Athletes demanding high-performance, eco-friendly footwear PORTLAND, Ore., July 14
PORTLAND, Ore., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- END Footwear, a new company
focused on designing high performance and sustainable footwear, started by
award-winning footwear designer Andrew Estey and business partner Ben Finklea,
has added ten new retailers based in the Southeast. New retailers picking up
the Fall 2008 END line include Great Outdoor Provision Co., Raleigh, N.C.;
Rock/Creek in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Adventure's Edge, Morgantown, W.Va.; Alabama
Outdoors, Birmingham, Ala.; Black Creek Outfitters, Jacksonville, Fla.;
Diamond Brand Outdoors, Arden, N.C.; Fleet Feet Sports, Carrboro, N.C.; Little
River Trading Company, Maryville, Tenn.; Water Stone Outdoors, Fayetteville,
W.Va.; and North Beach Outfitters, Duck, N.C.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080508/AQTH130LOGO)
The END Footwear Fall 2008 line of lightweight trail training and light
backpacking footwear, comprised of seven styles each of men's and women's
shoes, will be available at retail locations on August 1, 2008.
"We picked END because of its commitment to the environment, excellent
price-point and its 'light is right' mentality," said Chad Baird, footwear
buyer for Great Outdoor Provision Co. "We were excited to see a youthful and
updated approach to outdoor footwear that will appeal to the core trail
runners and outdoor enthusiasts."
The END Fall 2008 line uses 35-59 percent less complex parts and material
than Outside Magazine's Top Trail Running Picks for 2007.
"END is leading the way in the creation of sustainable outside gear by
embracing sustainability values in all products, not just a few," said Andrew
Estey, CEO and creative director. "We are striving to become the first brand
to bring high performance and sustainability together which makes for great
looking and very lightweight footwear."
"We see a tremendous amount of opportunity in the environmental arena,
especially in footwear," said Mark McKnight, marketing director of Rock/Creek,
a specialty outdoor retailer. "Traditional manufacturing techniques in the
footwear industry have not been environmentally neutral. As the entire
industry and our customers begin to assess our impact on the world, we're
going to need more innovative companies like END to exhibit design
leadership."
About END Footwear (environmentally neutral design)
Founded in 2007, END Footwear is building a new culture -- not another
corporation -- through sustainable design. Founded by award-winning shoe
designer Andrew Estey and business partner Ben Finklea, END questions every
component of design to minimize the environmental footprint of its products.
For more information about END, visit the Web site at
http://www.endfootwear.com.
SOURCE END Footwear
