Fashion Test 3
Fashion media- Advertising vs. publicity vs. public relations
Categories of Media Services •Advertisin: Paid, nonpersonal communication transmitted through mass media by an identified sponsor •Publicit: Any nonpersonal form of public relations whereby messages are transmitted through mass media, the time or space provided by the media is not paid for (free), and there is no identified commercial sponsor •Public Relation: Any communication that fosters a favorable image for the fashion brand or retailer: Nonpersonal or personal, Paid or nonpaid, Sponsor-controlled or not
Non store retailers 2
Direct Selling •Independent (mostly part-time) salespeople sell product to customers in their homes •Often use a party-plan method and network marketing: Today, direct selling incorporates e-commerce •Examples: LulaRoe, Peach, Carlisle Collection, Stella & Dot, Mary Kay, Tupperware, Avon, Pampered Chef TV Home Shopping •Infomercials & TV Shopping Networks: Originally shoppers would call in. Now uses e-commerce •HSN, QVC, ShopNBC: Billions in annual sales and 100+ million viewers
Non store retailers
E-commerce •Sales made via the internet: Includes M-commerce. Sales made on mobile devices •E-commerce sales were 14.3% of total U.S. retail sales in 2018 •Most retailers have some form of e-commerce •Social media generates brand awareness, drives traffic to e-commerce websites and has become a sales platform Catalogs •Catalog is the store & the copy is your salesperson •Can be highly targeted to specific market segments •While still be printed, catalogs now have an e-commerce version as well
Trade Associations
Fashion Group International •Nonprofit global association of professional women working in the fashion industry •Founded in 1930 and has evolved into an important consulting and research agency •www.fgi.org National Retail Federation •Largest retail trade organization in the U.S. •Disseminates information and advice through daily digital newsletters •Holds annual conference in NYC every January •Marist has a student chapter of NRF •www.nrf.com
Fashion leadership positions
Fashion Leaders •Feature newly introduced styles that have limited production & distribution: Designer collections •Examples: Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue Traditional Retailers •Features fashion is the late rise or early culmination stage: Bridge or contemporary collections. Better or moderate-priced lines •Examples: Macy's, Dillard's Mass Merchants •Features widely accepted merchandise in the culmination phase: Moderate to low prices •Examples: Kohl's, Target
Different types of merchandise and store formats
General Merchandise Retailers •Sell many kinds of merchandise in addition to apparel •Try to appeal to a broad range of customers •Many position their merchandise at different price points: Low, mid, high •Formats include: Department Stores (Macy's), Full Line Discount Stores (target), Variety Stores (dollar general), Off-Price Stores (Marshall's) Specialty Retailers •Offer limited lines of related merchandise •Target a more specific customer •Formats include: Specialty Stores (Forever 21), Boutiques (Dover street market or Louis vuitton), Category Killers (best buy), Factory Outlets (Polo Factory Outlet)
Retail locations
Isolated Store •A freestanding retail store located on a street •No adjacent retailers with which this type of store shares traffic Unplanned Business District •2 or more stores situated together in such a way that variety of stores is NOT due to prior long-range planning: "Downtown", Main Street. Neighborhood Business District Planned Shopping Center •Architecturally unified commercial establishments that is centrally owned or managed •Stores in center complement each other in terms of quality and variety of product offerings: Regional Malls, Strip Malls, Outlet Malls
Global Footwear Industry
Italian designers known for quality craftmanship & styling •Salvatore Ferragamo: Created the first wedge in 1937, made one for Judy Garland in 1938. •Tod's: Introduced iconic driving shoe with 133 rubber "pebbles" in the late 1970s •Prada •Gucci Brazil has several well-known shoe companies & factories •Vince Camuto produces in Brazil •Arezzo •Havaianas •Melissa
Store design
Planning the layout of a store takes several objectives into account: •Visual appeal: Communicate brand image and value, Layout of fixtures, Color schemes •Maximizing sales: Types of fixtures, Lighting •Ease of movement & comfort •Security concerns & building codes Retailers utilize architects, interior designers, and construction firms to design stores
Retailing policies- operational 2
Selling Services •Engagement: Being polite, genuinely caring, and interested in helping the customer, acknowledging their needs •Executional Excellence: Patiently explaining & advising, helpful, having product knowledge •Brand Experience: Exciting store atmosphere, consistently great product quality, making customers feel special and receiving a good value •Expediting: Sensitive to the customer's time •Problem Recovery: Helping resolve and compensate for problems, ensuring complete satisfaction
Variety of Career Opportunities in fashion 2
Showroom/Wholesale Careers •Wholesale - responsible for selling merchandise to buyers and managing the relationship with retailers •Showroom Assistant - manages showroom during market, coordinate and manage samples, assist with sales Retail •Manager - oversee all aspects of the store from sales team to support team as well was provide input on merchandise assortment & inventory needs •Operations - manage all back-of-house aspects including inventory, supplies, maintenance •Sale Associate - interact with customers and sell merchandise. The face of the store as they are the ones engaging with the customers.
Menswear Sizing
Suits •Sized by the chest size and length •Chest measurement in even numbers around the fullest part of the chest: 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 •Length is indicted by one's height: R (regular), S (short), and L (long) •Drop refers to the difference between chest and waist measurements: Standard Drop is 7 inches Dress shirts •Two measurements: Neck is measured by the half inch around the Adam's apple (14 ½ - 20), Sleeve length is measured from the nape of the neck to the wrist with hands at your side (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37) Pants •Sized by waist measurement: Waist is measured at the narrowest point of the waist, 1-inch increments, 30-50 •Most often are sold unhemmed. If hemmed, inseam length is also measured
Mail-Order Sellers
The Homestead Act of 1862 which pushed settlers westward & the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 lead to the birth & success of catalogs •1845 - Tiffany's Blue Book: Showcasing the jeweler's designs. Is still published annually •1872 - Montgomery Ward: Single sheet of paper listing 163 items for sale. First catalog intended for the general public. By 1892 sold over 20,000 items across 540 pages •1881 - Hammacher Schlemmer: Focused on tools & hardware. 400 pages by 1896. Eventually added housewares, appliances, toys. Still published online •1886 - Sears, Roebuck & Co.: Started with watches. By 1894 it was 322 pages. Sewing machines, baby buggies, firearms, bicycles, musical instruments, medical supplies, ovens. 1908 started selling house kits. 447 different designs ranging from $744 to $5972. By 1940, Sears had sold over 70,000
Classifications in Men's Apparel
The menswear industry have traditionally been divided into different classifications •Tailored clothing: Suits, overcoats, topcoats, sports coats, formal wear, separate trousers •Furnishings: Dress shirts, neckwear, headwear, underwear, socks, pajamas, robes, suspenders •Sportswear: Unconstructed jackets, sport shirts, sweaters, slacks, shorts •Outerwear: Raincoats, coats, jackets •Work clothing: Work pants, work shirts, overalls •Uniforms
Variety of Career Opportunities in fashion
design and product development •Designer - creator of new designs by drawing, digitally rendering or draping fabric on the form •Technical Designer - integral part of the fashion design team. Works closely with designers to interpret their creations into high quality products. Strong understanding of pattern-making and garment construction is required. •Textile Designer - creates designs for woven, knitted, or printed fabrics or surface ornamented fabrics. •Product Developer - involved in sourcing fabrics, trims and notions. Works with factories to ensure product is produced to specifications and delivered on time. Merchandising •Merchandiser - channels the creativity of the design team so the right product at the right price at the right time is offered to the customer •Buyer - selects the merchandise to be sold in their store(s) based on target market, trends and past performance •Planner - works in tandem with the buying team to establish sales and inventory plans and budgets •Allocator - allocates merchandise bought to stores based on need to achieve sales & inventory plans
Retailer's Adage
to have the RIGHT MERCHANDISE at the RIGHT TIME in the RIGHT QUANTITIES at the RIGHT PRICE in the RIGHT PLACE
Business of Accessories
•$85.6 billion in footwear sales annually in the U.S. •$10.1 billion in handbag sales annually in the U.S. •Provide customers with a jolt of fresh fashion and instant access to the latest trends •Aspirational Customers: Accessories are often the first piece of a designer brand that a customer invests in. Accessories can be used/worn more frequently than clothing so is seen as a better investment by the consumer
Watches
•1904 - Louis Cartier introduced the modern wristwatch: Pocket watches were the predominating timepiece 4 types of watches: •Mechanical: Must be hand wound. Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Tag Heuer, Omega, Harry Winston, Bvlgari, Montblanc, David Yurman, Chanel. 1950s Timex made watches affordable to the masses •Self-winding: Wind themselves as the wearer moves their wrist •Quartz movement: Invented in the 1970s. Requires batteries. 1980s Swatch watches gained popularity with their casual & colorful aesthetic. Fossil, Movado, and Armitron are leaders in the market •Digital: Includes smartwatches
Categories of Women's Apparel- sportswear
•1930s-1950s, American women started enjoy more leisure activities •American designers began developing "sportswear": Claire McCardell, Bonnie Cashin, Clare Potter •From its launch, sportswear consisted of coordinated separates that could be easily mixed & matched: Shirts, blouses and knits worn with skirts, pants and shorts •Sportswear became the dress of American middle class •1970s saw rise of American Sportswear designer as a lifestyle brand: Anne Klein, Perry Ellis, Ralph Lauren, Bill Blass, Geoffrey Beene, Calvin Klein •Today sportswear encompasses casual streetwear and dressy looks: Denim continues to play a key role •Has become a global phenomenon, but maintains an American sensibility
Categories of Women's Apparel- activewear
•Activewear is apparel made for specific sports & exercise activities: Has become a part of many people's everyday wardrobes - •High-tech performance textiles are prevalent in this category: Moisture management, Temperature control, Sun / UV protection •Successful athletic apparel companies balance the performance with fashion & lifestyle
Advertising & Public Relations Agencies
•Agencies are heavily involved in creating a multimedia campaign designed to shape the public's image of a client company. Used for ongoing brand image maintenance and for image changes •Advertising Agencies: Provide a broad range of services to create marketing campaigns. Can range from small businesses to large companies with departments for market research, sales & account management, creative, copywriting and graphic design •Advertising Departments: Many fashion companies & retailers have in-house advertising departments that focus on print & digital •Public Relations Agencies: Responsible for promoting news about a fashion brand and maintaining/improving a company's image. Utilizes press releases, social media campaigns and story pitches to news media. Plan & coordinates special events such as runway shows. Facilities publicity around charitable and social good acts. •Public Relations Departments: Majority of fashion brands and retailers have in-house PR departments responsible for relationships with editors & stylists to have the brand's clothing & accessories used in editorial content and manage the samples for the brand
Categories of Women's Apparel- athleisure
•Athleisure is the category of active apparel also used for everyday wear: Yoga pants, leggings, hoodies, tanks
Women's Apparel Price Points 2
•Better: Medium to higher priced merchandise, Fabrics, styling and craftmanship are of better quality than lower-priced items, Slightly higher profile lines that are found in department stores •Moderate: Lines of nationally advertised apparel brands, Appeals to middle-class consumers, Majority of clothing falls into this price range, Sold mostly in chain or department stores •Budget: Lowest price point, also known as mass market, Garments are typically at fair quality and value, Often casual sportswear, Intended for broad consumption, Derivative of popular styles and staples
4 types of classifying retailers
•Business Ownership Form: Who legally owns the business •Merchandise & Store Format: What type of merchandise is sold. How is the store set up •Retail Ownership Form: How many stores are there & the structure of the ownership •Fashion Leadership Position: At what stage in the fashion life cycle is the merchandise that is carried by the retailer
Fashion reporting
•Careers in fashion reporting extend beyond fashion magazines •General Consumer Publications -Majority of newspapers report on fashion and devote regular weekly sections to fashion: New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Wall St. Journal -T Magazine (NY Times Style Magazine): Publishes special issues on fashion -Pop Culture Magazines give extensive coverage to fashion: New York, Time Out, Paper, Vanity Fair •Trade Publications -Published just for the fashion industry; rarely found on newsstands -Keep industry readers informed of news: Technical developments, fashion trend analysis, current business conditions, new products -Women's Wear Daily (WWD): Best known publication in the industry. Often referred to as the "bible" of the fashion industry. Published daily digitally -Footwear News: Published weekly. Covers shoe news and fashion trends -Business of Fashion: Published daily digitally. Features own editorial content & that curated from other news sources -Vogue Business: Published daily digitally. More industry/business influenced than vogue.com -Sourcing Journal: Published daily digitally. Focuses on textiles, product development, manufacturing, and international trade
Retailing policies- operational
•Deal with maintaining the store & keeping the customer satisfied •Ambiance: Atmosphere that is encountered when entering a store. Key in creating the image of a store. Sensory retailing: Stimulating all of the customer's senses while shopping •Promotional Activities: Advertising & Publicity. Social media plays a significant role •Frequent Shopper Programs; Reward customers for their loyalty, Special discounts, merchandise previews, gifts & samples •Customer Services: Activities that increase the value customers receive when they shop, Store hours, parking, return policies, delivery, alterations, repairs, credit plans, registries
Depth vs. Breadth
•Depth: Number of choices offered within each brand or product classification. Deep: Large stock available in each product. Shallow: Small amounts of stock available in each product. •Breadth: Number of product lines or number of brands carried within a product classification. Narrow: Allows the store to offer fewer brands in a larger number of styles, colors, sizes & materials. Broad: Offers a wide variety of lines or brands, Allows the retailer to appeal to a larger market
Women's Apparel Price Points
•Designer: Cater to high priced prestige or luxury market, Fabrics, construction, detailing & trims are superior in quality, Designer has free reign to creativity without much concern to cost, Sells in luxury specialty boutiques and department stores •Bridge: Bridges the price ranges between designer and better prices, Often for career separates and dresses in finer fabrics, Have the look of designer products but are made from less expensive fabrics, Often the secondary/diffusion line of fashion designers •Contemporary: More of a fashion-forward look, than just a specific price point, Favored by young designers who want to enter the market with innovative, designer quality lines, Using less expensive fabrics & having lower overhead expenses they can offer their line at lower prices
Retailing policies- merchandising
•Focus on the merchandise offering: Which stage of the fashion cycle will be emphasized, What level of quality will be maintained, What price range will be offered, What type of merchandise assortment will be carried, What brands will be offered, How exclusive will the products be •Fashion Cycle Emphasis: Will the store carry new fashions at the rise stage? Will it sell merchandise at the culmination stage to the masses? •Quality: Three general levels of quality: Top: finest materials & workmanship. Intermediate: maintains quality focused at certain price levels. Serviceable: materials & workmanship consistent with low prices •Price Ranges: Retailers tie price range to the level of quality in their product. Price plays a major role in the type of customer that a retailer will attract •Brand: The brands carried by a retailer help differentiate it from the competition. Retailers must choose between or a combination of: National Brands, Designer Brands, Private Labels, Store Brands •Assortment: Range of merchandise a retailer carries •Depth •Breadth •Exclusivity: Offering products that are not available at other stores in the trading area
ILGWU (The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union) and what they accomplished
•ILGWU survived the Depression •fight for better worker's rights, successfully negotiated for: •35 hour, 5 day work week •Paid vacations •Health, welfare & pension programs •The ILGWU financed housing projects & recreational centers •From 1975-1995 the ILGWU fought imports •"Look for the Union Label" campaign
Pioneering Retailer Types in America
•In America, markets & stores grew around heavily populated areas. As areas were settled, retailers followed. First retailers started in the Northeast. As people moved West, retailers established to meet the needs of new settlers •Trading Posts: Established by European settlers to swap furs for basic supplies •General Store: Evolved from Trading Posts. Sold a wide range of merchandise - everything their customers needed such as Dry goods, hardware, fabric, canned goods, etc. •Peddlers: Traveled to remote locations to sell their wares. Carried news from the bigger cities/towns
History of Men's Apparel
•Late 1700s: Tailors in port cities opened "slop shops" selling ready made suits to sailors who didn't have time to have a tailored suit made •1818: D.H. Brooks & Co opened for business (name changed to Brooks Brothers in 1850). Oldest retailer in America, started offering men's RTW in 1849. •Industrial Revolutuion: Men adopted the low of a conservatively cut, dark-colored suit, Clothing could now be mass produced •1846: Sewing machine was invented •1863: Paper patterns were invented •Great Depression: Men's RTW was finally accepted by the majority of men •Post-war era: Just like with women's apparel, sportswear became popular for men
Iconic Shoe Designers
•Manolo Blahnik: Worked as a theater set designer. On a trip to NYC in 1970, met with Vogue editor Diana Vreeland who encouraged him to design shoes •Roger Vivier: Credited with creating the stiletto in 1954. Designed shoes for Dior from 1953-1963 •Christian Louboutin: Opened his first namesake store in Paris in 1992. Known for his red-soled shoes handcrafted in Italy •Jimmy Choo: Malaysian-born cobbler opened a made-to-order shoe boutique in London in 1986. Clients included Princess Diana. Partnered with Tamara Mellon, British Vogue Accessories editor to form Jimmy Choo Ltd. In 1996. 2001 Choo sold his stake in the company, but his niece, Sandra, Choi stayed on as co-creative director
Triangle Shirt Waist Factory
•March 25, 1911 •Triangle Shirtwaist Factory occupied the 8th-10th floors in the Asch Building •When the fire started the workers were trapped on locked floors •146 workers died •Mostly young women •Turning point for the clothing work unions •Public sympathy helped them gain concessions
Jewelry
•Methods of jewelry making have changed little over time •The jewelry industry can be divided into 4 categories: Fine Jewelry which Focuses on classic styles to be worn forever, Costume Jewelry (Fashion) Seasonal collections offered, Bridge Jewelry, Ethnic Jewelry •Watches are separated from jewelry •Dominated by small companies: 90% of jewelry producers in the U.S. are small companies •Numerous trade organizations
Women's Apparel Size Ranges
•No industry-wide size standard for each range •Each manufacturer has the pattern made to fit its targeted customer's approximate size measurement •Misses (Missy) is cut to fit the average adult woman's figure, Between 5'5" and 5'9" and of average weight, Includes regular even-numbered sizes 0-22, XS=0/2, S=4/6, M=8/10, L=12/14, XL=16/18 •Juniors are Designed to fit a slimmer, shorter-waisted figure, Common with a teenager, Youthful styling is prevalent in this size range, Includes regular odd-number sizes 1-21 •Women's (Plus or Curvy) is Intended to fit adult women of average or above height and a heavier, more mature body, Includes even-number sizes 14W-28W, 1X=14W/16W, 2X=18W/20W, 3X=22W/24W
Handbag Industry in the U.S.A.
•Number of U.S. firms producing handbags is relatively small, Dominated by European, Asian, & South American imports Significant U.S. Handbag Brands •Coach: Founded in 1941. First bag inspired by a paper shopping bag. Used the small leather as baseball gloves •Bonnie Cashin designed in 1960s. Built a reputation of "accessible luxury accessories brand" and "classic, durable, dependable" •LeSportSac: Founded in 1974. Casual nylon bags. Functional in a wide variety of colors & prints •Dooney & Bourke: Founded in 1975. All-weather leathergoods •Judith Leiber: Hungarian born, Holocaust survivor. Known for minaudière luxury evening bags •Kate Spade: Founded in 1993. Former accessories editor at Mademoiselle. Debut collection had 6 silhouettes. Sleek, utilitarian shapes & colorful palettes. 2007 - expanded into clothing & jewelry
European Handbag Designers
•Numerous European designers maintain their positioning with handbags that are high-end status symbols Several houses that now offer RTW started as leather goods companies •Hermes: Founded in 1837 as a harness & saddlery shop. Paris Flagship boutique still in the same location. Early 1900s launched handbags. 1937 first silk scarf was created •Louis Vuitton: After being an apprentice for 17 years under Monsieur Marechal founded his own box-maker & packer shop in 1854. A box-maker and packer custom-made all boxes to fit the goods they stored and personally loaded and unloaded the boxes. (a precursor to luggage). Hired as Empress Eugenie's (Napoleon III's wife) personal box-maker & packer. Succeeded by his son Georges. Created the LV monogram & an unpickable lock •Gucci •Prada •Bottega Veneta
Small Leather Goods
•Often manufactured & merchandised with handbags Includes: Wallets, Wristlets, Card cases, Passport holders, Key fobs/chains, Cosmetic bags/dopp kits, Cell phone cases, Organizers/planners, Luggage tags •Not required to be made of leather
Omnichannel retailing
•Omni-channel retailers have a fully-integrated approach that provides shoppers a unified experience across online and offline channels •Ability to easily move inventory from one channel to another •Consistent messaging across all channels •For example: Can look up store inventory online. Can order online and pick-up or return in store. Homepage of the website & social media posts are promoting the same merchandise as store windows
Women's Apparel Size Ranges 2
•Petites are Intended to fit adult women shorter than 5'4" and of average build, Girth measurements are similar to misses but lengths are shorter, Skirt and pant legs are shorter, sleeves are shorter, Includes even-numbered sizes 0P-22P •Women's Petites are Intended to fit adult women who are technically considered plus size, but are shorter than 5'4", Includes even-number sizes 12WP-26WP
Precious metals and gemstones
•Platinum & gold: Solid gold is 24K •Gemstones comes from natural mineral formations •Precious Gemstones: Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires •Fine Gemstones: 19 different gemstones including: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Jade, Opal, Peridot, Topaz, Turquoise •Pearls: Real pearls occur naturally with no aid by humans. Cultured pearls are formed by an oyster around an irritant placed in the oyster's body by a person
Retailing
•Retailing encompasses the business activities involved in selling goods and services to consumers for their personal, family, or household use. •It includes every sale to the final consumer. •It is the last stage in the distribution process from supplier to consumer. •Fashion retailing involves the business of buying and selling apparel, accessories, and home fashions
Neckwear
•Silk scarves gained popularity in the 1970s: Squares & Oblongs of varying sizes. Designer scarves are famous worldwide like Hermes, Pucci, Gucci •Neckties: Standard accessory for suits for 100+ years. Majority are woven silk or polyester
Shoe Production
•Starts with a last - a form in the shape of a foot, over which the shoe is built •Quality and price of a finished shoe is determined by: Type of last used, Quality of materials, Type of manufacturing
Eyewear
•Sunglasses & Prescription Frames •Designers license their name to manufacturers Italian firms dominate eyewear industry •Luxottica: Chanel, Prada, RayBan, Armani, Valentino, Tory Burch, Oakley, Ralph Lauren, Coach, Burberry, Versace, Michael Kors, Oliver Peoples, Dolce & Gabbana, Persol. Owns & operates retail stores including Sunglass Hut & LensCrafters. Controls roughly 60% of sunglass sales in the U.S. •Safilo: Missoni, Moschino, Kate Spade, Givenchy, Fendi, Dior, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic, MaxMara, Rag & Bone, Hugo Boss, Levis, Rebecca Minkoff. Sold its retail chain, Solstice in 2019 •Marcolin: Tom Ford, Tod's Skechers, Guess, Pucci, Diesel, Zegna, Adidas, Moncler, Harley Davidson, Timberland, Victoria's Secret, Kenneth Cole •Marchon: Based in NY. Nike, Nautica, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Chloe, Donna Karen, Lacoste, Nine West, Longchamp, Paul Smith
Visual Merchandising
•The arrangement and presentation of merchandise in store windows and on the selling floor: Includes signage and visual props •Supports the retailer's image •Motivates customers to enter the store •Planograms are developed to help decide where to put merchandise on the selling floor: Created by the corporate office visual team and distributed to store visual teams to execute •Corporate and Store positions exist •Smaller retailers often hire freelance visual merchandisers
Retail strategy
•The overall plan or framework of action that guides a retailer: •Allows retailer to determines how to differentiate itself from competitors. •Allows retailer to develop an offering that appeals to a group of customers. •convenience, customer loyalty, differentiation, strategic alliances
Fashion Magazine Careers
•Writers/Reporters - research ideas, conduct interviews, author articles on fashion news •Fashion Critics - write reviews on runway shows, new products, and collections •Editors - work with brands to choose the latest products as subjects for the articles and features •Photographers & Art Directors - manage the overall look of the magazine through the development and selection of images, layout and design •Publisher/Sales - responsible for ad page sales •Public Relations - promotion of magazines through special events and sponorships
Footwear Industry in the U.S.A
•footwear was a major industry in the Northeast at the turn of the 20th century: 1911: L.L. Bean invented his boot that combined leather uppers with rubber bottoms. 1916: Keds launched its canvas-topped, rubber-soled shoe. 1917: Converse All-Star was first released •1878 - Brown Shoe Company founded in St. Louis instead of shipping in shoes from New England: Owns several brands including: 1922 Allen Edmonds was founded(bought by Caleres in 2017), Naturalizer was launched in 1927, Dr. Scholl's which released its iconic wooden sandal in 1959. Brown Shoe changed name to Caleres in 2015 •1952 - Timberland began when its founder bought a half-interest in the Abington Shoe Company: 1973 - their iconic yellow boot was invented •1964 - Bill Bowerman, track coach at U of Oregon and his former student Phil Knight founded Nike (originally named Blue Ribbon Sports): Bowerman wanting the give his runners a competitive edge with a lighter running shoe, used his wife's waffle iron to meld his design of latex, leather and some glue. 1978 - name changed to Nike, Inc. Has grown to be the largest shoe producer in the U.S.A. •1978 - Vince Camuto & Jack Fisher opened Nine West: In 2001 Vince Camuto launched the Camuto group and obtained the license to produce shoes for several brands. BCBG Max Azria, Tory Burch, Lucky Brand Jeans, Banana Republic. 2005 - introduced his namesake line of shoes
