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Feeling Groovy MIA celebrates 40 years by re-introducing its Swedish-made clog collection, circa 1976. “We’re “We’re incredibly incredibly proud proud of of those those three three letters: letters: MIA,” MIA,” says says Garry Garry Leith, Leith, brand brand president. president. “When “When you you are are an an American, American, family-run family-run business business in in the the fashion fashion world world and and you you can can sustain sustain in in today’s today’s dog-eat-dog dog-eat-dog market market for for 40 40 years, years, it it tells tells me me that that our our product product has has validity validity and and our our customers customers like like us.” us.” In In celebration celebration of of this this milestone, milestone, MIA MIA has has come come full-circle, full-circle, re-introducing re-introducing the the clog clog collection collection that that put put the the brand brand (known (known as as MIA MIA Clogs Clogs back back then) then) on on the the map map in in 1976. 1976. During During the the late late ’70s ’70s and and early early ’80s, ’80s, MIA MIA sold sold the the highest highest volume volume of of authentic authentic Swedish Swedish clogs clogs in in the the U.S.—more U.S.—more than than 20,000 20,000 pairs pairs aa week week during during its its height. height. The The brand’s brand’s bestseller bestseller was was the the Heidi, Heidi, aa traditional traditional block block wood wood heel heel clog clog with with aa woven woven leather leather centerpiece centerpiece upper. upper. The The same same design design (still (still dubbed dubbed the the Heidi) Heidi) will will anchor anchor the the re-released re-released collection collection this this fall. fall. Leith Leith expects expects the the re-issue re-issue to to once once again again be be aa hit. hit. For For starters, starters, the the ’70s ’70s are are certainly certainly having having aa fashion fashion moment, moment, in in both both footwear footwear and and apparel. apparel. Plus Plus the the fact fact that that many many women women participating participating in in the the trend trend today today were were not not alive alive during during that that decade decade renders renders the the retro retro style style fresh fresh for for aa young young audience. audience. “This “This is is something something she’s she’s never never had,” had,” Leith Leith offers. offers. “This “This is is so so cool, cool, so so fresh fresh and and so so vintage—all vintage—all at at the the same same time. time. Footwear Footwear can can make make or or break break the the outfit, outfit, and and these these clogs clogs will will really really make make the the outfit.” outfit.” The The re-released re-released collection collection features features authentic authentic details details like like all-wood all-wood bottoms, bottoms, traditional traditional nail nail head head and and staple staple construction construction and and Italian Italian dip-dyed dip-dyed leather leather and and suede. suede. “The “The line line is is really really built built around around the the authentic, authentic, original original designs designs with with some some updated updated features features for for aa modern modern market,” market,” Leith Leith says. says. “There’s “There’s aa mixture mixture of of closed closed and and open-toe open-toe styles, styles, two-pieced two-pieced sandals sandals that that would would look look great great with with aa bare bare foot, foot, but but also also very very cool cool with with socks. socks. We’ve We’ve got got classic classic patpatterns terns with with woven woven braids braids and and slingbacks.” slingbacks.” Modern Modern upgrades upgrades include include darkdarkstained stained wood wood bottoms bottoms and and heavier-weight heavier-weight platforms. platforms. All All styles styles will will be be made made in in Sweden. Sweden. “These “These are are the the real real deal,” deal,” Leith Leith proclaims, proclaims, noting noting the the collection collection is is priced priced affordably affordably at at $79 $79 to to $99 $99 retail retail and and is is in in line line with with MIA’s MIA’s business business model model of of offering offering fashion, fashion, fit fit and and value. value. Available Available beginning beginning this this August, August, the the collection collection will will be be carried carried by by industry industry leaders leaders such such as as Zappos, Zappos, Nordstrom Nordstrom and and Macy’s. Macy’s. In In particular, particular, Leith Leith says says the the online online tier tier will will be be aa focal focal point point as as MIA’s MIA’s target target consumer consumer “lives” “lives” on on social social media. media. “[Social “[Social media] media] is is where where our our girl girl is is and and that’s that’s where where we we will will be,” be,” he he says, says, adding, adding, “The “The MIA MIA girl girl is is savvy, savvy, she’s she’s confident, confident, she she knows knows how how to to dress dress and and she she loves loves fashion.” fashion.” —L.C. —L.C.
Yogatta Believe Ahnu debuts a Blake Brody collaboration. “Hey, “Hey, do do you you have have shoes shoes for for yoga?” yoga?” Jacqueline Jacqueline Van Van Dine’s Dine’s aunt aunt asked asked her her in in 2011. 2011. Van Van Dine, Dine, co-founder co-founder of of multi-tasking multi-tasking performance performance brand brand Ahnu, Ahnu, replied, replied, “No. “No. Shoes Shoes for for yoga? yoga? You You don’t don’t really really wear wear shoes shoes for for yoga.” yoga.” Van Van Dine Dine recounts recounts the the story story with with aa laugh laugh and and says says that that was was her her lightbulb lightbulb moment. moment. She She realized realized yoga yoga apparel apparel was was starting starting to to trend trend and and the the wellness wellness activity activity was was gaining gaining in in popularity, popularity, but but there there were were no no complimentary complimentary shoes. shoes. Ahnu, Ahnu, aa division division of of Deckers Deckers Brands, Brands, launched launched its its initial initial yoga yoga footwear footwear collection, collection, YogaSport, YogaSport, the the following following spring spring and and is is now now expanding expanding with with aa collaborative collaborative project project featuring featuring Blake Blake Brody, Brody, aa well-known well-known pilates pilates and and yoga yoga instructor. instructor. The The new new shoe shoe is is dubbed, dubbed, In In Studi-Om. Studi-Om. Van Van Dine Dine discovered discovered Brody Brody through through aa pilates pilates footwear footwear collaboration collaboration with with one one of of Ahnu’s Ahnu’s sister sister brands. brands. She She reached reached out out to to her her in in 2013 2013 and and the the two two began began working working on on aa yoga yoga footwear footwear concept. concept. “We’ve “We’ve really really honed honed in in on on the the best best use use of of her her technology technology and and blended blended it it with with our our know-how” know-how” Van Van Dine Dine says. says. “We’ve “We’ve done done aa ton ton of of testing; testing; we we wanted wanted to to make make sure sure the the gripping, gripping, undersole undersole support support and and stretch stretch in in the the toes toes were were right. right. All All of of the the components components had had been been thoughtfully thoughtfully engineered engineered and and tested.” tested.” The The In In Studi-Om Studi-Om features features aa split-toe split-toe construction, construction, cushioned cushioned underfoot, underfoot, stretch stretch microfiber microfiber and and an an ultra-grip ultra-grip silicone silicone outsole. outsole. “It “It literally literally fits fits like like aa glove,” glove,” Van Van Dine Dine says. says. “It’s “It’s aa nice, nice, luxurious luxurious product. product. You You feel feel like like you’re you’re barefoot, barefoot, yet yet you’re you’re getting getting the the support support you you need.” need.” Besides Besides fit fit and and grip, grip, Van Van Dine Dine cites cites benefits benefits of of hygiene hygiene and and the the ability ability to to practice practice yoga yoga anywhere. anywhere. “We’re “We’re finding finding that that more more studios studios are are requiring requiring some some type type of of footwear footwear for for hygienic hygienic reasons,” reasons,” she she notes, notes, and and with with grip grip features, features, doing doing yoga yoga in in aa carpeted carpeted hotel hotel room, room, for for example, example, is is more more feasible. feasible. The The In In Studi-Om Studi-Om collection collection hits hits shelves shelves next next month, month, retailing retailing for for $49.95. $49.95. It It will will be be available available in in black, black, gray gray and and magenta, magenta, but but Van Van Dine Dine is is already already planning planning to to expand expand the the palette palette and and introduce introduce new new textures textures and and prints. prints. Distribution Distribution is is aimed aimed at at retailers retailers who who carry carry yoga yoga apparel, apparel, like like Dillard’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom Nordstrom and and Paragon Paragon Sports, Sports, and and Van Van Dine Dine is is also also targeting targeting yoga yoga studio studio shops. shops. To To this this end, end, Ahnu Ahnu has has created created aa Yoga Yoga Teacher Teacher Ambassador Ambassador program program (it (it already already boasts boasts more more than than 2,200 2,200 yoga yoga instructors instructors nationwide) nationwide) who who will will soon soon be be wearing wearing the the Blake Blake Brody Brody style. style. “We “We feel feel very very happy happy about about how how the the product product turned turned out out and and the the response response so so far far has has been been phenomenal,” phenomenal,” Van Van Dine Dine says. says. —Laurie —Laurie Cone Cone 52 52 footwearplusmagazine.com footwearplusmagazine.com •• june june 2015 2015
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