UPCLOSE KIDS
The Bare Facts Expanding its portfolio, LJP Intl. snares the BareTraps license. LARRY PAPARO, CEO of LJP Intl., makers of Nine West Kids, Mootsies Tootsies and Robert Graham, among others, has been manufacturing kids’ shoes for decades for the likes of Kenneth Cole, E.S. Originals (Rockport license) and Steve Madden. Paparo has a sixth sense for knowing what brands and styles will translate into the kids’ shoe space. He believes BareTraps, a division of Footwear Unlimited, will be one of them. “We’ve been watching the brand for a long time and we really like what they do. They have a strong brand footprint and always have had good product in the marketplace,” Paparo says. “The consumer embraces BareTraps from many different perspectives, including quality, price, design and comfort.” Paparo describes BareTraps’ Fall ’15 collection of casual boots as fun and youthful—perfect takedown ingredients for young girls who now will be able to wear the brand. In particular, he cites the collection’s prevelance of fur, equestrian styles and a Western/urban flair as appealing to younger audiences. LJP will debut a tight collection of boots for holiday and will present a full Spring ’16 line—spanning boots to sandals—at the August trade shows. In addition to good-looking product, Paparo believes a successful license partnership depends on both parties benefitting. “We make sure every brand has a clear reason for being and doesn’t take away from another brand,” he says. Whereas Nine West Kids, for example, is tailored, dressy and sophisticated, BareTraps will offer bohemian comfort styles and constructions. (Think molded footbeds.) “BareTraps is the polar opposite, from a consumer standpoint, of the look and feel of Nine West,” he notes. Paparo also cites a strong working relationship as a key factor to a license agreement’s success. “Being able to have that good working relationship with the licensor—the people—is the No. 1 factor for me,” he says. “Once we have that established, we can get everything else done relatively easily.” With BareTraps, Paparo says, “I feel really comfortable already. It’s going to be a great fit for LJP and Footwear Unlimited., and there are other brands we could partner with them on as well.” LJP’s portfolio also includes the recently signed Bruno Magli license. “We are really excited about its potential, which brings us into the luxury and better department store channel the same way BareTraps gets us more into the comfort-driven tier,” Paparo says, adding its recent Ccilu distribution deal brings the company into the athletic channel and its Robert Graham license has brought it into haberdasheries. “Business is good and we keep growing,” Paparo reports. LJP has just added a 5,000-square-foot design studio to its Edison, NJ, headquarters and will open two showrooms in the 1370 building in Manhattan this month during the FFANY show. —Greg Dutter 54 footwearplusmagazine.com • june 2015
Ice Rage Western Chief to debut Frozen raingear collection. HOW DOES WESTERN Chief CEO Rob Moehring describe his children’s raingear collections of wellies, rain coats and umbrellas spanning Batman, Thomas the Tank Engine, Hello Kitty and Spiderman licenses, as well as characters like a fireman’s get-up, fun prints, wild colors and whimsical animal themes? “It’s all about play,” he says. Western Chief’s offerings are about to get even more playful with the addition of Disney’s Frozen licensed collection, debuting this fall. “We’re really excited and the early interest has been terrific,” Moehring reports. With a sequel to the film in the works and a forthcoming TV series, the timing for the collection is ideal—millions of kids will need their Frozen fix as they anxiously await what happens to beloved Princesses Elsa and Anna and friends. Elsa and Anna adorn boots, with Elsa on the left foot and Anna on the right. The girls’ raincoat is shaped
like a princess gown and includes a cape, combining practical, protective wear with dress-up. Elsa and Anna are paired together in a heart on the front. Olaf , the snowman, decorates the raingear for boys. While Frozen may seem like a no-brainer for a children’s license, Moehring believes Western Chief ’s ability to bring all of its licensed characters to life in fun yet practical designs is the key to success. “We incorporate play into utility,” he explains. “Moms love our boots because they have handles and the kids can pull them on themselves. The kids get this feeling of independence and they have fun.” Moehring adds that Disney likes the way Western Chief incorporates its assets. “We spend a lot of time telling a story through our designs,” he says. The Frozen collection is targeted to boys up to 6 years and girls up to age 8. Raincoats will retail in the $55-$60 range, boots for $36-$40 and umbrellas for $18. The line will be carried by Western Chief ’s leading retail partners, including Nordstrom, Stride Rite, Amazon, Zappos and ShoeBuy. “The beauty of online is how it showcases all of our colors and patterns,” Moehring says. “When consumers click on a Frozen Princess raincoat, the whole screen will come to life.” Moehring has high expectations for the Frozen collection. “There’s a good run ahead of us,” he predicts and guarantees “more playful, innovative, fun features to come.” Along those lines, Western Chief will also unveil rain collections featuring the character Dory from Finding Nemo, in time for the Finding Dory movie release slated for summer 2016 and Batman vs. Superman in time for its March 2016 premiere from Warner Bros. —Laurie Cone