Bass, Cole Haan, Sebago and Dexter are now made abroad.īean is committed to making the boots in Maine at production plants in Lewiston and Brunswick. The “Made in the USA” label affixed to the boots is rare in footwear. When it comes to footwear, other brands have enjoyed a meteoric rise only to fade, including recent examples like Vibram’s FiveFingers and Crocs.īut Lambert believes the Bean boot is different, more akin to classic Converse’s Chuck Taylor sneakers that remain popular year after year. “Teenage girls in Malibu are not always going to be wearing L.L. “There can be times when true classics become trendy,” Hess said from New York. Bean should take a measured approach to growth, because it’s likely double-digit sales growth cannot be sustained over the long haul. Doc Martens, Levi’s jeans and Stanley thermoses are all items that have benefited from the trend.Ĭurrently, some of the hottest-selling shoes are Adidas Stan Smith and Superstar sneakers, designs that saw their heyday 40 years ago, said Dan Hess, CEO of Merchant Forecast, an independent research company.īut retailers like L.L. The Urban Outfitters store in Manhattan currently has record players, old-school vinyl albums and tape decks in the front window this holiday season, Lambert noted. The success is rolled up in a retro trend that strikes a chord both with baby boomers and younger consumers who missed out on phonographs and tape recorders. And the new manufacturing capacity that will come online in the new year will provide greater flexibility to provide funky colors, said Donna Berube, production facility manager. There have been red, blue, white - even purple - versions in recent years. The formula hasn’t changed - they’re still handmade in Maine - but Bean might roll over in his grave over some of the colors offered these days. The original leather-and-rubber “hunting shoe” was designed by Leon Leonwood Bean 104 years ago. ![]() “They’re gravitating to the past and anchoring themselves into it.” Many owners see the boots perform for decades without requiring replacement.“It’d kind of like everything old is new again,” Lambert said. ![]() They're known to be completely flawless from a functionality perspective.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |