Collective Licensing International (CLI) announced a new multi-year agreement with U.S-based Mercury International Trading Corporation (Mercury) for the company to license the Hind brand for the footwear category in the North America market. Mercurys initial Hind footwear collection will mark a first for the Hind brand, and will be available in summer 2012 at various retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada.
“We are excited to see the Hind brand extend into footwear, and Mercury is the perfect partner to make this important step happen,” said Bruce Pettet, CEO of Collective Licensing International, the company that owns the Hind brand. “Mercury is an experienced licensee partner, with more than 30 years of designing, manufacturing and bringing to market superior branded footwear products and providing trademark owners with brand extensions into the footwear category. We are excited to work with the Mercury team to bring consumers across North America the first-ever Hind performance footwear collection.”
Founded in 1974, Hind originally focused on competition and active swim apparel, but has since expanded into running, cycling, outdoor and fitness apparel for both the male and female athlete. Hind was one of the first brands to introduce compression apparel.
Established in 1979 and headquartered in North Attleboro, Mass., Mercury stands among the largest suppliers of licensed and retail-brand athletic and outdoor footwear to the U.S. and international markets.
“Mercury has a sophisticated understanding of brands and the complex relationship between brand attributes and the product itself,” said Howard Wiseman, president and CEO of Mercury. “We found a complementary development partner in CLI, a company that shares our views on brand authenticity and careful adherence to a core philosophy and brand message.”
Collective Licensing International, LLC, a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc. is the owner and/or license operator of Airwalk, Above The Rim, Vision Street Wear, Clinch Gear, STRIKEFORCE, Sims, Lamar and LTD, World Snowboarding Championships and Hind.
