Nike Inc. brought out soccer stars Brandi Chastain and Hope Solo and world-renowned volleyball player Logan Tom at a New York press event to help launch Tailwind, a women’s performance footwear and accessories brand that will be exclusive to Payless ShoeSource. The Tailwind collection, designed and produced by Nike's Exeter Brands Group LLC subsidiary, consists of six styles, ranging from the $19.99 Ginger athletic sandal to the $34.99 G-Zone Runner; in sizes 6 to 11.

The collection hit 400 Payless stores on Monday, and will be expanded to 1,500 Payless stores by July. By year-end, executives said they plan to have the collection in all 4,600 Payless stores. Footwear and accessories for girls will be added in July, and the partners are considering plans to expand the Tailwind brand to men's and boy’s performance footwear.

Exeter said the shoes feature G-Zone, a groundbreaking honeycomb gel that compresses on impact, giving an extremely smooth ride and a fantastic take off. Built for consumers looking for a stylish transition from the gym or dance studio to the street, the Tailwind collection includes trend-conscious colors, sculpted lines and innovative fabrications completing the shoe's stepped-up fashion exterior.

Brandi Chastain, three-time Olympic medalist and World Cup hero; Hope Solo, starting goalkeeper for the U.S. women's soccer team; and Logan Tom, the youngest woman ever to be selected for the USA Olympic volleyball team, are the inspiring women forming the backbone behind the brand, exemplifying its view “Move Towards Your Life.”

“To see the Tailwind collection come to life has been an extraordinary process. The designers fused fashion and performance, and there is integrity in every detail,” said Chastain, who was integrally involved in the brand development and the footwear design. “The G-Zone Runners are the real thing. They match innovative engineering with great design and deliver what a woman needs, something that can take them confidently through life and sport.”

“This collection celebrates expressive women who want the comfort and quality of a serious performance shoe combined with the fun of the latest contemporary fashion trends, all at a great value,” said Clare Hamill, president and CEO of Exeter Brands Group. “We are excited about this new line and we know that it's going to strike a positive chord with women across the U.S.”


Exeter designers built the new collection from the ground up, with the help of Nike's world-renowned Sports Research Lab. Exeter Brands Group LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oregon-based NIKE, Inc. Exeter's portfolio includes Starter, SHAQ/ Dunkman and Tailwind brands, which are being distributed with major value retailers.