Canada Goose announced the widely expected market launch of its first footwear line on Nov. 12, starting with two luxury-priced snow and hiking boots offered at suggested retail prices of $750 and $1,295. The new product launch follows six months of testing by a group of 40 men and women including adventurers, scientists and entertainment industry professionals.
The easily adjustable Snow Mantra Boot, which uses PrimaLoft Gold insulation, was tested at temperatures as low as -30° Celsius. It is the more expensive model in the series. The less expensive and more flexible Journey Boot has a removable foam insole and is more suitable for hiking or the city. Both styles will be offered in different colors.
The addition to the portfolio is part of the Canadian brand’s “beyond the parka” strategy that started in 2017 with the launch of knitwear, followed by the introduction of fleece last year The small initial capsule of functional boots will be available from the Canada Goose website and 35 branded stores as well as some influential retail partners.
The product range and the distribution network are due to be expanded in the following seasons. For now, the brand’s focus is on cold-weather-performance shoes, matching the end-use purpose of its classic parkas for snowy conditions. To help develop the required expertise in the segment, Canada Goose acquired three years ago Baffin, a company based in the same state of Ontario that is known for its outdoor, hunting and fishing boots.
In the following years, the company hired two footwear industry experts, Woody Blackford as executive vice president of product, and Adam Meek as general manager of footwear and accessories. Blackford previously spent 13 years at Columbia Sportswear as vice president of global design and innovation. Meek joined Canada Goose last year from Sperry, where he acted as global senior vice president of product after working for Lacoste Footwear and Nike.
