Merrell to develop enviro-friendly footwear under Patagonia brands
07 Jun '05
6 min read
Casual footwear, shoes, sandals & boots retailer Wolverine World Wide Inc & Patagonia Inc have entered into a long-term global license agreement to produce Patagonia footwear. The first product line is expected at retail in spring 2007.
Under the agreement, Merrell, a leader in outdoor performance footwear, will design, manufacture and market performance footwear under the prestigious Patagonia name with rights to other Patagonia brands including Water Girl, clothing and swimwear for women, and Lotus Designs, white-water paddling gear. Consumers will find the new footwear line in over 32 Patagonia stores in the U.S., Europe and Japan, in Patagonia's distribution network, and in premium footwear and outdoor specialty stores.
Global distribution will be top-tier specialty stores and Patagonia's distribution network. Patagonia and Wolverine World Wide Licensing Agreement for Patagonia Footwear With Product Intro Expected Spring 2007.
Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia's vice president of marketing and environmental initiatives, noted, "A significant license deal between two companies is not unlike a marriage. You do your homework -- do you both see eye-to-eye on not just the fundamentals, but on the fine points of your philosophies? But at the end of the day, as St. Thomas Aquinas put it, you have to trust the authority of your instincts, and here at Patagonia they all feel that we've created a marriage that's going to be both fruitful and long-lived."
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