Boston-based New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. entered a new strategic partnership with W.L. Gore & Associates, the maker of GORE-TEX fabrics. The partnership comes as New Balance launches its Outdoor initiative at the Winter Outdoor Retailer show later this month, featuring products that debut in Fall 2007.
“We are very excited about our new partnership with Gore,” says Katherine Petrecca, product manager, outdoor enthusiast at New Balance. “Gore is truly the industry standard when it comes to waterproof, breathable, and durable footwear fabric. Together, New Balance and Gore will work to produce premier footwear for the serious outdoor enthusiast.”
New Balance will offer GORE-TEX lining in five of their new outdoor performance shoes for Fall 2007. Several styles with highly breathable GORE-TEX XCR lining, specially designed for comfort and protection during high output activities, will also be offered. New Balance has partnered with Gore specifically in the 1110 trail runner, the 1200 hiker, the multi-sport 950 and 1091, and the 977 country walker.
“New Balance, unsurpassed in its breadth of offering in footwear sizes and widths, provides Gore access to new customers,” says Matt Schreiner, global product specialist at Gore. “The “sit and fit” nature of many of their retail doors is an ideal venue for retail staff to educate consumers about features and benefits of the new footwear while also telling the GORE-TEX® brand story.”
