Kumfs Fall/Winter Collection to go on Display at Global Show
Family owned New Zealand footwear manufacturer Kumfs shoes is set to exhibit its fall/winter 2007 range at the world’s largest footwear and related accessories show next month in Las Vegas.
Kumfs Range Builder/ GM of Retail Kumfs, Robin Boyce, said alongside the more than 1,500 footwear manufacturers exhibiting at the WSA Show from 1-4 February, Kumfs will display over 40 of its different shoe styles from the fall/winter 2007 collection.
“This season Kumfs come in a range of fashion styles in three heights. Highlights include vintage, flat-heeled, rounded-toe shoes in berry and honey antique rub-off leather. There are also low wedge fashion moccasins in khaki, black or red ‘crush’ patent leather and higher, New York style rounded-toe pumps in black, honey, bronze, chilli or rub-off leather, on a dainty one-inch or chunky two-inch heel.
“Boots are also a key feature of the range, with mid-heeled fashionable riding boots available in black and chocolate. The flat-heeled styles feature patchwork leather in wine, chilli and cigar rub-off finish, while soft, comfortable suede ankle boots on a slim wedge heel complete the range.
“All footwear in the collection features Kumfs’ quality workmanship and design which promote comfort and enhance good posture.”
Kumfs was founded in the 1940s by New Zealand podiatrists David Robertson and Mervyn Adams. They identified that many foot problems in women were due to wearing shoes designed for European women that were too narrow for typical Kiwi feet. On that basis, they went on to make comfortable, casual shoes for women. The range of shoes made by Kumfs has since grown to now encompass orthotic-capable footwear, as well as foot-friendly fashionable shoes for the modern woman.
Kumfs President, Andrew Robertson, said the company is an example of kiwi ingenuity at its best coupled with a determination to succeed on an international scale.
“Over the years, Kumfs has grown to the point where today its shoes are the most recommended women’s fashion shoes ‘down under’ by podiatrists,” he said.
Exhibiting at the WSA Show comes ‘hot on the heels’ of Kumfs opening its first US company-owned store last year in Fresno, California.
“The USA represents a significant opportunity for us - Kumfs shoes have been distributed in the USA since 1979 and are currently stocked by approximately 200 US retailers,” he said.
“The US market also currently ranks third highest in terms of market demand for our shoes behind Australia and New Zealand.
“Our successful inroad into the US market has been led by the unique combination of function and fashion in our orthotic-capable range of shoes.”
Kumfs has exhibited at the show twice a year for the last 7-8 years.
At last year’s show, Kumfs attracted widespread interest for its revolutionary Y-Series sandal range, which allow for custom-made orthotics to be easily inserted into them which was light yet fashionable.