NEWS
Iconic Sport founder and design Leslie Chow the subject of a profile in the 2007 Bluebook edition of the NCGA magazine.
Lifestyle brand Kashwére will enter the golf apparel industry and introduce its new golf collection at the PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 25-27, in Orlando, Fla.
Imperial Headwear announces that M.G. Orender, past president of the PGA of America, has been unanimously elected to its board of directors.
Stuburt signs Darren Clarke to a three-year shoe endorsement agreement.
Lija signs LPGA player Christina Kim, 22, to an endorsement agreement. Kim will wear the company's clothing and display the LIJA logo during all on-course activities.
FEATURE
Ecco Making It's Mark
By Lea Hart
Apparel Wire Fashion Correspondent
In the U.S. market, Ecco golf shoes may not be the biggest, but they are working hard to be the best.
The 2007 Spring/Summer line of men's and women's golf shoes features more styles and more colors than ever before. The 2007 men's line features four new styles and seven returning styles, while the women's line features six new styles and seven returning styles. Both lines feature a new variety of color combinations.
"As you look at the line, you do have the traditional saddles and wing tips," said CB Tuite, general sales manager of the Ecco USA Golf Division. "But we've also introduced a lot of fun styles and a lot of colors."
Tuite noted in particular, the addition of the men's Flexor, which includes the Flexor, Flexor Hydromax and Flexor GTX shoe. The Flexor shoe is built atop a new outsole that Tuite believes will provide an asymmetrical fit.
On the women's side, the Casual Pitch will replace the Casual Swing, which will be phased out after 2007, Tuite said. The Casual Pitch line features a variety of colors from pink to green to orange, and stylish design features such as a rose insignia on the Casual Pitch Rose, or an argyle design on the Casual Pitch Argyle.
The addition of more colors coincides with trends in golf apparel this year, Tuite said. Research has shown that men and women are buying more than one pair of golf shoes, he said. So Ecco continues to introduce new styles to give players more options.
Tuite is certain the 2007 line of Ecco golf shoes is bound to turn some heads.
"The response in the marketplace (so far) has been fantastic," he said.
Ecco golf shoes are worn by a mix of U.S. and European pros including Fred Couples, Juli Inkster, Colin Montgomerie, and many more.
The company prides itself on quality and durability. Just a few performance features include ultra-soft, high-grade water resistant leathers, a direct-injection process unique to Ecco golf shoes that ensures durability, comfort, and shock-absorption, and an internal stabilizer in all shoes.
Heading into 2007, Ecco is fourth in overall sales in the U.S. (FootJoy, Adidas and Nike hold the top three spots) and considers itself the leader in the luxury market (pairs sold with retail prices greater than $140). Ecco also prides itself on being an innovator in the comfort, performance and style categories.
"We're targeting a consumer that wants the very best product," Tuite said. "We have a complete package."
Tuite said being the biggest is not Ecco's goal.
"At the end of the day, of course you want to grow your business," he said.
However, Ecco works to ensure that its shoes are sold in places where the vendor can speak to the quality and other features of the shoes, and can get customers fitted with the correct shoe.
"We're in the finest golf clubs and resorts, nationally," he said.
And working to be the best.
|
