Press Kit | 2015

2015-2016

MIA Shoes, originally known as MIA Clogs, was founded in 1976 when pop fashion turned to a more relaxed, carefree style. Expanding on the traditional Swedish clog for the hipster crowd, the company became the top seller of Swedish clogs in the United States – selling more than 20,000 clogs per week well into the early 1980s.

Over the years, with new fashion-forward styles and classic favorites, MIA Shoes has grown into a footwear powerhouse with playful sandals, modern heels and classic boots that are comfortable, on-trend, and appeal to women of all ages.

In 2014, MIA launched its leather-crafted Heritage Collection signaling a return to the comfortable and casual styles that have earned MIA Shoes worldwide acclaim for high-quality, trend-savvy footwear. The new line, which artfully blends bohemian influences with traditional footwear, features a wide range of styles from flats and block-style heels to wedges, booties and boots.

One year later with its 40th anniversary approaching, MIA has come full circle, trending back to the Swedish clogs that catapulted the company into footwear fame in the late 1970s. The new line will feature modern as well as classic styles.

While the MIA style has evolved through the years at this Miamibased organization, the company’s leadership has remained a constant.

In addition to CEO and founder Richard Strauss and his wife Maria (the company’s creative director), most of MIA’s top management and designers have been with the company for nearly twenty years.

Today, the closely-held family business includes a Miami corporate office, New York showroom, east and west coast distribution and an e-commerce site. MIA Shoes are sold at major department stores and boutiques nationwide as well as through online retailers

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The MIA label is the main style group of the MIA Shoes company brand. A casual and trend-driven collection, MIA is synonymous with fashionable value for the savvy footwear customer.

“Noti”

THE RE-ISSUE OF THE CLASSIC FISHERMAN SANDAL

1994

In 2014, twenty years after the birth of the classic fisherman sandal, MIA launched a re-issue of the original style.

A mega shoe-star whose popularity lasted from 1994-1998, the NOTI, was a “Mommy and Me” success that sold over a million pairs during the mid-nineties.

2014

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SANDALS & FOOTBEDS THE ICONIC MIA FOOTBEDS BOAST COMFORT AND STYLE

CLASSIC BALLERINAS, SANDALS, BOOTIES AND KNEE-HIGH RIDING BOOTS ALL DESIGNED WITH STREET-SMART CUSHIONED INSOLES

The Heritage label is a commemoration of MIA’s 40th anniversary and a celebration of a return to MIA’s origins of all-leather, quality-crafted footwear. Stylish designs with a mix of Americana and bohemian influences, the Heritage collection is deeply rooted in down-to-earth utilitarian fashion.

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The Heritage Collection stands for exceptional comfort, durability and style.

MIA’s Heritage Collection brings back the essence of quality, affordable footwear with a classic style that appeals to every woman. Finished with a custom-embossed logo design, every shoe in the Heritage Collection features a flexible sole and an Amal-wrapped memory foam sock, creating a soft, cushioned footbed for superior comfort.

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As the go-to source for Swedish clogs in the 1970s, MIA brings back its original 1976 Swedish clog design as well as fresh, modern designs that fit every style and wardrobe. Made in Sweden and crafted from fine Swedish materials, MIA’s clogs are known for their genuine leather, comfortable wooden soles and unique designs, both classic and trendy.

upclose comfort

Feeling Groovy MIA celebrates 40 years by re-introducing its Swedish-made clog collection, circa 1976.

“We’re incredibly proud of those three letters: MIA,” says Garry Leith, brand president. “When you are an American, family-run business in the fashion world and you can sustain in today’s dog-eat-dog market for 40 years, it tells me that our product has validity and our customers like us.”

In celebration of this milestone, MIA has come full-circle, re-introducing the clog collection that put the brand (known as MIA Clogs back then) on the map in 1976. During the late ’70s and early ’80s, MIA sold the highest volume of authentic Swedish clogs in the U.S.—more than 20,000 pairs a week during its height. The brand’s bestseller was the Heidi, a traditional block wood heel clog with a woven leather centerpiece upper. The same design (still dubbed the Heidi) will anchor the re-released collection this fall.

Leith expects the re-issue to once again be a hit. For starters, the ’70s are certainly having a fashion moment, in both footwear and apparel. Plus the fact that many women participating in the trend today were not alive during that decade renders the retro style fresh for a young audience. “This is something she’s never had,” Leith offers. “This is so cool, so fresh and so vintage—all at the same time. Footwear can make or break the outfit, and these clogs will really make the outfit.”

The re-released collection features authentic details like all-wood bottoms, traditional nail head and staple construction and Italian dip-dyed leather and suede. “The line is really built around the authentic, original designs with some updated features for a modern market,” Leith says. “There’s a mixture of closed and open-toe styles, two-pieced sandals that would look great with a bare foot, but also very cool with socks. We’ve got classic patterns with woven braids and slingbacks.” Modern upgrades include darkstained wood bottoms and heavier-weight platforms. All styles will be made in Sweden. “These are the real deal,” Leith proclaims, noting the collection is priced affordably at $79 to $99 retail and is in line with MIA’s business model of offering fashion, fit and value.

Available beginning this August, the collection will be carried by industry leaders such as Zappos, Nordstrom and Macy’s. In particular, Leith says the online tier will be a focal point as MIA’s target consumer “lives” on social media. “[Social media] is where our girl is and that’s where we will be,” he says, adding, “The MIA girl is savvy, she’s confident, she knows how to dress and she loves fashion.” —L.C.

Yogatta Believe Ahnu debuts a Blake Brody collaboration.

“Hey, do you have shoes for yoga?” Jacqueline Van Dine’s aunt asked her in 2011. Van Dine, co-founder of multi-tasking performance brand Ahnu, replied, “No. Shoes for yoga? You don’t really wear shoes for yoga.” Van Dine recounts the story with a laugh and says that was her lightbulb moment.

She realized yoga apparel was starting to trend and the wellness activity was gaining in popularity, but there were no complimentary shoes. Ahnu, a division of Deckers Brands, launched its initial yoga footwear collection, YogaSport, the following spring and is now expanding with a collaborative project featuring Blake Brody, a well-known pilates and yoga instructor.

The new shoe is dubbed, In Studi-Om. Van Dine discovered Brody through a pilates footwear collaboration with one of Ahnu’s sister brands. She reached out to her in 2013 and the two began working on a yoga footwear concept. “We’ve really honed in on the best use of her technology and blended it with our know-how” Van Dine says. “We’ve done a ton of testing; we wanted to make sure the gripping, undersole support and stretch in the toes were right. All of the components had been thoughtfully engineered and tested.”

The In Studi-Om features a split-toe construction, cushioned underfoot, stretch microfiber and an ultra-grip silicone outsole. “It literally fits like a glove,” Van Dine says. “It’s a nice, luxurious product. You feel like you’re barefoot, yet you’re getting the support you need.” Besides fit and grip, Van Dine cites benefits of hygiene and the ability to practice yoga anywhere.

“We’re finding that more studios are requiring some type of footwear for hygienic reasons,” she notes, and with grip features, doing yoga in a carpeted hotel room, for example, is more feasible.

The In Studi-Om collection hits shelves next month, retailing for $49.95.

It will be available in black, gray and magenta, but Van Dine is already planning to expand the palette and introduce new textures and prints.

Distribution is aimed at retailers who carry yoga apparel, like Dillard’s, Nordstrom and Paragon Sports, and Van Dine is also targeting yoga studio shops. To this end, Ahnu has created a Yoga Teacher Ambassador program (it already boasts more than 2,200 yoga instructors nationwide) who will soon be wearing the Blake Brody style. “We feel very happy about how the product turned out and the response so far has been phenomenal,” Van Dine says. —Laurie Cone 52 footwearplusmagazine.com • june 2015

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Greta

With a slingback strap that’s wearable two ways, this clog is right on-trend.

A peep-toe, tractor bottom featuring a heightened heel gives this clog a modern twist.

Alma

Back by popular demand–MIA clogs.

Classic ’70s styles and new, updated designs for today’s free-spirited woman.

Handmade in Sweden.

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MIASHOES.COM

The Forest Stewardship Council sets standards for responsible forest management. A voluntary program, FSC uses the power of the marketplace to protect forests for future generations.

So FSC harnesses market demand to ensure forests are responsibly managed. Because FSC is the gold standard in forest certification, it is the only system supported by groups such as WWF, Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Natural Resources Defense Council and National Wildlife Federation.

Swedish Clogs propelled family–owned and operated MIA Shoes into the footwear industry back in 1976; so it’s very fitting that on the eve of their 40th anniversary, the company is back in Sweden manufacturing clogs.

On a recent trip to visit the factories, CEO and founder, Richard Strauss, discovered that not much has changed since his last visit. Every pair is hand–crafted and inspected before it’s packaged and shipped to the United States.

The leather is imported from Italy and the wood used in making the clogs is alder wood, organically grown in Sweden in areas close to water. The wood must dry for six months before it is ready to be used in the production process.

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In caring for the environment and making sure that they do their part in the preservation of natural resources, MIA only produces clogs in factories that are FSC–certified.

MIA MIA Shoes children labels focus on fashion-forward, kid-appropriate styles for both girls and boys. Many of the styles are taken directly from the women’s line to perpetuate the “Mommy and Me” concept which helped launch the brand back in the early nineties.

In 1991, Richard Strauss was inspired by the birth of his daughter Sydney to create a trend driven line of shoes for girls. Not satisfied with the styles and quality that were being offered in girls’ footwear, the MIA KIDS label was a natural progression for the already established MIA SHOES. With styles for ages ranging from infant through toddlers in Mini MIA; girls sizes nine through four in MIA Kids, MIA children’s labels have all your footwear needs covered. The introduction of the CABLE line for boys has extended MIA’s reach in this category.

While all children’s shoes are designed and manufactured by a MIA staff of designers and factories, the goods are marketed and distributed worldwide by Trimfoot, a licensed company with over 100 years of industry experience.

Every now and then, a few elements bond to create something stronger, something powerful, something with a twist.

Cable footwear for boys creatively blends sporty style, sturdy, distressed materials and a casual, cool look for every occasion.

MIACares

MIA Cares Amanda shoe program puts heart and soles into the fight against breast cancer.

In an effort to help fight breast cancer, Mia Shoes has developed a Mia Cares Amanda shoe program.

Starting September 1 thru October 31, 10% of the proceeds from the sale of all the Amanda shoes will be donated to breast cancer research. The estimated donation value will be a minimum of $5,000.

The donation will be given to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to fund a clinical trial studying new therapies in TNBC (Triple Negative Breast Cancer), one of the deadliest types of breast cancer. The trial will be led by internationally renowned oncologist Dr. Marc Lippman.

In addition to 10% of the sales of the Amanda shoes, Mia will also be donating 400 pairs ($20,000 retail value) of the custom designed Amanda, black with pink ribbon, to be sold on QVC’s October 16th FFAny Shoes on Sale. And they will also be available on the QVC.com page the entire month of October. Eighty percent of the proceeds of the QVC sales will benefit Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation (FFCF).

a To purchase the Amanda shoes and help fight breast cancer go to MIASHOES.COM.

MIA CARES AMANDA SHOE PROGRAM Puts Heart and Soles Into Fight Against Breast Cancer

-TWO NEW INITIATIVES COINCIDE WITH BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTHMiami, FL, August 11, 2014 – Beginning Sept. 1, 2014, MIA Cares, the philanthropic arm of MIA Shoes, will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale of all Amanda shoes to breast cancer research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. In addition, MIA will donate the custom– designed Amanda shoe bearing the iconic pink breast cancer ribbon to be sold on QVC, with proceeds benefiting the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation (FFCF).

“We are thrilled to do our part to raise awareness of breast cancer and support the important research underway at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and other research centers around the country to put an end to this terrible disease,” says MIA founder and CEO Richard Strauss. “The lives of so many of our employees and extended MIA family members have been touched by this all too common cancer.”

The 10 percent cause-related marketing initiative runs Sept. 1 through October 31, 2014.

The donation, expected to exceed $5,000, will support a clinical trial studying new therapies in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), one of the deadliest types of breast cancer.

The trial is being led by one of the world’s leading authorities on breast cancer, Dr. Marc Lippman.

MIA will additionally donate 400 pairs of custom designed Amanda shoes, valued at $20,000, to be sold during QVC’s FFaNY Charitable Shoe Sale on October 16 and throughout the month of October. The special edition black flat features a pink ribbon on the back of the shoe. Eighty percent of the proceeds from the QVC sales will benefit FFCF. Founded in 1976 at the height of the disco craze, Miami-based MIA Shoes (originally known as MIA Clogs) has evolved into a fashion powerhouse focusing on superior material quality and red-hot styling in women’s footwear.

A New York showroom, worldwide distribution, social media and an e-commerce site offering a wide selection of trend-savvy heels, flats, sandals, wedges, boots and sneakers, keeps MIA connected to its customers around the world.

Mia shoes office staff celebrates the success of the Amanda program to raise funds for breast cancer awareness.

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BLOGGERS ARE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR MARKETERS, DESIGNERS, AND CONSUMERS. It’s no secret that in the world of fashion, the most recent surge of social media networking and the impact it has on purchasing decisions has grown exponentially since the late1990’s. Blogs have become mainstream publications taking the marketing industry by storm and forcing organizations to rethink and replan their strategies.

MIA collaborates with numerous Brand Ambassadors to reach targeted audiances on social media platforms.

@kirstencollinsmusic

Kirsten Collins Los Angeles, Ca Social Following: Instagram 105K Facebook 274K

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Danielle Perry North Hollywood, Ca

@xomissdanielle

Social Following: Instagram 121K

@lifesjules

Julie Cheng Santa Monica, Ca Social Following: Instagram 72K

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EDITORIALCOVERAGE MIA is featured monthly in numerous magazines and periodicals. TV shows such as Army Wives, Project Runway, and The Today Show, have featured many of our styles as well. Even though digital has seen a recent surge in popularity, traditional print publications still remain the most circulated media.

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CELEBSINMIA

Vanessa Hudgens

Angela Simmons

Ashley Greene

Kaela Kinney

Leven Rambin

Isasbel Lucas

Maria Menounos

Tori Spelling

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Corporate Office 9985 Northwest 19 Street Miami, Florida 33172 305-455-2600 New York Showroom 1370 Avenue of the Americas 5th Floor New York, New York 10019

MIASHOES.COM