Reef Hanging Shoes 2024 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Hanging Shoes 2024 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Reef
Interviewee: Jenny Cooper, Marketing Manager @ Unify Brand Partnerships

How was 2023 for the hanging shoes market?
In a tough season weather wise, we were fortunate to experience success particularly in our mid to premium comfort led styles across men’s and women’s. Newness was well received as the consumer looked for exciting new silhouettes and colour ups.

What are the current trends in hanging shoes?
Continuing from 2023 height continues to be key in the womens collection for SS24 and pops of bright colours from hot pink to lime green. Molded also continues into 2024 with the new styles and colours added to the range. Menswear sees clean, casual silhouettes in easy to wear shapes with luxe comfort and cushioning for allday wear.

What new styles and shapes are you offering in 2024?
One of Reef’s men’s best sellers, the Cushion Phantom has been updated for 2024, it is designed with unbeatable comfort and has an easy, relaxed fit, say hello to the Phantom 2.0. Along with the updated Phantom, Reef have introduced the Cushion Norte into their menswear collection for 2024, this is a water friendly sandal and is built with ground breaking Nitrogen-Infused EVA, this style gives supreme comfort in a clean silhouette. Also new for 2024 is the mens Ojai collection, this is a premium product that delivers luxe comfort. With a suede upper and glove leather lining this style is modern and easy to wear. There are 3 silhouttes in this range a three point, a slide and a two bar and they are available in a range of neutral colours. Following the success of the womens Water Vista in 2023 Reef have introduced the Water Vista Higher for 2024. With an elevated platform but still lightweight and water friendly this is the extra pair of sandals you take on holiday with you. New and fresh for 2024 is the women’s Bondi collection, featuring three silhouettes this collection comprises of a one bar, two bar and three point. This style is for the youthful stylish comfort consumer and comes in a range of muted tone colours.

What materials and construction techniques are you using in your 2024 collection?
The Cushion Norte has been built with Nitrgoen-infused EVA, this style offers cushioning like no other and is incredibly supportive while remaining unbelievably lightweight. It is also water friendly and designed with a relaxed fit and clean aesthetic.

What colours and prints are you offering in 2024?
2024 brings a more tonal collection for menswear with orion black being introduced across the collection, you’ll also find a larger range of styles offering sand, tan, fossil and grey colourways. There are pops of colour in the womens Water Vista collection with lime, hot pink, taffy (a lilac) and sand lime being introduced in 2024. Alongside these pops of colour there is a new range of soft tones with the introduction of peach parfait and golden hour.

Anything new in terms of sustainability?
Reef continue to only work with material suppliers who agree to not use restricted chemicals in the manufacturing of our materials. Sustainability has been part of the Reef DNA since its inception. All Reef products are 100% PVC free. Reef has updated all webbing straps, toe posts and liner materials to 100% recycled polyester derived from post-consumer plastic bottles and certified by the global recycling standard. In addition, Reef uses materials that are natural such as cotton, wood, cork, jute and paper. 100% of Reef’s leathers and suedes are from tanneries with gold and sliver ratings with a majority being ISA lite (low impact to the environment) leathers and a large part of the range is crafted from sustainable sugar cane EVA.

Please tell us about your key marketing stories for hanging shoes for 2024
Key marketing themes for 2024 are Bold Behaviour which encompasses key womens day to night styles including the new Water Vista Higher and Bondi collection, along with a couple of last years new styles Vista Hi and Vera Cruz. In The Flow is another marketing story for 2024 and this showcases water styles that sit in both the mens and womens collections from the mens Oasis Double Up and Scallyway to the womens Water Scout, Water Vista and Water Vista Slide. And finally Performance Comfort will focus on styles that are technical, innovative and comfortable. Key styles featured in this category include the Norte, Swellsole Cruiser and Neptune.

How are you helping retailers sell this category?
We will support our retailers both in store and digitally with brand assets and social campaigns. We will create window displays with a number of retailers and supply POS, fixtures and branded POP where needed to support with brand awareness and product sell through.

Key Products:

Mens Cushion Norte – RRP £70:
Classic yet casual, the Cushion Norte is a water-friendly sandal built with Reef’s premium, Nitrogen-Infused EVA, making this their softest lightest EVA yet. Designed with a relaxed fit and clean aesthetic this style can be worn anywhere.

CUSHION NORTE TAN

Mens Phantom 2.0 – RRP £45:
Reef have updated their fan-favourite style, Cushion Phantom. The updated version has even more support and a silhouette that wears easily. It has been designed with a superior footbed that molds like memory foam but rebounds after every step.

PHANTOM

Womens Bondi – RRP £50:
Effortlessly chic with comfort you can see. The Cushion Bondi is water-friendly, flexible and destined for summer adventures. It’s made entirely with a lightweight EVA that provides everlasting cushion and rebounding support.

BONDI BLACK