Cole Haan, the iconic American lifestyle and accessories brand announced further details of Cole Haan & Todd Snyder, a new ongoing collaboration with the critically acclaimed menswear designer that will launch on March 6, 2015. With the introduction of six new styles in a neutral palette, Todd Snyder brings his directional point of view to Cole Haan's tradition of impeccable craftsmanship.
"Todd is one of the few designers that honors tradition while simultaneously disrupting and redefining it. This inaugural collection brings forth an elegant collision of tradition and modernity that is both fresh and familiar," said David Maddocks, Chief Marketing Officer at Cole Haan.
The first collection of the collaboration reimagines the classic well-made dress shoe: the Lewis Chukka, Lewis Woven Loafer, Hammond Wing Ox, Willet Plain Ox, Willet Penny Loafer and Willet Camp Moc Loafer, all presented in a neutral palette of Milkshake, Blazer Blue, Black, British Tan, Ivory, Papaya, and Magnet. The Cole Haan design team worked closely with Mr. Snyder, co-designing the collection to employ the house's expert techniques - sourcing quality materials, hand sewn, Goodyear welted, stitch-out and board-lasted constructions.
"I have over 30 pairs of Cole Haan shoes that I have collected over the past 20 years that I used for inspiration. I wanted to re-create something from the past and update it for the modern gentleman," said Mr. Snyder.
This partnership comes on the heels of Todd Snyder's Fall 2014 and Fall 2015 runway shows during Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week when models wore Cole Haan shoes, including custom Cole Haan Chelsea Boots specially designed for the runway. Mr. Snyder's personal history with the brand goes back even further to the 1980s and his first job at the Des Moines, Iowa menswear shop, Badowers, where Cole Haan was the top-selling shoe brand. This experience, combined with Mr. Snyder's reverence for American heritage, influenced both the Cole Haan & Todd Snyder designs themselves as well as the overall aesthetic direction of the collection.
"Todd Snyder has been a wonderful collaboration for Cole Haan. Todd's design prowess has dovetailed seamlessly with our talented and experienced footwear design team, resulting in a sophisticated collection to dress the modern man," declared Andrew Dubin, Chief Merchandising Officer at Cole Haan.
To celebrate this unique collaboration, Cole Haan created a new custom logo that captures the shared DNA between the two brands: heritage, craftsmanship and a quintessentially American point of view. Specifically, the history of Cole Haan comes through in the logotype, used in the late 1920s when Cole Haan was still Cole, Rood & Haan Co. The rough-hewn quality of the typeface brings authenticity to Mr. Snyder's already well-established aesthetic while honoring Cole Haan's rich culture. The new logo is a crucial piece in communicating the message of American craftsmanship and design across the collection through to the packaging.
The Cole Haan & Todd Snyder Spring 2015 collection will be available beginning March 6, 2015 at select retailers including Cole Haan flagships, ColeHaan.com, the Cole Haan flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, Todd Snyder's Townhouse flagship in the Shibuya neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan, and ToddSnyder.com.
About Cole Haan:
Cole Haan LLC, with its Global Creative Center in New York City, is an iconic American lifestyle accessories brand and retailer of premium men's and women's footwear and bags, outerwear, eyewear and accessories with a commitment to craftsmanship, timeless style and design innovation. For more information, visit colehaan.com and follow @colehaan.
About Todd Snyder:
The designer menswear label was founded by Todd Snyder in 2011. An industry veteran, Snyder's 20-year career spans experience with industry heavyweights: Ralph Lauren, Gap and J. Crew. Influenced by his Iowa upbringing, the Todd Snyder collection is rooted in American classics: tailored suiting, traditional knits and outerwear styled with thoughtful ease and finish, yet constructed using luxurious Italian and Japanese fabrics and yarns. Since his launch, Todd Snyder has been selected as one of GQMagazine's Best New Designers in America (2012), nominated byFGI for the Rising Star Award (2013) and nominated three times for theCFDA Swarovski Menswear Award (2012, 2013, 2014). He was a finalist for the 2013 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Todd Snyder is available at MRPORTER, Barneys, Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as specialty stores such as Odin, Unionmade and Steven Alan, and the brand's own e-commerce, toddsnyder.com.
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