Sperry now wants to market clothes

[avb3]

From the lead paragraph:

Batten down the hatches. Sperry Top-Sider, the brand behind boat shoes, is tacking toward the apparel business. The company today unveiled a line of men’s and women’s clothing that follows its general Cape-Cod-in-the-1980s aesthetic. Think waterproof yachting jackets, cargo pants, knit sweaters, and lots and lots of navy blue stripes.


http://mobile.businessweek.com/artic...-shoe-business

My quick take on it? If they are going to try and pull a Nike it's not going to work. If on the other hand, they're going to do something like going after the Gills of the world, it may well work.

[robert sailor]

I guess if North Sails can do it why not Sperry?

[WindLove]

At least with their coats and sweaters I won't have to stop and tie them every 30 steps...

[ozskipper]

Lets see if its made in sweat shops in asia like most major brands.. Call me a cynic, but I refuse to buy branded clothing from big brand names who useCMT (Cut Make Trim) sweatshops in asia who make each garment for $3 then have it retail in a so called fashion outlet for $100.

[Doodles]

I'm surprised it took them this long to jump on the bandwagon. Really, this should not be a surprise. Everything is about branding these days. I'm getting a bit bored with my CK underwear so maybe Sperry will come out some with little anchors or sailboats on them .. and in nautical colors of course.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by WindLove

At least with their coats and sweaters I won't have to stop and tie them every 30 steps...

No offense, but if you have to stop and tie your Sperry shoes every 30 steps, then you're not tying them right. In fact, I don't think I have to re-tie my Sperry's more than a couple of times per season.

[Paul L]

Hoepfully they will more useful on a boat than their boat shoes and boots. All the Sperry soled shoes we have/had onboard had the soles go hard and slippery in year or two in the tropics. Worthless.

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Doodles

I'm surprised it took them this long to jump on the bandwagon. Really, this should not be a surprise. Everything is about branding these days. I'm getting a bit bored with my CK underwear so maybe Sperry will come out some with little anchors or sailboats on them .. and in nautical colors of course.

When I got my boat it came with a hanging locker full of weather gear">foul weather gear ,it is all Sperry branded or at least it advertises Sperry on the front and some have logos on the back side too..All of this stuff is circa. 1970s,wonder if this is there first time at marketing clothes..