications for a dressier, elegant casual look.
All OluKai sandals feature an anatomically designed footbed shape that provides superior comfort and foot-fitting support.
Bill Worthington who directs the design of the brand and its products, Matt Till who runs manufacturing and operations and Dan McInerny, who runs the sales and marketing effort, found OluKai.
Worthington was born in Hawaii and raised in California where he graduated from the prestigious Art Center of Design in Pasadena. Worthington spent eight years with Nike as a footwear designer before moving to Fila as creative director from '96 to '98 and on to D.C. in the same role from '98 to 2000.
In 2000, Worthington launched Worthing1 Design in San Diego before returning to Portland in 2003. Worthington's clients included Roxy and Converse, among others.
Till, born in California and raised in Oregon, is also a Nike alumnus. Till worked in Asia as a production supervisor in Jakarta and Ho Chi Min City from '91 to '97 and then Quindao, China as technical director overseeing production of several factories.