Kiwi Footwear Manufacturer to Exhibit 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 president, Andrew Robertson, is the grandson of original Kumfs founder - podiatrist David Robertson.
Kumfs was founded in the 1940s by Robertson and another New Zealand podiatrist 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,” Andrew said.
“Kumfs 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 which runs from 1-4 February 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.”
Alongside the more than 1,500 footwear manufacturers exhibiting at the WSA Show, Kumfs will display over 40 of its different shoe styles including the new Kumfs Essential range.
“The Essential range was developed in response to demand in the market for a line of more corporate looking shoes that are both simple and classic in design,” Andrew said.
“This range, along with designs from the fall/winter 2007 collection all feature Kumfs’ quality workmanship and design which promote comfort and enhance good posture.”
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.