Zoe & Zac to deliver fresh green fashion this summer
Write:
Undine [2011-05-20]
As shoppers prepare for a season of cook-outs, beach trips, concerts and patio parties, Payless ShoeSource is enabling fashion fans to celebrate the outdoors with the Zoe & Zac summer collection of affordable and fashionable green shoe and accessory options. The shoes and handbags channel the season's hottest trends to deliver "Fresh Green Fashion" at unbeatable prices.
"Each season our Zoe & Zac brand continues to democratize green by delivering affordable green shoes and accessories created with a fashion-first point of view," said LuAnn Via, CEO of Payless ShoeSource. "We strive to push the envelope and expand shoppers' eco-horizons by making green footwear and handbags accessible to all. Our eco-consultant Summer Rayne Oakes is an invaluable partner in this mission; she helps us ensure that the products are as green as possible, but also contributes an excellent eye for style. This summer's Zoe & Zac offerings are a testament to the trend-right possibilities of green fashion."
The Zoe & Zac summer collection features six women's footwear styles and two handbag styles. Shoppers can accessorize for all occasions -- dressy to casual -- with silhouettes that encompass a strappy dress heel, a woven-strap "sandal shootie," a wedge sandal, a thong sandal, a ballet flat, and a sneaker. Two organic cotton and natural linen handbags serve as versatile carry-all totes for carting the season's necessities with ease. The items draw from a summer palette of neutrals, with a tomato red tote and a tie-dye-inspired ballet flat offering pops of color.
"I am energized each season to work with Payless on the latest Zoe & Zac seasonal line," said Summer Rayne Oakes, Payless' eco-consultant for the Zoe & Zac brand. "We begin by targeting the strongest trends of the season, then work to create those silhouettes, colors and details with innovative green materials and processes. The end result is a stylish and eco-friendly line that shoppers can afford, thus breaking down the barriers to sustainable style. The Zoe & Zac products don't look like the other green shoes out there -- they are all about fashion-first and each season I am truly proud of the collection."
The Zoe & Zac green brand is available now in about 1,000 Payless stores nationwide and Payless.com. The line was created and first launched by Payless in April 2009 to democratize green footwear and accessory products by making them affordable and accessible and to bring eco-consciousness to the mainstream. The Zoe & Zac products are green because they are made from eco-friendly components and materials such as organic cottons and linen, environmentally preferred faux leather, suede and patent, as well as natural hemp, recycled rubber outsoles, eco-friendly EVA cushioning, and water-based glues. The product packaging is eco-smart as well, utilizing 100 percent recycled shoe boxes and soy-based inks for the printing.
Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a unit of Collective Brands, Inc., is the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere and is dedicated to democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories and inspiring fun, fashion possibilities for the family at a great value. As of Q1 2010, the company operated nearly 4,500 stores.