Soon consumers won’t have to pay a premium for "green" footwear. Payless ShoeSource today announced plans to launch an affordable eco-friendly footwear line due in stores early next year.
Payless said the forthcoming line will include the use of sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as organic cottons and linen, natural hemp and recycled outsoles, as well as the use of eco-smart packaging.
The line will be seasonally refreshed and will launch initially for women, expanding to include kids’ and men’s styles in the future.
The "green" shoes will be available at prices, on average, of under $30 a pair early next year in about 500 stores with select styles appearing in 1,000 stores, as well as generally available on Payless.com.
"The sustainability movement is pervasive today and is touching so many elements of consumers’ daily lives and they are interested in more and more green product options being available to them," said Matt Rubel, CEO of Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), Inc., the parent company of Payless ShoeSource. "But green items are often expensive and inaccessible to so many. We are in the best position and proud to bring forward a green footwear line that is affordable and accessible to all.
Payless has signed an agreement with Summer Rayne Oakes to serve as the footwear brand’s Eco Consultant. Oakes is Discovery Network’s Planet Green fashion and beauty expert and author of Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty.
"When Payless approached me to partner with them on what would be their first-ever affordable green line of footwear, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse," said Oakes. "It’s high time a stylish line of shoes can be both environmentally friendly and reasonably priced."
The contract between Payless and Oakes is a multi-year arrangement. Oakes will be involved in seasonal line reviews focusing on materials use and aesthetics for the product, packaging, and in-store materials, as well as participate in other marketing activities for the brand.
Payless said it expects to announce the new brand name closer to when the shoes are available in stores next year.
Loading...