Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) announced today that it entered into a new licensing agreement with Iris Hosiery, Inc. of Montreal, Canada, to market Wolverine brand socks in North America.
''We are excited about our new affiliation with Iris, which represents the next step in our strategy to expand the reach of the Wolverine brand beyond its core work boot heritage to apparel and other related accessory programs,'' stated Kevin Smith, Vice President of Apparel and Accessory Licensing at Wolverine World Wide, Inc. ''Iris was a clear choice for hosiery given its leadership position and its making and sourcing capabilities. The Wolverine brand product line from Iris will include work, outdoor and rugged casual socks. This line will reflect the core attributes of the Wolverine brand, the leader in the work segment of the footwear market, and complement the successful new line of Wolverine apparel products, which are performing well at retail. We look forward to a successful partnership with Iris.''
The new hosiery line will include merino wool, thermal, cotton and cotton blend socks, featuring technical performance fibers such as Cool Max(R) and Lycra(R), and comfort constructions such as arch supports, padded toe and foot bed areas to wear with steel toe footwear. Iris Hosiery will design, manufacture and market Wolverine(R) brand socks to national, regional and specialty retailers in the United States and Canada.
With a commitment to service and product excellence, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is one of the world's leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear and slippers. The Company's portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Bates(R), Hush Puppies(R), Merrell(R) and Wolverine(R). The Company also markets footwear under popular licensed brands including CAT(R), Harley-Davidson(R) and Stanley(R). The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and are distributed internationally in over 140 countries. For additional information, please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com .
