Footwear Plus | August 2026

AUGUST 2026

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VOL 36 • ISSUE 7 • $10

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AUGUST 2026 • VOL 36 • ISSUE 7 • $10

More Than a Feeling

TEXTURAL MATERIALS OFFER STYLE AND TACTILE INTRIGUE

CHARTING A COURSE INDUSTRY LEADERS ON HOW TO NAVIGATE TROUBLED WATERS TREND REPORT MUST-HAVE LOOKS FOR SPRING/SUMMER ’27 PITTSBURGH PEARL THE SŌL COLLECTIVE IS ONE GEM OF A BOUTIQUE THIS JUST IN PARIS IS SO HAUTE/HOT

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AUGUST 2026 Twisted X slip-on boat shoe with fabric upper and oil-and-slipresistant rubber outsole; espadrille wedge with raffia upper and cushioned insole by André Assous.

EDITORIAL Greg Dutter Editorial Director Nancy Campbell Trevett McCandliss Creative Directors Kiernan McCormick Fashion Editor Rosemary O’Connell Art Director PAGE

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Kathy Passero Editor at Large Mariah Walker Style Director Darby Dutter Contributing Editor Melodie Jeng Marcy Swingle Contributing Photographers ADVERTISING Noelle Heffernan Publisher Laurie Guptill Production Manager Rich Jarrett Circulation Director

D E P A RT M E N T S

FEATURES

4 Editor’s Note

8 Change Agents Industry leaders sound off on hot-button challenges and what they’re doing to overcome them.

By Greg Dutter

6 This Just In: Paris 38 This Just In: Soccer Style 45 A Note to My Younger Self 62 What’s Selling 64 Last Shot TREND SPOTTING 14 Summer Whites 15 Big Buckles 16 Men’s Joggers 18 Soft Pink 20 Gold Ornaments 22 Sporty Mary Janes 24 Wedge Sandals 25 Men’s Driving Mocs 32 Ladies Loafers

34 Western Booties 35 Platform Sandals 36 Color Pops 37 Men’s Western Work 40 Animal Prints 42 Ballet Flats 44 Perforations 61 Men’s Boat Shoes 63 Kitten Heels

26 Heart and Sōl At Pittsburgh’s The Sōl Collective, shoppers find curated comfort…and joy.

By Kathy Passero 46 Summer Swing A dressier lineup of men’s sandals serves as a pinchhitter for sneakers.

By Kiernan McCormick 48 Textural Feeling Summer silhouettes are easy, breezy, and a little rough around the edges.

By Kiernan McCormick

On the cover: wedge sandals with suede and raffia uppers and EVA soles by Naot.

Photography: Trevett McCandliss; styling: Mariah Walker/Art Department; fashion editor: Kiernan McCormick; model: Vree Welch/Crawford Models, hair and makeup: Shintaro Teraoka/Next Artists; photo assistant: Raymond Collette; styling and photo assistants: Nellyfer Espinoza and Tania Castaneda.

Kris Pepper Office Manager Mike Hoff Digital Director WAINSCOT MEDIA Carroll Dowden Chairman Mark Dowden President & CEO Steven J. Resnick Vice President & CFO Lizette Chin SVP/Group Publisher

OFFICES ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL

One Maynard Drive Park Ridge, NJ 07656 Tel: (201) 571-2244 Ads: Noelle.Heffernan@ Wainscotmedia.com Editorial: Greg.Dutter@ Wainscotmedia.com CIRCULATION

One Maynard Drive Park Ridge, NJ 07656 Tel: (201) 571-2244 Circ@Wainscotmedia.com

FOOTWEAR PLUS ™ (ISSN#1054-898X) The fashion magazine of the footwear industry is published monthly (except for bimonthly April/May and October/November editions) by Wainscot Media, One Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, NJ, 07656. The publishers of this magazine do not accept responsibility for statements made by their advertisers in business competition. Periodicals postage paid at Mahwah, NJ, and additional mailing offices. Subscription price for one year: $48 in the U.S. Rates outside the U.S. are available upon request. Single copy price: $10.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FOOTWEAR PLUS, PO Box 300, Lincolnshire, IL 60069-0300. Publisher not responsible for unsolicited articles or photos. Any photographs, artwork, manuscripts, editorial samples or merchandise sent for editorial consideration are sent at the sole risk of the sender. Wainscot Media will assume no responsibility for loss or damage. No portion of this issue may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. ©2026 by Wainscot Media. Printed in the United States.

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INTRODUCING ECCO ELEVATE Comfort Reimagined

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E D I TOR’S NOT E

Change is Good

The Mother of Reinvention MY 23-YEAR-OLD daughter’s first car is a long since discontinued 2009 Kia Rondo given to her by her grandmother a couple of years ago. It’s the definition of a nondescript compact—think if a Honda CR-V and a Chrysler PT Cruiser had a love child. This particular car was made all the more ubiquitous by a white exterior and drab gray interior.

It was the wallflower of wheels! Until, that is, my daughter’s cosmetic makeover reinvented this shrinking violet into a traffic-stopping conversation piece—on the car culture streets of LA, no less!

How, exactly? It starts by the now-christened “Barbie Car” being reborn in a bubblegum pink vinyl wrap and matching seat covers. Other touches include a rhinestone-encrusted pink steering wheel grip, glitter-trimmed license plate holders, and even a Mattel brand tag attached to the back window. People often honk and wave in approval, while young daughters regularly tug at their moms’ sleeves and point excitedly at it when she drives by.

The fact that my daughter moonlights as a party princess and is, at times, dressed as Barbie, Cinderella, Ariel, Elsa of Frozen, etc. really blows their minds.

My point in sharing this colorful anecdote is to highlight the power of reinvention. Investment combined with imagination can be a gamechanger.

Just as the right creative flourishes can give a hand-me-down car a new lease on life, entire businesses can be reimagined and reinvented. There My daughter, a.k.a. Sleeping are excellent examples of this approach Beauty, in her “Barbie” car. throughout our latest issue. Take our Special Report (p. 8), which profiles leading wholesale and retail execs about what they’re doing to adapt and survive in a turbulent world. The headaches and headwinds are extreme (and many are beyond direct control), but doing nothing is a surefire recipe for failure. Shoe Box and Co. owner John Daher advises the exact opposite approach. “Retailers who remain flexible, curious, and willing to evolve will be in the best position to succeed,” he says. “Footwear has always rewarded retailers who are willing to adapt.”

Such a proactive approach blends thinking outside the box and dialing in on business basics—the aspects that are in one’s control, according to Sam Spears, president of Ara NA. For his brand, this includes “excellent customer service, on-time deliveries, in-stock inventory at the ready, a new B2B site, a new nearly automated ordering system, business plans for each client to show where potential opportunities lie, and visiting

retailers often just to say thank you.” It’s terrific advice, especially the last part. In an era where many people in business—particularly those in politics—take a win-lose approach, a win-win approach is far better and more sustainable. The fact that the alternative is being celebrated is shameful. There’s no reason for it. We all deserve better. Besides, in the end, no one wins.

Another fine example of reinvention can be found in our retail profile (p. 26) of The Sōl Collective in Pittsburgh, PA. What started out in 2016 as a comfort specialty format, then called Soothe the Sole, has gone through a complete concept and location transformation led by founder/owner Kiersten Ferno.

Ten years on, her women’s headto-toe boutique has evolved into a star attraction, fittingly located on Brilliant Avenue. In addition, the business is fast developing a national following online thanks, in part, to personalized AI shopping assistance—not the creepy robot kind. Ferno describes her business as a “representation of everything I’ve always wanted out of a boutique experience.” That spans unique global items and, equally important, a format and dedicated staff “focused on helping people find joy in shopping, create their personal style, and lean into standing out.” It’s an inspiring read!

On that note, I hope you enjoy the issue. It’s also jampacked with leading Spring/Summer ’27 trends and even more shoes backing them up. These trends are another example of how our beloved industry reimagines and reinvests in itself season after season, year after year. That reminds me of an interview I did years ago with someone who was new to this industry. I had asked the source—most recently a marketing exec in the toothpaste industry—what he liked about the shoe biz. He didn’t hesitate in his response: the speed of reinvention regarding product, sourcing, technology marketing…every aspect.

“It’s all super-fast.” He added that in his former gig, new ideas were introduced about once every five years. Whoa, talk about a slow molar growth scenario. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to try to keep pace with a very fast bunch all these years. There’s never a dull moment, and it helps me stay young. See you all in the aisles.

Greg Dutter

Editorial Director

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Copyright © 2026 Twisted X Global Brands. All Rights Reserved.

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THIS JUST IN

Haute, Haute, Hot! Paris when it sizzles brings out the minimalist in us all.

Photography by Melodie Jeng 6

f o o t w e a r p l u s m a g a z i n e . c o m • a u g u s t 2026

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SPECIAL REPORT

Change Agents Industry leaders sound off on hot-button challenges and what they’re doing to try and overcome them.

By Greg Dutter

T

HE CURRENT LIST of challenges, a.k.a. headaches and headwinds, is long, complex, and offers no easy outs. There are no miracle drugs to make the pain go away.

Just hard work, adaptability, perseverance, and smarts. It’s the best chance to overcome declining discretionary income and store traffic, tariffs, inflation, geopolitical instability, DTC debates, and rising labor and occupancy costs.

Above all, it requires a willingness to adapt, innovate, and change—like these execs and their teams are valiantly trying to do.

ADAM BECK, CEO, Beck’s Shoes Campbell, CA Our biggest challenge is navigating uncertainty. Whether it’s tariffs, inflation, changing consumer behavior, rising occupancy costs, or continued pressure on margins, the pace of change seems to be accelerating. We combat this by staying disciplined and focused on what we can control.

We’re doubling down on our service model, investing heavily in our people, and continuing to differentiate ourselves through our expertise in foot health, fitting, and problem-solving. We’re also becoming more data driven than ever before measuring traffic, conversion, ticket, inventory productivity, and customer feedback in real time. Our team continues to improve execution, strengthen vendor partnerships, invest in technology, and elevate the customer experience.

I believe there’s tremendous opportunity for independents who are willing to evolve. We’re investing in technology, analytics, training, and our medical and wellness positioning. At the end of the day, shoes are not just products, they help people stay active, go to work, exercise, travel, and enjoy life. We get the privilege of helping people every single day, and that purpose gives me confidence in the future.

Overall, our strategy has always been simple: exceed the expectations of everyone we encounter. If we continue to provide exceptional service and solve problems for our customers, we believe we will continue to earn market share. So I remain cautiously optimistic. Beck’s Shoes has survived world wars, recessions, a pandemic, and everything in between over the last 106 years. This industry has a way of reinventing itself, and so do we.

The Beck’s Shoes team; a fresh spin on a clog

by Dankso.

KITTY BOLINGER President, Dansko The contraction of independent retail is our biggest challenge. The retailers who continue to fight the good fight are amazing and we cherish our relationships with them; however, their numbers continue to dwindle.

We’re fortunate because our sales reps are the best in the business and they spend time in stores looking for every incremental opportunity that will benefit them and us, be it trunk shows, fill-ins, reporting hot styles that they might have missed, etc. It doesn’t fully compensate for the loss of doors, but it gives us a fighting chance.

So I feel good about the back half of this year as we continue to focus on our heritage product and provide styles for women to wear at work. Their purchase behavior is less affected by weather and politics. So long as our economy employs healthcare workers, educators, and professional women who value their investment in quality footwear, we should be all right.

In the meantime, this year has been better than last! We have seen a resurgence in our icon clogs and product that’s highly recognizable as “Dansko.” The latter is our vehicle to welcome new members to our tribe. We figure that if Zendaya proudly wears Dansko clogs, we must be doing something right! Thus, the key story line for Spring/Summer ’27 is clogs—wood clogs, clogs with buttons, clogs with tomato prints, big buckle clog sandals, clog loafers…you get the idea.

DAN VAN DIS President, V&A Bootery Kalamazoo, MI The biggest challenge is DTC sales from many of our vendors. We can’t always compete with the discounts and promotions brands offer. But what we can do is focus on what they can’t replicate online—like expert fitting, personalized service, a carefully curated selection, and the experience of shopping at a locally owned business. That’s what has set us apart for

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Maximum Adjustability

This is what happy feels like.

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SPECIAL REPORT

more than 100 years and what will continue to bring customers back.

But longevity alone doesn’t guarantee success. Every day we have to earn our customers’ trust by providing the service, expertise, and experience they can’t get everywhere else.

It’s easy to get caught up in the nightly news doom and gloom, but we focus on what we can control. If we continue to work hard and provide outstanding customer service, we’ll be in a good position.

PRASAD REDDY CEO Twisted X Global Brands The biggest headache is the ongoing uncertainty of tariffs. Until we see a clear agreement, by country, it’s difficult to have a plan. In the meantime, we’ve diversified sourcing into more countries and increasing production in the U.S. I’m very optimistic and feel good about the rest of the year. We’ve introduced new technologies and continued to diversify product offerings, including expansion of our Built in the USA collection. We feel very good about our prospects for continued growth.

Even when faced with challenges, we never slow down on product innovation and diversification.

A recent Michigan University consumer survey showed that companies that provide both win. So we continue to introduce new technologies and product categories that meet the needs of our customers. For examBuilt in the USA ple, recently expanding our work offerings at different price points and the aforementioned Built in the USA collection. For Spring/Summer ’27, we’ll expand the latter into casual styles while also offering other new technologies. There is exciting stuff to come!

SAM SPEARS President, Ara NA There’s very little anyone can do to change external headwinds. It’s the internal factors that we can control. So we continue to invest in improving overall processes and quality. However, the stakes are higher because the biggest challenge is consumer lethargy.

So we’re focused on delivering exciting product and conducting more in-store events. We don’t believe in “trunk shows.” We believe in events like our monthly pop-up concerts at Harry’s in New York.

Live music plays while shoppers browse and enjoy wine and cheese.

The next is a karaoke event. Harry’s has sent invitations to customers to perform or join in a sing along. Another recent event celebrated national Penguin Day at Fleming’s in Tulsa, OK, to coincide with the birth of four penguins at the local zoo. Shoppers suggested names for the baby penguins, won penguin-themed prizes, donned costumes, etc. It was a hoot!

Beyond that, we must continue to excel at the basics, be it excellent customer service, on-time deliveries, in-stock inventory at the ready, a new B2B site, a new nearly automated ordering system, Business Plans for each client to show where potential opportunities lie, and visiting retailers often just say thank you! On that note, I believe our future is extremely positive because the North American retailer is extremely resilient and can adapt, improvise, and overcome any obstacle.

JOHN DAHER Owner, The Shoe Box Kennebunkport, ME The biggest challenge this season has been navigating changing consumer behavior.

Customers are being much more thoughtful and deliberate with their purchases, and some of the brands we’ve traditionally relied on didn’t perform as expected. Instead, we’ve seen consumers gravitate toward discovery—finding new brands, lighter and dressier silhouettes, and products that feel John Daher unique rather than familiar. Fortunately, we’ve remained nimble enough to recognize those shifts early and adjust our assortments accordingly. That flexibility has allowed us to maintain year-over-year growth despite a challenging retail environment.

I expect the second half of the year to continue much like the first.

Consumers will continue to seek discovery in both brands and styling, while elevated materials such as suedes, velvets, and hair-on prints—interpreted through classic silhouettes—will play an important role. The opportunity is staying ahead of those evolving preferences. The risk is assuming yesterday’s winners will automatically be tomorrow’s. Retailers who remain flexible, curious, and willing to evolve will be in the best position to succeed. Footwear has always rewarded retailers who are willing to adapt. History tells us these challenges eventually pass, and it’s best to stay focused on serving your customer while preparing for whatever the next headache may be.

So I remain optimistic because we’ve built a business that embraces change rather than resists it. Independent retail is at its best when it offers discovery, expertise, and a personal shopping experience that can’t be replicated online. As long as we continue delivering that experience, I’m confident about the future of Shoe Box and Co.

LARRY SCHWARTZ CEO, Aetrex One of the biggest headaches is the uncertainty in our international markets.

While demand for Aetrex remains strong globally, geopolitical events and evolving regulations have created headwinds in some of our most important regions. For example, Dubai is one of our top international markets, and we had recently opened several Aetrex-branded stores there just before the regional conflict escalated. The ongoing instability has understandably impacted consumer traffic and overall business activity.

At the same time, we’re navigating increasingly complex data privacy and regulatory requirements, especially across Europe and Asia. As a technology-driven company, ensuring compliance while continuing to deliver a seamless customer experience requires significant investment and ongoing adaptation. Our approach is to stay agile. We’re working closely with our international partners, supporting them through these challenges, investing in compliance, and remaining focused on the long-term opportunities in these markets.

That aside, this year has been one of tremendous innovation and momentum for Aetrex. We’ve introduced major advancements in our fitting technology, particularly our Zoe Pro scanner and our FitAI platform, which combines Zoe Pro scanner 3D foot scanning with AI to transform

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SPECIAL REPORT

the in-store fitting experience and help retailers deliver more personalized recommendations to consumers. It has also been an incredibly exciting year for AI across the broader organization. We’re incorporating a range of AI tools throughout the company, including Claude and many others, to streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and unlock new levels of efficiency and productivity.

And our Spring/Summer ’27 line features exciting new technologies that further enhance comfort, fit, and performance paired with fresh, contemporary designs. It’s one of our strongest collections to date.

economy, but we can control how we run our business.

So I’m optimistic because we’re making smart changes instead of standing still. At the end of the day, retail is all about maintained margin. Sales are important, but if you’re not maintaining your margins while expenses continue to rise, you’re not building a healthy business.

We’re making disciplined decisions today that will strengthen our business for the long term, regardless of what the economy throws at us.

NEAL TAYLOR President, Ecco USA

RON OWENS

Our biggest challenge is getting more North American consumers to experience Ecco, and that means introducing, or reintroducing, them to our brand. We saw encouraging signs this spring with our Walk Your Walk All businesses are facing global uncertainty and the campaign and activation at the Boston Marathon. It rising cost of goods. Fortunately, our core Gen Z and helped us engage both existing customers and people younger Millennial customers, aren’t as concerned who may not have considered us before. perhaps as older people because they’ve faced simAs consumers prioritize comfort, wellbeing, and ilar issues for the entirety of their lives and have durability, Walk Your Walk shifts the narrative toward adopted a more “go with the flow” attitude. Thus, how people move through their daily lives—from the demand for Dingo is increasing rapidly, and with commuting to traveling and everything in between. It such a concentration by the consumer on perceived builds on Ecco’s heritage of versatile footwear made value, versatility, and a lack of seasonality, these are for walking, now expressed through a broader, more all traits that our product embodies. human brand story. The campaign will continue to As to the challenge of consumers spending less roll out through integrated experiences and commuon footwear, we don’t see that as an issue as we’ve nity-led storytelling. seen a shift in how our target audience is shopping.

That said, I think the second half of this year will Most affluent Millennials, fashion’s core consumer be unrelenting in challenging ourselves, making tough group, is less concerned with brand status; they From top: David Levy; Ecco campaign. decisions, and the pace of change of the consumer and the prioritize integrity, quality materials, thoughtful marketplace. We’re confident we have the right plan. We’re seeing traction design, and products made to last. Basically, buy less, but buy better. from the changes we’ve made: a more focused retail fleet, better full-price Consumers are moving away from trends and choosing brands to discipline, stronger wholesale partnerships, and increased brand investment. identify with. They’re moving away from buying seasonal product or We’re more disciplined about where and how we grow, more focused on fleeting aesthetics in favor of goods that are responsibly made with full-price selling, and more intentional about matching product, channel, great materials and perceived value. These traits are what Dingo and and consumer. We have set a healthier foundation for the business. western fashion in general are all about—the biggest being wearability. Western fashion is no longer reserved for special occasions; it’s integrated into everyday fashion. It’s grounded, elevated, and LOGAN BIRD intentional—all elements that make Dingo special.

CEO, Mephisto USA VP/National Brand Manager, Dingo

DAVID LEVY Co-owner, Hawley Lane Shoes The biggest issue is overall traffic. You have a decent week followed by a slow one, and there doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to it. But rather than just waiting for traffic to improve, we’ve made changes to our business. For example, for years we carried too many SKUs, which made it difficult to improve profitability as our operating expenses continue to rise. So we’ve become much more focused on individual products and categories that perform best and generate healthier margins. We’ve also introduced our own brand, ASGI. We needed to evolve our business, and ASGI is doing exactly what we intended: reliable sellers and higher margins. We also continue to focus on what we do best: knowledgeable staff, personal service, and helping customers find the right product for their needs.

We’ve been through challenging retail cycles before, and one thing I’ve learned is that you have to keep evolving. We can’t control the

The biggest challenge now is protecting margin and market position while the ground keeps shifting under us on cost, currency, and consumer behavior—all at once. Tariffs and a weaker Dollar against the Euro have put real pressure on landed cost. On the growth side, we’re diversifying distribution, so we’re not overly dependent on any single channel. That means testing new channels with a curated program built around our strongest sellers, expanding into new marketplace relationships, and continuing to build out our own retail footprint with the SoHo store opening this year. The common thread is trying to grow demand and control cost at the same time rather than choosing one over the other.

If our core product keeps proving itself and our new retail and marketplace initiatives land the way we expect, we’ll finish the year with a broader and healthier distribution base. Mephisto is about solving problems for customers who’ve tried other brands and have been disappointed. Rather than chasing breadth, we’re concentrating investment, marketing dollars, and product development behind proven hero styles and best partners. It’s a strategy built around doing fewer things extremely well instead of spreading resources thin. •

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SPRING/SUMMER 2027

Barnes Bronwyn Black

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CREAM OF THE CROP Soft shades of white, a.k.a. Cloud Dancer and Pantone’s color of the year, rise to the top.

Gabor

LifeStride

All Black

Revere

Vaneli

Clarks

Minnetonka

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TG TING T R ETNRDESNPDO S TPTO IN Born

THE BIG IDEA Oversized buckles are a cinch.

Ariat

Aloha

Flexus

Ecco

Dansko

Alohas

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ON MUTE Listen up, guys: soft earth tones raise the volume on sophisticated sneaker style.

Gola

Bruno Marc

Mephisto

Naot

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ARE YOU BLUSHING? Subtle shades of pink are so demure.

Minnetonka

Patrizia

Propét

Asportuguesas Ecco

Camper

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It stärts with suppôrt.

Our feet are not flat - they are all unique and full of beautiful curves & contours that connect us to the earth below. At täōs, we design from the ground up to support your feet and keep you moving through life.

TAO S F O OT W E A R.C O M

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T R ET NR DESNPDO T TO I NTG SP TING Azura

Ecco

HARDWARE STORE

Vaneli

Strike it rich with gold embellishments.

Aetrex

Jessica Simpson

Splendid

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MARY JANES REIGN A sporty spin on the classic dress silhouette.

All Black

Flexus

Naot

Taos

Jambu

Born

Ash

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NEED A LIFT?

Rolling out the latest wedge sandals.

Rieker

Aetrex

Patricia Nash

Azura

Fly London

André Assous

Toms

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AMARILLO

Western work boots remain one of the strongest categories in work footwear because they’re trusted by generations of

A HERITAGE STYLE BUILT FOR TODAY’S WESTERN WORKER.

ranchers, agricultural workers and oilfield crews. Amarillo brings authentic western styling together with the safety, comfort and performance today’s workers expect, making it an easy addition for retailers serving rural and industrial markets.

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AUSTIN

Wedge boots continue to be a go-to choice across construction trades thanks to

THE WEDGE BOOT THAT BELONGS ON EVERY WALL.

their lightweight comfort and jobsite versatility. Austin delivers the classic profile workers know with modern safety features and Dickies value, giving dealers a proven style that appeals to both professionals and first-time buyers.

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DENTON Today’s workers move between the warehouse, the shop floor and the jobsite. Denton

BUILT FOR THE MODERN WORKFORCE.

answers that shift with a lightweight work shoe that combines athletic-inspired comfort with dependable protection, helping retailers reach customers looking for versatility without sacrificing durability.

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ODESSA Heavy-duty trades continue to demand

PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION. PROVEN APPEAL.

traditional work boots built with rugged materials and dependable construction.

Odessa delivers premium leather, waterproof protection and classic welted craftsmanship that speaks to experienced workers who know what lasts.

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IRVING THE CHELSEA THAT WORKS AS HARD AS YOUR CUSTOMERS.

Chelsea work boots remain one of the fastest-growing silhouettes in safety footwear. Irving combines the convenience workers want with the protection they need, creating an easy-selling option for automotive, service and warehouse customers.

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FRISCO DESIGNED FOR THE FASTEST GROWING WORKPLACE CATEGORIES.

Warehousing, logistics and manufacturing continue to drive demand for lightweight work footwear. Frisco delivers modern styling, all-day comfort and jobsite protection in a versatile package that appeals to a broad range of workers.

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For over 100 years, Dickies has stood alongside the people who build, repair, move and shape the world.

From factories and farms to construction sites and workshops, the Dickies name has become synonymous with honest work, durability and authenticity.

That legacy doesn’t start with footwear. It starts with generations of workers who trusted Dickies because it earned its place on the job. Today, that same heritage powers a new generation of safety footwear.

Purpose-built for modern trades. Every style combines over a century of workwear heritage with the protection, comfort and performance today’s workforce demands.

Heritage You Can Stand On.

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PEDAL PUSHERS Guys get in gear, driving mocs are here.

Spring Step Sperry

Clarks

Dansko

M.Gemi

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Heart and Sōl

I

Kiersten Ferno and Sarah Killian of The Sōl Collective

At Pittsburgh’s The Sōl Collective, shoppers find curated comfort…and joy. By Kathy Passero

F YOU WANT to be happy, find out what stirs your soul and do it, as the saying goes. That’s what Kiersten Ferno did when she launched The Sōl Collective five years ago. Today, Ferno and the small, dedicated team at her footwear-first boutique in Pittsburgh’s Aspinwall neighborhood encourage their clientele to do the same.

The store’s carefully curated, fashion-forward mix of shoes, apparel, and accessories is meant to help shoppers find products that stir their souls and boost their confidence.

“The Sōl Collective is a representation of everything I’ve always wanted out of a boutique experience,” says Ferno, owner, founder, and CEO. “It’s full of really unique global products, and it’s focused on helping people find joy in shopping, create their personal style, and lean into standing out.”

The name says it all. “Sōl is very much representative of us,” Ferno explains.

“It’s the root of a lot of words in different languages, all of which are about self or self-worth. It also means sun, which represents the brightness that our store space and our culture bring to our customers.” (Fittingly, the shop is located on Brilliant Avenue.)

If that’s not enough to convince you of The Sōl Collective’s dedication to positivity, consider their many thoughtful brand touchpoints, like using real local women as website models (see sidebar) and celebrating them with an annual soiree. Even the site’s chatbot is warm and friendly, greeting users with messages like “Welcome back, lovely.”

“I shop for style with integrity, and The Sōl Collective has it—it’s a small local business, female-owned, with quality European designs of natural materials and no fast fashion,” says longtime customer Kristin Barker Fox.

“Kiersten curates the store thoughtfully, choosing products that feel special while still being wearable and relevant to her clientele,” says Art Abenoza, U.S. sales director for 4CCCCEES. “She has a wonderful understanding of her customer and a strong eye for distinctive, design-driven footwear. She takes the time to tell each brand’s story and to build genuine relationships with its customers. That combination of personal service, thoughtful curation, and a willingness to champion emerging brands is what makes the store successful.”

SŌL SEARCHING Ferno’s roots in retail extend back to her first job in high school, at a high-end consignment store. She planned to become a fashion journalist after college, but got hired as an assistant buyer for American Eagle, which led to a post at Italian shoe company Emy Mack in Pittsburgh, where she developed an appreciation for beautiful products.

At the encouragement of a friend who needed a source close to his orthopedic surgery practice to fit patients with proper footwear, Ferno launched her own comfort shoe store called Soothe the Sole in the Fox Chapel neighborhood in 2016. “Business was really slow,” Ferno recalls. Within a few months, she moved to the more walkable, boutique-centric enclave of Aspinwall and started stocking more stylish comfort shoes.

Sales improved, but Ferno longed to expand beyond comfort footwear to a Stanley Eisenman true lifestyle boutique. When Covid hit in 2020, the time felt right to rebrand and relaunch as The Sōl Collective. That same year, she hired Sarah Killian as director of operations and finance to grow the brand and add ecommerce to the business model.

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about personal style, and if she hasn’t really found it yet, she wants help creating it for herself. She is the ‘every woman,’ wanting to look good and feel good.”

Footwear is the store’s biggest revenue driver, accounting for about 70 percent of sales, though “we’re trying to navigate that a bit closer to 50/50,” says Ferno.

“People know us as a shoe store, Members of The Sōl Collective team pose in their photography studio above the store. but what’s great about offering NEW DIGS AND DECOR In 2021, the boutique moved next door, doubling its footprint to about 1,000 apparel and accessories is that they can come and get a head-to-toe look.”

“I think of us as a lifestyle brand with styling capabilities, but fully anchored square feet and turning the second floor into space for inventory and a photo studio, built by Killian and her dad. A short time later, they eliminated men’s in footwear,” adds Killian. “It’s where everyone starts when they walk in the store or when they’re online, and our digital ads drive towards footwear even though product, a perpetual slow seller, to make space for apparel and accessories.

Befitting its name, the store itself is airy and bright. “I want my clients to we’re seeing cross-selling of categories in both brick-and-mortar and online.”

Today’s top-selling shoe brands are All Black, Back 70, Intentionally Blank, experience an immediate dopamine rush when they walk in, so we have pops of color and clean white walls,” Ferno explains. It’s intentionally uncluttered and 4CCCCEES. “Those brands do both every day and specialty items in a really because “We want people to have space to feel comfortable running around unique way, and that’s perfectly aligned with what our customer is after,” says in a pair of shoes to see if they fit or having room to dance around in the new Ferno. That said, “We’re always open to interesting new brands. We’re not afraid to encourage our clients to get out of their comfort zone.” dress they’re about to buy.”

It’s easier to do this when customers trust the salespeople, and at The Sōl Who exactly is running and dancing around The Sōl Collective? The core customer is anywhere from 35 to 60. “She’s open-minded. She’s worldly. She’s Collective, they do. Staffers like store manager Holly Travisano have seen the likely traveling and engaging with different cultures regularly,” says Ferno. business go from “a teeny-tiny, we-had-no-clue-what-we-were-doing comfort “She’s smart. She’s busy. She’s balancing life, family, and career. She’s focused shoe store to a national lifestyle brand,” says Ferno. “She has been so loyal and on creating a long-term quality wardrobe rather than a quick fix. She’s excited maintained incredible relationships with our long-term clients.”

Initially, the store’s online presence was “built internally and very scrappy. It was more of a lookbook for local customers than a national website, which is what it’s evolved into,” says Killian, who manages back-end processes and oversees the website, as well as handling “a little bit of everything else.”

LOCA L H E R O E S Real Pittsburgh Women Star as Models for Store’s Website.

The Sōl Collective likes to keep it fresh—and real, shying away from tired or run-of-the-mill business formats. One of the most unique twists—and owner Kiersten Ferno’s passion project—involves photographing local women in Sōl Collective footwear and apparel as models showcased on the business’s website.

Users can click on the profile of each model to find helpful details like their height, measurements, and sizing information, which gives those shopping from afar a better idea of whether the products might fit their own body type.

“When we were relaunching the website, we wanted to feature our footwear styled head to toe and ensure that product was visible in a way that would help people really understand how it was going to look on body,” explains Ferno. “We got really excited about the idea of ensuring that every woman who looks at our website can see a version of themselves represented, so there’s a human feel to the website.

Cat poses in I.N.K. slingbacks.

“We wanted real women—women who are contributing to the culture here in Pittsburgh, women who are busy moms building careers—to be representative of our brand online and in-store,” she continues. “So we reached out to engage local business owners, influencers, and women who work in philanthropic, marketing, and art around the city.”

Many agreed to model for the website, heading to the boutique for photo sessions, all of which take place in the studio above the sales floor.

“We’re proud of featuring women who are doing big things here,” says Ferno. To show their gratitude, The Sōl Collective hosts an annual fall event called The Sōl Set, featuring all the women who modeled for them throughout the year. “We print large-scale imagery of all our models, so they can feel a little bit like a rock star when they walk in the door.”

There’s a female deejay to spin tunes, charcuterie from a local female-owned business, fun cocktails, and gift bags with treats like chocolate-covered espresso beans, affirmation cards, and manifestation notebooks “to encourage women to take time to really think about what they want out of life and what they bring to the world.”

“We encourage our models to invite their network and their people, and that has created such a cool community—a collective, dare I say. It also turns into word-of-mouth marketing for us, which has been very fruitful,” says Ferno. “It’s the most exciting, joy-filled, high-energy celebration of incredible women any of us have ever experienced.” —K.P.

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“Kiersten’s enthusiasm and passion for product and for retail are contagious, and she passes those on to her clients,” agrees Ty McBride, owner of Intentionally Blank.

What’s more, while “a lot of small retailers can’t bridge the gap digitally, with The Sōl Collective, all the dots are connected,” according to McBride. “Kiersten is open to expanding her vision to all aspects of product, and in our market, that’s a unique perspective.”

GROWTH STRATEGIES Over the past two years, The Sōl Collective has devoted considerable time and money to creating an online store that replicates the in-store experience as closely as possible. “It’s very engaging, and it looks far bigger and more corporate than we actually are with our tiny team of eight,” says Ferno.

Even the AI chatbot is trained to sound like Ferno. It’s personable and helpful, ready to suggest styles that go with certain shoes. However, Killian notes that they’re still fine-tuning it.

“We don’t want to be afraid of engaging AI tools to help us create more efficient processes, but we want to ensure that customer service still feels very human,” Ferno says.

Online shoppers who prefer to talk to a staff member during store hours can call, text, or email instead of using the chatbot. “We’re texting customers all over the country all the time, and we pride ourselves on our response time when it comes to emailing customers back,” says Ferno. Staffers also reach out to digital shoppers regularly to make sure they have the right sizes and are pleased with their purchases.

“We want people to have a positive, personalized experience with online shopping, so they keep coming back and tell their friends, wherever those friends live,” says Killian. “Even nationally, word of mouth is a good driver of business.”

In the past six months, the company has also turned its attention to digital ads and social media. As a result, they’ve seen considerable growth in followers, engagement, and sales through social. “We’ve branched into Pinterest, and that plays a huge role in driving people to the website,” says Ferno. “We’ve also been very proactive about focusing on SEO, making sure we have enough information and the right keywords showing up on all our platforms to compete with the big names.”

To guarantee that The Sōl Collective is represented cohesively everywhere, Ferno has invested heavily in photography and personnel to manage specific roles such as marketing and social media.

The store is airy and bright with pops of color and clean white walls—intentionally uncluttered so customers can The effort is paying off nicely. “We’re reaching large run around to see if shoes fit or dance around in a new dress they might buy. metropolitan areas on the East and West Coast, and In fact, Ferno attributes much of her success to her “small but mighty team.” we’re seeing new customers show up every day online,” she reports. “We’re She cultivates a collaborative culture where everyone is heard and feels a sense excited about building a nationally recognized business.”

A little less than half of the company’s revenue comes from online sales, of ownership in the business. “Every person fulfills multiple jobs and is excited about doing it,” she says. “They constantly come to me with new ideas about but Ferno expects the online business to overtake brick-and-mortar in 2027.

“In the meantime, our brick-and-mortar is still very much driving the busihow we can make things better.”

“Kiersten dedicates roles to her team in a way that makes each member ness,” she says. “We’re lucky to have an incredible local customer base here, more committed and driven,” says Marty Rose, president and North American and we continue to engage them by curating unique goods from around the distribution manager for All Black. “They also know their customers’ tastes world and building the local community experience.” Community-building and they know the trends, so they know how to select the right styles. Plus, strategies include hosting private shopping events and joint events with other small businesses, as well as featuring local women as models for the website. she has enough energy for four boutique owners.”

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WHAT’S NEXT? Admittedly, running a business comes with challenges. Not every style is a winner, and balancing cash flow with the growth strategies you long to implement can feel frustrating. But The Sōl Collective stirs Ferno’s soul more than ever.

She’s quick to acknowledge her vendors’ role in her success.

“We’re lucky to have great partners in our vendors and sales reps who have been by our side through thick and thin,” she says.

“They’ve become family and incredible partners through constant evolution and growth.”

She’s also refreshingly optimistic about the state of retail today.

“I don’t think business is any tougher now than it was when I was getting started,” says Ferno, who has self-funded her store with her husband since day one. “There is a lot more opportunity for visibility today. If you’re strategic about where your dollars are going and where your time is spent, there’s amazing space to be seen, to engage clients across the country, and to not just be stuck in your own small bubble.”

Where will The Sōl Collective be in three to five years? “We’ll have an in-house brand, and we’ll definitely be nationally recognized,” Ferno predicts. “We’ve talked about launching multiple locations in other second-tier cities, but right now we’re continuing to build our website so that it can become the core driver for the business while expanding the culture around our brick-and-mortar here in Pittsburgh.” •

The store invites local women to model their merchandise. Here, Jade wears Charlotte Stone clogs.

Let’s Meet at

ATLANTA SHOE MARKET! August 15–17, 2026 / Booth #1236

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THIS JUST IN

Pitch Perfect

World Cup fans in Gotham sported their A game for the beautiful game.

Photography by Marcy Swingle 38

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WE BOUGHT A ZOO Show your wild side in animal prints.

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A N OT E T O M Y Y OU N G E R S E L F

GOOD ADVICE Julia Gomez, CPIO of Beck’s Shoes, looks back on a career that started on a delivery truck and never stopped moving. joy and focus. Still, you learn a lot from them. Fourth piece of advice: DEAR 18-YEAR-OLD JULIA...Well, by this time, you’ve already Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You don’t know what you don’t know. logged six years at Beck’s Shoes, starting with summers at age 12 and Pick up the phone sooner than you think you need to. then, by age 17, every day after school. You’ve done nearly every job the Eventually, you become office manager. You and Adam sit in rooms company offers—like processing worn product returns, checking in with Dad, Uncle Dan, and Grandpa. It’s not all smooth sailing, though. inventory, keeping contract accounts straight, and driving the delivery Grandpa and Uncle Dan eventually step back from the business and Dad truck—all after the bell rings. The only job you haven’t done yet is selling hands the day-to-day reins to you and Adam. You rise the corporate ladder, shoes to customers, which is my first piece of advice: Go sell some shoes! becoming VP of Administration, then COO, and now Chief People and Interacting with customers is where the magic happens.

Integrations Officer (CPIO). Each title is bigger than the last, but what None of it, though, feels like the start of a career. It’s just what your carries you through it all isn’t a process or a system. family does for a living—and has been doing It’s still that deep desire to help people. Your ability for five generations! Still, you’re building to connect with people is your greatest strength. Fifth something. Every one of those tasks teaches piece of advice: Lean into that strength harder and you how the whole business fits together. earlier in your career. And, more importantly, But first comes a year of junior college empower your people! Yes, before that big picture comes into focus. you look great in hats That’s when you watch Dad walk beside the but, for God’s sake, let people who work for him, not below him, others try them on! Your and something clicks. The opportunity in growth—and the growth front of you isn’t just a job in the family of Beck’s—depend on it. business; it’s a chance to help people. That’s Somewhere in the enough to pull you out of school and into middle of all this, you the office full-time. become a mother. Up to Your brother Chris and cousin Adam are this point, Beck’s has been already traveling to industry events, learnyour baby and you had all ing the biz inside and out. You don’t know the time in the world to give exactly what your role is just yet, but you it. Motherhood will be the love being part of the team. Meetings with hardest adjustment you go bankers, hard conversations about P&Ls…it’s through to date. You’re the primary parent and a an intensive retail education, and you take business owner. Your kids require so much of you as it all seriously. A few years in, though, Chris Now and then: Julia Gomez is all smiles. well as a business that feels like it needs everything leaves the business. It knocks you sideways! you have. You do your best but aren’t very kind to You’ve always assumed “family” meant yourself when your kids are young. Sixth piece of advice: Give yourself everyone stays, that blood keeps you at the table, no matter what. It’s an grace, and when with your kids, give them all your mental capacity. important life lesson: People you love can walk away and the business They’re proud of how hard you work but make sure they understand will survive—and so will you. It also opens a door to a clear leadership and feel how hard you work at being their mom, too. path that wasn’t previously there for you.

Two more things, while I have you. Be nicer to Dad. He always did his You and Adam are now the way forward for Beck’s Shoes. You immebest, even when it didn’t look that way from where you stood. And be diately dive in, becoming the expert on all things Beck’s—every process, more direct with Adam. Say the hard things out loud instead of trying to system, and “why we do it this way.” It’s all good, but my second piece manage around them. He needs to hear it plainly from you, so he knows of advice: Learn how the world works, not just how Beck’s works. While you’re carrying weight right alongside him, not just working next to him. excelling at thinking inside the box you know best and help build has its It’s okay to fight, if you’re fighting for what you believe. You’re co-leaders. positives, there are lessons to learn from outside your world. So always Harness your differences for greater success. be curious. The good news is your instinct to collaborate never leaves Last pieces of advice: Trust your instincts. Don’t be afraid of change. you. You’re always asking the team: “Tell me more, tell me why, tell me Challenge the status quo, even the parts that you built. Especially those, how.” Third piece of advice: Never stop learning. in fact. Try and do better today than yesterday.

Business travel opens a whole new world. You meet people running family businesses like yours. Many become lifelong friends. Hearing their With love and a lot of hindsight, stories gives you tremendous perspective and insight. No two businesses Julia are exactly alike, and there’s no point in trying to be. That only steals your

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Clockwise from top left: Ecco sport sandal; slide by Mykos; fisherman sandal by Naot; embossed slide by Clarks; Mephisto slide with buckle; cross-strap slide by Florsheim; Jesus sandal by Camper; Merrell thong; cage slide by Blundstone.

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Gabor loafers with raffia uppers and TPU soles.

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Alegria slip-resistant sandals with raffia uppers. Opposite page, from left: Pelle Moda jogger with suede and mesh upper; slip-on sneaker with metallic nubuck and suede upper by Clarks; court sneaker with rich suede upper and Antimicrobial Shield footbed by Taos.

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Wedge sandal with padded insole and jute platform and heel by Vaneli. Opposite page, from left: BC Footwear metallic woven ballet flat; 4CCCCEES slide with textured leather upper and EVA midsole.

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Clockwise from top left: platform with raffia and cow hair upper and lightweight rubber outsole by All Black; Vivaia square-toe ballet flat with knit upper and Artemisia Argyi Herbal insole; sculpted heel mule with crochet upper by Seychelles. Opposite page: Aetrex platform espadrille sandals with leather uppers and memory foam and cork footbeds.

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From Court left: shoes Mykoswith two-strap Italian sandal Nappawith leather suede uppers upper and and recycled moldedPUPUfoam footbed; insoles clog by with Clae. Opposite recycled page: tannery Allenscraps Edmonds suede slip-on uppersneakers and corkwith andremovable rubber soleinsoles

by Asportuguesas. and leather linings.

Opposite Court shoes page: with Remonte Italian platform Nappa leather tennieuppers with woven and recycled textile upper PU foam andinsoles compression-molded

by Clae. Opposite EVApage: Allen sole; wedge sandal Edmonds with slip-on suede and sneakers jute upper with removable and microfiber insoles lining andby leather Fly London. linings.

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From left: Miz Mooz loafer with suede upper and cushioned footbed; Dansko Mary Jane with woven binding and removable footbed. Opposite page: Mary Janes with woven leather uppers by Ariat.her Photography: Trevett McCandliss; styling: Mariah Walker/Art Department; fashion editor: Kiernan McCormick; model: Vree Welch/Crawford Models, hair and makeup: Shintaro Teraoka/Next Artists; photo assistant: Raymond Collette; styling and photo assistants: Nellyfer Espinoza and Tania Castaneda.

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Up Close: Retail

French Sole’s New Dance Partners Influencers campaign is paying huge dividends.

By Greg Dutter

FRENCH SOLE CEO/DESIGNER Randy Ochart has been in the shoe game since 1983. He’s pretty much seen and done it all since opening that first small boutique on New York’s Upper East Side.

Ochart and the brand have since become synonymous with ballet flats, drawing women from the world all over. (The queen of the style, Audrey Hepburn, was once a regular customer!)

Above all, Ochart is a survivor. A retailer by trade, he taught himself design, working closely with French Sole’s long-time factory partners. He has also developed a sixth sense on what women want and need, studying their shopping habits season after season, year after year. And while Ochart is willing to try just about anything to keep his now two stores successful, he had been suspicious of social media as an effective marketing tool—until recently, that is.

It started organically. This spring, several customers popped into the store who also happened to be influencers. They did some postings, no strings attached. It went viral—or at least word about the stores spread a lot faster and further than any marketing Ochart had been doing of late. Think lines of women waiting outside before the flagship store opened and sales up five times over this time last year. “That’s when I fully realized the power of social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram,” he says, adding that seeing how authentic and seamless the influencers felt after meeting them also helped change his perspective. “They were sharing their shopping experiences at French Sole along with how much they loved our product. And women were lining up in the cold mornings to buy two-toned blush ballerinas during the end of March—it was unheard of for us.”

Ochart has since taken the relationships to the next level. The brand now works with a “vast array” of influencers. But it’s not strictly led by the amount of their followers. While some do have large followings, others have smaller, highly engaged audiences. “Follower count is not the be-all and end-all,” he advises. “It’s a combination of their aesthetic matching ours, engagement with their posts, and whether they want to collaborate with us, as well.” Ochart adds, “Our focus at the moment

Randy Ochart (far left) hosted influencers at a recent in-store event; an Insta-worthy selfie corner.

is New York City-adjacent influencers since they’re in proximity to our stores.”

So far, so good, Ochart reports. “It’s impacted our business in ways that we never thought possible,” he says. “Our main clientele had been 40-plus-yearolds from the neighborhood, and that has since completely flipped. We’re seeing 20- to 35-year-old women who’ve never heard of our brand or shopped with us before coming in because of the impact of the influencers on social media.” What’s more, they’re coming from well beyond New York. “Some are from different states, making a special trip to our store,” Ochart says. “They’re not just buying shoes; they’re also documenting their shopping experience from start to finish.”

For a man who has tried many a marketing campaign over four decades, many to varying degrees of success, Ochart boils down the much greater success of influencers to one word: authenticity.

“This campaign has struck a chord in a way that’s incredibly rare,” he says. “It’s connected with people on an emotional level rather than simply trying to sell a product or idea.” Good timing has also played a role. Specifically, it’s at a time when fashion has reembraced the classic ballerina silhouette. Another factor, Ochart notes, is the organic nature of how word has spread. “People haven’t just been watching the posts; they’ve been sharing it, discussing it, and making it part of their own conversations. That kind of genuine engagement can’t be manufactured; it’s something every marketer hopes for but very few campaigns achieve.”

Perhaps what has captured Ochart’s surprise (and fancy) most is that the success of this campaign runs counter to a belief that brick-and-mortar is a dying/already dead breed of retail. The real issue, he surmises, is that consumers just need to know that good stores exist. Sure, it’s easy to shop online, but where’s the fun in that? Women aren’t likely to gather around a computer screen to shop the latest fashions while sipping a glass of rosé. But if there’s

a cute boutique stocked with even cuter shoes that are strongly trending, then why not make a day of it? Lunch, a little shopping, drinks, maybe a little more shopping…

Indeed, Ochart believes plenty of people still like shopping in stores. “But I think they want an experience that’s worth leaving home for,” he says.

“When people walk into French Sole, for example, they’re not just buying shoes. They’re discovering a store with history, interacting with our expert team, trying on different styles, and just enjoying that personal shopping experience.” Ochart adds, “The challenge isn’t getting people to enjoy shopping.

It’s making sure they know you’re there. Once they discover you, they’ll come, and then it’s your job to keep them coming back.”

So expect more influencer partnerships for French Sole going forward—and on a larger scale. “If it isn’t broken, don’t try and fix a good thing,” Ochart says, adding, “We’ll continue to work with creators who appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and promote independent businesses.” Other key ingredients are: a clear message about who you are as a company, delivering an authentic experience to customers, and making them feel good about their purchases. Like the custom leopard print bag every customer leaves with: it’s part of the whole experience. “They can’t wait to photograph and show off to their friends and followers,” he says.

Last but not least, Ochart credits the campaign’s success to his entire team. “This hasn’t been one person’s success,” he assures. “Everyone has played a role—from developing the strategy and creating content to welcoming customers into our stores every day. The campaign belongs to all of us, which is one of the aspects I’m most proud of.”

One might say Ochart, an old Shoe Dog, has learned a new trick. “After more than 40 years, it’s exciting to see French Sole continue to grow while staying true to who we are,” he says. “That’s something we’re all incredibly proud of.”

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TREND SPOTTING

SEE WORTHY

Updates to the classic boat shoe are a fresh catch.

Florsheim

Bruno Marc

Sebago

Sperry

Marc Nolan

Mephisto

Twisted X Ecco

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W H AT ’S SELLI N G

Boutiques

Walking in Paradise Princeville, HI

w

clientele, which are people 40s -plus and have more money to spend.

ALKING IN PARADISE, located on the island of Kauai, was founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Paula and Tony Sussex. The shop soon became a staple for tourists and locals looking for comfortable, island-friendly footwear and apparel. Thirty-six years later, the business was acquired by store manager Janice Pendleton and her husband, Andrew. The couple has since expanded its selection of apparel and accessories as well as prints from local artists. The duo also opened Hanalei Living in 2022, a more upscale boutique that includes select eco-friendly footwear and apparel brands.

Walking in Paradise carries men’s, women’s, and children’s footwear for the beach and beyond. The selection spans dress styles by Azura and André Assous, trail sneakers from Merrell and Mephisto, and an array of sandals by Birkenstock, OluKai, Keen, Reef, and Teva, amongst others.

Aside from the relaxed ambiance and quality service, Janice believes the store’s eclectic merchandise mix makes it unique. “I suspect all of the small businesses on the island have a very friendly staff like ours, so I believe our variety sets us apart,” she says. “Customers aren’t going to find some of our inventory elsewhere.

For example, there are no other stores on the island that carry brands like Farm Rio and Johnny Was.” Current top-selling shoe brands? VIBAe, OluKai, and Birkenstock.

Best new shoe brand added recently? VIBAe. Top-selling accessories? Rainwear and waterproof backpacks from Rains and accessories from the woman-owned company RainCaper.

Most effective way to market to customers? We tried advertising online, but it didn’t make much of a difference. Here, we mainly receive walk-ins. People on vacation who want to shop. We also have lots of repeat customers because Kauai is the island with the most timeshares.

People already know about us.

How’s business? Comparable to 2025. No real surprises. Our strongest year was 2022 because people wanted to travel and shop after Covid. There was a small decline in the following two years, but it stabilized last year and seems to be continuing on that path this year.

Smartest business decision made this past year?

To put the business up for sale. My husband and I are retiring once it’s sold.

Biggest challenge facing your business? Finding employees. It’s the biggest challenge facing all small businesses on the islands. We must offer a competitive salary and benefits.

A massive selection of sandals awaits shoppers.

Anything unique about the Kauaian customer, specifically? Locals look more for practical sandals.

But their brand and color preferences vary.

What percentage of your business is tourists?

Eighty percent. Tourists visit all year.

Are there added challenges to running a shoe store in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? Finding employees is a challenge. It’s expensive to live on any of the Hawaiian islands, especially since Covid. A lot of people moved to the mainland. Also, billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah have businesses on the islands, and they hire staff year-round in order to retain them due to the shortage of workers. They’re able to pay a lot more. It’s hard to compete with that.

How might they differ in terms of shopping preferences? They’re attracted to colorful styles.

They aren’t as price conscious.

Who is your core customer? Younger tourists compared to Hanalei Living. That store is near the high-end 1 Hotel in Hanalei. We receive a lot of their

Is there a brand that’s a must-stock for Hawaiians?

OluKai shoes are the most popular, specifically styles that feature designs of the islands. Customers can’t find these on the mainland.

Which is more is more difficult: high inflation or DTC sites? High inflation. We don’t have an issue with DTC because our customers are mainly tourists, so they’re unlikely to order online instead. Whereas, prices keep changing due largely to tariffs, so we have to keep retagging merchandise. There’s also a big issue with supply and the quality of production.

What are you most proud of regarding your business? How we took over from Paula and Tony and diversified. I’m proud that we added to the successful business they built.

Advice for fellow shoe retailers? Know that you need a lot more inventory than for accessories.

What do you love most about your job? The freedom to make my own decisions and choose my own path. It’s very liberating.

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TREND SPOTTING

LITTLE HEEL RAISERS The once-deemed training heel is all grown up.

Patrizia

Badgley Mischka

Pelle Moda

PH OTO G RA PH Y BY T RE V E T T M CC A ND L I SS

Valentina Rangoni

Franco Sarto

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7/25/26 6:43 AM

L A S T SHO T

No Backsies

Azura

Alegria

Badgley Mischka

Candice Cooper

4CCCCEES

Aloha

Mules of Thumb From dainty to sporty to funky, the rules on mules are… there are no rules.

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7/22/26 12:32 PM CYAN

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Zoe Pro, St ar ting at $1,995

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