New Balance, Nine West aim to pair comfort with style
Footwear to include sneakers, slip-ons
Two shoe companies are pairing up so women won't have to choose between fashion and comfort.
Boston-based New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. and Nine West Group, a division of Jones Apparel Group Inc., will create a footwear collection to debut in March. The women's casual shoe line combines New Balance's insole technology for comfort and athletic performance with Nine West's fashion styling.
Terms were not disclosed.
Women are no longer willing to sacrifice function for fashion, said Alana Choquette, New Balance product manager. This new line, she said, will ensure they don't have to.
The shoe line, called "New Balance for Nine West," includes lace-up sneakers, sandals, and slip-ons combining nonathletic material such as T-shirt jerseys with traditional athletic silhouettes. The collection will not include running shoes or heels.
Nike Inc.'s Cole Haan division has for several years used Nike Air technology to make comfortable dress shoes, including high heels.
Though still being finalized, New Balance for Nine West will boast upward of 20 types of shoes. The collection, ranging in price from $70 to $100, will be available at select Nine West and New Balance stores and at www.ninewest.com.
Creative directors at Nine West and New Balance teamed to select the material, color, and design of the shoes but the manufacturing and production will be split between the companies. New Balance will manufacture the sneaker-based styles, while Nine West will handle the fashion, soft-tech shoes, Choquette said.
Nine West could not immediately comment on the line.
Elizabeth Campbell can be reached at ecampbell@globe.com. 