06 Feb Cole Haan Opens Innovation Center
Cole Haan opened an Innovation & Sports Lifestyle Design Center, located at its global headquarters based in Greenland, NH. Over the past two years, Cole Haan endeavored successfully to re-establish its reputation for making high quality dress footwear for men and women.
With the brand’s introduction of ZeroGrand—a groundbreaking product launched in July 2014—Cole Haan continued to revolutionize the footwear industry. ZeroGrand integrates innovation and craftsmanship in an engineered product that is the lightest and most flexible shoe Cole Haan has ever created.
At the heart of ZeroGrand is Grand.OS, a proprietary design platform which brings unparalleled style, comfort and functionality to Cole Haan products. It focuses on weight reduction, flexibility and responsive cushioning. These three simple paths of innovation, joined together, have put ZeroGrand at the top of the company’s best-seller lists for men and women. Individually, these components provide Cole Haan with opportunities to create modern footwear and bring outstanding improvements to traditional footwear.
“Cole Haan has been an innovator for 85 years. This has put us at the forefront of the footwear industry. With the opening of our Global Innovation Center, we elevated our commitment to bring creative disruption to the marketplace,” declared Jack Boys, Chief Executive Officer of Cole Haan.
The Global Innovation Center will enable Cole Haan to aggressively expand its offering of ZeroGrand products for men and women. This division will also join with best-in-class partners and manufacturers to deliver an integrated collection of lifestyle products for the active consumer globally. These products will be sold through Cole Haan stores, domestic retailers and global distribution partners. Leading the center’s vision and team will be Scott Patt, a 20-plus year design veteran of branded apparel and footwear. Patt is a pioneer in the industry with achievements in fashion as well as athletic footwear and sportswear brands, where innovation was a driving force.
“Cole Haan will continue to dare to be bold, while honoring our tradition of crafting iconic American lifestyle products. The brand will continue to grow and revolutionize with innovation,” concluded Andrew Dubin, Chief Merchandising Officer at Cole Haan.