Teva and Ugg, two of shoe giant Deckers Brands’ most well-known properites, are collaborating on two shoe styles that aim to merge function and fashion. Launching tomorrow, the open-toe Sandal and Hybrid styles sport Teva’s recognizable rubber tread soles and Velcro straps and Ugg’s sheepskin upper. Available for a limited time in black, gray, olive, white and navy, the sandal and the mid-calf iteration will retail for $175 and $225, respectively, on both brands’ e-commerce sites as well as select Ugg concept stores and retailers.
Teva has done its share of collaborations, including a flatform style with Nasty Gal, but this marks the first time that two brands under the Deckers umbrella have comingled on a style. “Both brands have rich heritages on their own, so to have them as sister brands is really powerful,” said Wendy Yang, president of the performance lifestyle group at Deckers Brands. “It’s a new point of relevance and will push the limits of the brands known for their iconic products.” Teva was founded in 1984 and Ugg was founded in 1978.
It may seem unlikely that the performance sport sandal and the sheepskin bootie could spawn a hybrid, but it signifies an effort on Teva’s part to reach a young, street-style conscious audience already loyal to Ugg. Noted Yang, “We’re aiming to reach tastemakers looking for an extra dose of style in their daily adventures, whether on the street or on the trail. It’s different and maybe not expected, but it’s great when it does work out.”
This could be the beginning of more cross-pollination within the Deckers portfolio. “To take two brands and create two bold styles that are exciting for consumers is something we should continue to do more of,” Yang said. In addition to Teva and Ugg, the Deckers portfolio includes Sanuk, Ahnu, Hoka One One and Koolaburra.