Kenosha-based Jockey International Inc., known for men’s undergarments and women’s intimates, announced Tuesday the launch of men’s and women’s casual footwear. Jockey is partnering with New York-based footwear experts The Eastman Group to design, manufacture and market casual footwear, slippers, flip flops, and athleisure styles for men and women.
Athleisure, a combination of casual and active lifestyles, will be the focus of the collection, filling what Jockey considers to be a void in the industry with “comfortable, casual and durable footwear for a variety of activity levels.”
Jockey said footwear has been a long-awaited category for the brand, and it has been searching for the perfect partner with whom it can expand into the footwear space. The company said The Eastman Group, which specializes in technical fabrics and innovative techniques, is the perfect match for Jockey to provide high quality, comfortable, and innovative apparel to consumers.
“We have found an ideal match with The Eastman Group, which has extensive knowledge of the footwear industry to pair with Jockey’s expertise in textile technology and comfort features,” said Milou Gwyn, vice president of licensing at Jockey. “This seamless integration of quality, cross-functional, and technology-driven footwear falls perfectly in line with Jockey’s commitment to deliver innovative products.”
Jockey’s new men’s and women’s footwear collections will feature cutting-edge materials that regulate temperature, cooling in warm weather and insulating in the cold. Additionally, the shoes will include moisture-wicking fabrics with anti-microbial properties. The full collection will feature slippers in the fall months, sandals in the warmer seasons, and casual athleisure footwear year-round.
The new Jockey footwear collection will debut with a soft launch for the spring/summer 2016 season, with a full launch in fall/winter 2016.
