ecco: pure style from scandinavia

C E L E B R AT I N G 5 0 Y E A R S

O F PA S S I O N AT E S H O E M A K I N G

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WELCOME

ECCO IS CELEBRATING its 50th anniversary this year by

paying tribute to everyone who is part of the passion

behind our company. We are devoted to the craft of

shoemaking; but it is you, our customers around the world,

who bring ECCO shoes to life.

Some say that the farther you can look back, the farther

you can look ahead. By celebrating five decades of

ECCO shoes, we mark a milestone and turn to the future.

We do not strive to be the biggest shoe company in the

world. We strive to be the best. We do this by staying true

to our heritage and our foundation of craftsmanship.

In this magazine, we invite you to gain new and never-

before-seen insight into our company, as presented by

our shoes and our family of shoemakers. We’ll take you

through the highlights of our history, introduce you to the

exciting platform of ECCO today and offer you a sneak

peek into the future.

As ECCO celebrates a half-century of dedication

and innovation in shoemaking, our 19,500 employees

worldwide are channeling their passion into meeting the

demands of the years ahead.

Welcome and enjoy!

Dieter KasprzakCEO & Designer

DEAR READERS

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“Scandinavian design is anchored in functionality, quality and cra!smanship. You could say, it’s not fashion; it’s style. And style doesn’t go out of fashion.”

!DIETER KASPRZAK, CEO & DESIGNER, ECCO

MILESTONES Marking 50 years of

ECCO innovation

and timeless style.

HEAR THE ECCOThe finer points that make

ECCO unlike any other

shoe company.

THE BIOM REVOLUTIONA breakthrough natural

motion concept offers a

better way to run, hike

and play.

PAR EXCELLENCE Pros Fred Couples,

Belén Mozo and Graeme

McDowell discuss their

careers, practice tips and

ECCO shoes of choice.

CLEAN SLATECasual redefined: modern

mocs and slip-ons.

BRIGHT IDEASColorful hues in bloom

for spring.

INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONSAccessories preview:

fashion meets function.

FASHION WITH A CAUSEMeet this year’s ECCO

Walk in Style Award

winner and check out

ECCO concept designs.

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MILESTONES Celebrating 50 years of ECCO innovation and success.

1963Danish shoemaker Karl Toosbuy moves to Bredebro, Denmark, with his wife Birte and their five-year-old daughter Hanni. They take over a vacant factory to create a shoe company. The local workforce is dedicated and plentiful.

1969The shoes are first sold under the name Venus. But, due to a rights conflict, founder Karl Toosbuy and chief designer Ejnar Truelsen choose a two-syllable name that’s easy to say in Danish and other languages, and can be written in a clear logo like Coca-Cola. The original name is Ecco’let, which is shortened to ECCO in 1978.

1978ECCO debuts Joke, a breakthrough design that is lightweight, flexible and fits the foot. Two years later, ECCO introduces Free and Time, cementing the brand as a comfort footwear innovator and leader.

1980The debut of DESMA, ECCO’s machine that molds soles right onto uppers in one simple process. The technology becomes the foundation for comfort and flexibility in ECCO shoes. It also revolutionizes shoe manufacturing.

1981ECCO Soft represents the first of a new generation of lightweight and comfortable shoes. It’s an instant classic due to its timeless lines. It ranks as the best-selling shoe in ECCO’s history and, 30 years on, remains a consumer hit.

1984 ECCO opens its first factory abroad, in Portugal. Soon after, Toosbuy establishes a tannery in Portugal to better control the supply of quality leather.

1985ECCO becomes the

first shoe manufacturer

to stamp its name and logo on the soles.

1990On a path of rapid expansion worldwide, ECCO opens its North American subsidiary.

1991

ECCO opens a

factory and tannery

in Indonesia. Today,

that country is ECCO’s

largest production

unit, with nearly

7,000 employees.

1992ECCO hits the one-million mark in shoes produced. From 1963 to 2013, ECCO has made more than 350 million pairs of shoes.

1,000,000

TIMELINE

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1996 ECCO founder Karl Toosbuy and CEO Dieter Kasprzak decide to play golf one day. But they don’t like the golf shoes available. So the two decide to make truly comfortable golf shoes. Today ECCO ranks as the world’s fourth biggest producer of golf shoes.

1998ECCO opens its first flagship store, in the heart of London’s premier shopping district. Today there are ECCO stores in more than

90 countries.

1999 The ECCO Walkathon

charity event is founded.

To date, 400,000 people

have walked a total

2.5 million km in support

of numerous charitable

causes through ECCO’s

Walkathon.

2000ECCO sponsors Expedition Sirius 2000, an annual dog-sled patrol across Greenland by the Danish military. For the 50th anniversary of the patrol, Danish Crown Prince Frederik joins the expedition. ECCO produces custom made

boots for all members.

2013The ECCO Mind is launched in

celebration of the company’s

50th anniversary.

2009ECCO debuts

its BIOM design,

a revolutionary

natural motion

construction.

2011ECCO opens its

1,000th store, at the

Mall of America.

2003ECCO’s Shark rises to the

surface. To create this

landmark shoe design,

ECCO chief designer

Ejnar Truelsen melds the

leather upper with the

outsole to create an

unbreakable unit and a

killer fashion statement.

2012ECCO reaches

20.2 million pairs of shoes

sold worldwide.

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MIL

LIO

N

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IT ALL STARTED with a dream. From the time

he began training as a young shoemaker

in Copenhagen, Karl Toosbuy dreamed of

creating his own footwear company—a

company where the shoes he made would

blend the stylish simplicity of Scandinavian

design with superb functionality.

By the time he was in his early 30s, Toosbuy

knew the moment had come to start turning

that dream into reality. So he made a bold

move. He resigned from his steady job as

manager at a shoe factory, sold his home

and moved with his wife and five-year-old

daughter Hanni to Bredebro, on the west

coast of Denmark. There, he took over an

empty factory and, enlisting a small team of

16 employees who shared his passion and

entrepreneurial spirit, founded what would

become ECCO in 1963.

It wasn’t long before the visionary

group developed a groundbreaking

approach that turned centuries of

shoemaking tradition upside down:

ECCO started making shoes that

followed the natural contours of the

foot. The company introduced a line

of uniquely comfortable, high-quality

shoes that let the wearer move naturally,

that fit from the first step and that

never needed “breaking in.” Shoppers

responded enthusiastically, and ECCO

soon became a success. But Toosbuy

didn’t rest on his laurels. He and his team

continually innovated and improved,

never losing sight of their original

objective. In the decades that followed,

the company grew by staying tuned into

the rapidly changing fashion scene: High

boots one season, patent leather pumps

the next and clogs after that. Along the

way, Toosbuy tirelessly pursued his dream

of combining uncompromising comfort,

outstanding quality and fashion—all in

one reasonably priced shoe.

Though Toosbuy died in 2004, his

dream is alive and well in ECCO. The

company is still a family business, now

owned and run by Karl’s daughter, Hanni

Toosbuy Kasprzak, and her husband,

Dieter Kasprzak, CEO. With tanneries,

factories and branded stores in more than

90 countries, the ECCO family has grown

considerably. It now includes 19,500 members

from more than 50 countries.

“Our employees are the heart of our

business,” says Kasprzak. “We do our very

best to ensure that we never become a

business where people are just numbers.

We believe in creating a sense of family, a

feeling of belonging. We strive to provide

lifelong education, good career prospects

and interesting challenges to maintain

job satisfaction. We never forget that we

are shoemakers striving to make first-class

products.” Nor, Kasprzak adds, will anyone at

ECCO ever forget the Toosbuy way of running

a successful shoe company. Rule No. 1: “Always

be open to improvements and new ideas.”

THE TOOSBUY WAY

Superb quality

Simple, elegant aesthetics

Modernity

Functionality that evokes a balanced, active lifestyle

ECCO ETHOSCORNERSTONES

OF SCANDINAVIAN

DESIGN:

Karl Toosbuy

HEARTHE

ECCO

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EJNAR TRUELSEN WAS just 18 when he began

an apprenticeship as a modeler for ECCO.

He had been passionate about drawing all

his life and, after completing trade school,

was looking for something to do until he

could start art school. Flash forward 42 years,

and the art school graduate is now Chief

Designer, responsible for some of ECCO’s

most iconic shoes. Among them: Joke,

Free, Shark and Soft, the best-selling shoe

in the company’s history. Truelsen was also

instrumental in creating the BIOM natural

motion family and is the creative force

behind a number of important innovations in

the footwear industry, including printing the

ECCO logo on every sole since 1985.

Competitors have tried to lure him away,

but Truelsen has always enjoyed his work

with ECCO too much to consider their offers.

“I couldn’t go out and compete with what I

hold most dear,” says the designer, who still

feels buoyed every time he spots someone

on the street wearing a

pair of ECCOs.

Spending so many

years learning the ins and

outs of a small, family-run

company has given him a

deep respect for the craft

of shoemaking as well as

ample insight into charting

the right creative course

for ECCO’s future. “The

eighties were fantastic.

ECCO was young and in a

league of its own. We were

extremely innovative and

that made me proud,”

he recalls. Going forward,

“We must invest energy in

keeping track of the times,

and continuing as authentic entrepreneurs in

the shoe business.”

Life in balance is a cornerstone principle

at ECCO, and one that appeals greatly

to Truelsen. He loves his work, but he takes

pride in having a full slate outside the office

as well. He recently took up croquis drawing

(the practice of making quick sketches

of live models who change their pose

every few minutes to challenge the artists

sketching them). “It’s amazing,” he enthuses

of his latest creative endeavor. “It’s good to

be pushed out of your comfort zone.”

Bringing new designs for ECCO to life isn’t

quite as quick or simple. It’s often a labor of

love. “The process is different for each shoe,

but it always starts with paper and pencil,”

Truelsen says. “I’m more into the lines and

curves than the colors. A well-designed

shoe, a classic, is a shoe with timeless lines

combined with simplicity. That’s the essence

of Scandinavian design.”

DEDICATION TO DESIGN

A SCANDINAVIAN CLASSIC from

the disco era, ECCO’s Joke, served

as inspiration for this spring’s debut

of ECCO Mind, commemorating the

legendary comfort brand’s 50th

anniversary.

Involving a blend of natural ’70s

style, modern colors and state-of-the-

art comfort technologies, ECCO Mind

is like stepping back and forward in

time simultaneously.

It embodies where ECCO has

been and where the brand is headed.

As such, it’s a shoe for everyone.

MASTER MIND

Ejnar Truelsen

ECCO Joke

ECCO Mind


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SHOEMAKING IS A family tradition

for Niki Tæstensen, Lead Designer of

ECCO’s Women’s Collection. Both his

great-grandfather and his father made

shoes, and his grandfather owned his

own shoe factory. Tæstensen himself

has been with ECCO for 17 years and

has been responsible for some of the

company’s most beloved women’s

styles. His latest brainchild is ECCO

Mind, designed in honor of ECCO’s

50th anniversary to blend innovation

with inspiration from ECCO’s iconic

past styles.

“People say, ‘If a high heel is really

comfortable, it can’t be stylish.’ But

we strongly believe it’s not an either-

or situation,” says Tæstensen. “You get

both when you combine the comfort

of direct-injected PU [polyurethane]

and anatomical lasts with beautiful

shapes and materials, which we

are blessed to work with because

we have our own tanneries. We’re

constantly trying to create the most

beautiful, comfortable high-heeled

shoes in the world.”

As an example, Tæstensen

cites ECCO’s Women’s Sculptured

Collection, introduced this past fall.

“Our spring/summer Sculptured styles

include sandals with 65mm heels that

are as comfortable as a flat shoe,”

he adds. “They’re also very colorful,

which makes them fun. We have

everything from bold colors like blue

and orange and yellow to pastel

shades.”

Though his work sometimes involves

so much travel that his three-year-

old daughter thinks he works for

the airlines, globetrotting provides

a rich source of design inspiration.

“Because we sell in the U.S., Asia,

Europe and Russia, I get to talk

with different people, see different

cultures and spot trends around the

world. I often use them for inspiration,

but in a way that upholds our

Scandinavian values, our brand and

our message of functional, harmonic,

simple design,” Tæstensen says.

It’s rewarding work when

shoemaking runs in your blood, as

it does Tæstensen’s. In fact, he’s

passionate enough about shoes that

he estimates he has more pairs in

his closet than his wife does in hers.

Likewise, he remembers every style

he has masterminded for ECCO over

the years. Does he have a favorite?

Not a chance. “I compare them

to children,” he says. “Even though

they’re all different, you don’t like

one of them more than the others.

They’re still your babies.”

NEW HEIGHTS

OSSIMA WEDGE SANDAL:

AS COMFORTABLE AS A FLAT SHOE.

Niki Tæstensen

HEARTHE

ECCO


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ECCO IS THE only major shoe

manufacturer to own and

manage every step in the

shoemaking process, from cow

to consumer. Owning its own

factories and tanneries worldwide

allows ECCO to guarantee

both high quality products and

innovation.

Leather is a fundamental

element in every ECCO shoe,

and the company is renowned

for its distinctive leathers. They are

all produced at ECCO tanneries

in China, Thailand, Portugal and

Indonesia—as well as at the ECCO

Research and Development

Center in The Netherlands—

and used to supply ECCO shoe

factories in Slovakia, Thailand,

Indonesia and China. Keeping it

all “in-house” gives ECCO unique

opportunities to share knowledge

and exchange best practices that

cut across national borders.

“We don’t aim for volume,

but for quality in craftsmanship,”

explains CEO Dieter Kasprzak. “We

never compromise on quality.”

WHEREVER ECCO OPERATES, the

company strives to be a good

citizen. It prides itself on doing

business responsibly. ECCO’s

Code of Conduct spells out its

commitment to respecting human

rights and freedoms and to being

a leader on environmental,

health, safety and sustainability

issues.

ECCO pays scrupulous attention

to issues like labor conditions and

wastewater treatment. In fact, by

the time Denmark passed its 2008

Corporate Social Responsibility

(CSR) law requiring large Danish

companies to report on their CSR

policies every year, ECCO had

already been reporting on such

issues for many years. Because the

company is vertically integrated—

in other words, it designs all of its

own shoes, owns and operates its

leather tanneries and factories,

and markets and sells its own

products—ECCO is able to

monitor and control its footprint

closely.

ECCO demonstrated its

commitment to ethical business

practices when a flood struck

the part of Thailand where one

of the company’s production

sites was located in the fall of

2011. During the flood, ECCO

rented and operated boats to

help its 3,500 employees and

their families reach safety. It also

sent relief teams to the affected

area with water, food, blankets

and medicine and provided

temporary shelter for hundreds of

families in need. After the flood

waters receded, ECCO worked

with local authorities and the

Danish Red Cross to remove sand

bags, clean and restore temples,

reopen schools and create

safe play areas for children. A

group of ECCO employees took

psychological training courses

so that they would be able to

counsel children and adults

grappling with emotional stress

caused by the disaster. Finally,

to ensure long-term recovery for

the community, ECCO set up

a one million Euro fund to help

employees whose lives were

impacted by the flood and rebuilt

its factory on the same site, even

though future flooding remains a

possibility.

ECCO also participates in

a wide variety of charitable

initiatives through its Corporate

Social Responsibility Programme.

ECCO doesn’t see sustainability

or philanthropy as a way to gain

a competitive advantage. The

company believes that acting

responsibly is a natural and

necessary part of doing business.

DO THE RIGHT THING

SHADES OF LEATHER

50

Niki Tæstensen


SPORT

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A revolutionary design enables natural motion, strengthening the foot in a shoe that wears like a second skin.

THE BIOM REVOLUTION: LESS IS MORE

IN 2006, INSPIRED by the barefoot runners of Africa,

ECCO began researching how to create a shoe that

would guide the foot to the optimal motion path of

a barefoot runner. The idea was to support the foot’s

natural movement rather than to overcompensate

on cushioning, which weakens tendons and muscles,

reduces foot strength and leads to less efficient

movement.

ECCO combined extensive knowledge of the

human foot with input from leading scientists

in running biomechanics and testing by world

champion athlete Torbjorn Sindballe. The result was

the BIOM (short for biomechanical optimization)

Project.

After scanning the feet of 2,500 athletes, ECCO

constructed an anatomically precise last for the first

generation of BIOM shoes, introduced in 2009. “The

BIOM last is anatomically sculpted, never straight or

flat on the bottom, so it always resembles the shape

of your foot,” explains Andrzej “Bartie” Bikowski,

Lead Designer for ECCO’s Performance category.

Essentially, the last fits the foot like a second skin. To

create lightweight, durable comfort, ECCO uses Yak

leather, direct-injection technology that allows for a

more anatomical construction and a unique PU foam

that is exceptionally flexible and longlasting.

The next question was would the BIOM design

deliver on its expectations? Enter the German Sport

University of Cologne, which conducted one of

the largest independent studies ever performed on

running footwear. Researchers followed 120 runners

running under three conditions: barefoot, in their

current running shoes and in ECCO BIOM shoes. The

results showed that in six weeks the athletes’ running

style became significantly smoother and more

powerful when they ran in BIOMs.

Based on these results and positive feedback

from consumers, ECCO expanded its offerings to

include a range of BIOM shoes designed for specific

activities, including golf, hiking and trail running. “The

benefits are similar,” Bikowski says. “They are all very

comfortable, they offer a very good fit, the outsole is

very flexible and they follow the principle of natural

motion, which means they don’t overdo the stability

features.”

Each version of BIOM is fine-tuned for a different

activity based on the sport-specific motions and the

terrain involved, adds Alex Nicolai, Head of ECCO’s

Sport Business Unit. “The requirements in terms of

functionality are different from road running to trail

running to hiking, so BIOM designs differ in terms

of outsole traction, protection and flexibility,” says

Nicolai, who is a passionate triathlete in his spare time

and a BIOM wearer. “What they have in common is

high quality and a really nice fit. They let you perform

at your best and feel great.”

THE BIOM

RANGE SPANS

THE RUNNING,

HIKING, AND

WATER SPORT

CATEGORIES.


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The BIOM range of natural motion footwear is engineered for specific terrains, allowing you to experience nature—naturally.THE GREAT OUTDOORS

ROCK STAR The lightweight, award-winning BIOM HIKE

features a rugged rubber outsole that

provides traction and stability while ground

feedback comes from its low profile

construction enhanced by a rounded

heel and forefoot for smoother strike and

push-off. And what better place to test

drive BIOM HIKE than in the stunning

Acadia National Park. This 47,000-acre

New England gem offers spectacular

views of Maine’s rugged coastline, dotted

with dense spruce forests and 1,000-foot

granite peaks overlooking the Atlantic

Ocean. Choose from 125 miles of historic

hiking trails, leading past waterfalls (no

worries: the Gore-Tex lined BIOM HIKE is

100 percent waterproof) and over quaint

stone bridges. The boots deliver comfort

and support no matter the terrain.

Choose a pleasant one-mile hike

along the Bar Harbor Shore Path or the

meandering three-mile Ocean Trail. Or

challenge yourself with the Precipice Trail,

a near-vertical climb up the rock face of

Champlain Mountain via iron rungs and

ladders to the summit.

After your hike, treat yourself to a

century-old Acadia tradition: tea and

popovers at the park’s famous Jordan

Pond House restaurant. For more info:

www.nps.gov/acad.

BORN TO RUN The BIOM EVO RACER is a lightweight

minimalist running shoe that provides a

supreme anatomical fit and support

to help guide your foot through its natural

stride. And the new lighter, more flexible

midsole material delivers an even more

comfortable ride.

So why not slip these BIOM EVO RACERS

into your weekend getaway bag for a run

along The Battery in historic Charleston,

South Carolina, and get a healthy dose

of southern hospitality and history in the

process? The landmark defensive seawall

and promenade stretch along the shores

of the city’s peninsula, bordered by the

Ashley and Cooper rivers. During the

approximately 2-mile run, you can take in

such sites as Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney,

the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and

Sullivan’s Island.

The promenade consists of smooth

asphalt, ideal ground for these lightweight

runners. And be sure to see the rest that

downtown Charleston has to offer, like

Waterfront Park (includes more walking and

jogging trails) and some of the legendary

mansions, including the Edmonston-Alstom

House and the Heyward-Washington House

(built in 1772 and where George Washington

stayed for a week in 1791). For more info:

www.charlestoncvb.com.

Acadia National Park

Charleston, South Carolina

SPORT


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WATER WORKS Inspired by the award-winning BIOM HIKE, the BIOM TERRAIN SANDAL

looks like a sandal, hikes like a boot. Ideal for summer hiking, traveling

or daily adventures, the BIOM TERRAIN SANDAL features a cushy direct-

injection midsole while a rugged outsole delivers traction on slippery

surfaces. Exotic Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the perfect place

to strap on these sandals. This sprawling park includes 150 miles of trails

that lead you through extraordinarily diverse scenery, including volcanic

TRAIL FIXThe BIOM TRAIL combines

anatomical design and flexibility

with the added support necessary

for running on uneven terrain. In

addition, the outsole is designed for

all-weather traction on loose and

muddy surfaces. Enter the varied

and beautful terrain of Utah’s Bryce Canyon to put these trail runners to

good use.

Small by national park standards,

but spectacular in terms of

scenery, this 56.2-mile stretch

of the American southwest is

famous for its series of U-shaped

amphitheaters filled with slender

rock spires called hoodoos. The

colorful red, orange and white

hoodoos range from about the

height of a man to heights as tall as

10-story buildings. The rocks set the

backdrop for some of the world’s

most memorable hikes.

For a moderate workout, the

Bristlecone Loop leads through a

forest of 1,800-year-old Bristlecone

Pines to elevations of more than

9,100 feet. Keep an eye peeled

for woodpeckers, owls and other

wildlife. The eight-mile Fairyland

Loop leads along the rim of the park

past some of its most memorable

rock formations, including the China

Wall and Tower Bridge. For more

info: www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm.

craters, lush rainforests, a 500-year-old lava tube and two

volcanoes—Mauna Loa and Kilauea, one of the world’s

most active volcanoes.

The park offers trails of all levels. Start with an easy hike

along Pu’u Loa, a two-mile coastal trail that leads you

through an extensive collection of prehistoric lava rock

carvings called petroglyphs, now considered sacred to

Native Hawaiians. Or test your endurance with an 11-mile

hike along Crater Trail, which circles Kilauea’s 4,000-foot-

high caldera—complete with earth cracks, steam vents

and sulfur fumes. For more info: www.nps.gov/havo.

Bryce Canyon

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park


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GOLF

More than just a (very) pretty face, rising star Belén Mozo is determined to make it to the top of her game.

PAR EXCELLENCEON’T LET HER looks fool

you. Though LPGA up-and-

comer Belén Mozo is

glamorous enough to draw

comparisons to models and

movie stars, she’s a formidable competitor

on the golf course.

“I want to be one of the top players

in the world, not for one year but a

dominating top player for a long time,”

says the 24-year-old Spanish born USC

grad. “I’m very competitive and focused,

and I push myself really hard.”

Mozo is already well on her way to her

goal. Even as a young teen, she made a

name for herself in the golf world, winning

both the British Amateur and the British

Girls the same month in 2006—a feat that

hadn’t been matched since 1972. Before

that, she represented Europe in the Junior

Ryder Cup and won the AJGA Thunderbird

Invitational against some of the world’s

top juniors. Mozo enrolled at USC in 2007,

where she became a four-time NCAA All-

American and graduated in 2010 with a

degree in international relations. She went

professional just after graduating, tying

for eighth at the LPGA Final Qualifying

Tournament.

Growing up in Cadiz, Spain, Mozo was

part of an active, athletic family. She

started playing golf at age eight and

loved the sport instantly. She credits her

family for giving her the foundation for her

current success. “I don’t want to sound like

a cliché, but none of what I have would

have been possible without them—without

the support they gave me, all the times

they drove me, all the equipment they

bought me, all the sacrifices they made,”

she says. “Both my parents were athletes,

but they never got the chance to do more

than play recreational sports. They helped

me to achieve what they would have with

a little more support.”

When she’s not on tour, Mozo now makes

her home in Florida, where she can hone

her game year round. “I have such a good

time on the golf course when I’m with my

coach, Mike Adams, that I can spend all

day there,” she says. “On average I spend

four hours a day practicing golf and two

and a half physically training.”

What does her training involve? “I do a

lot of exercises for mobility and to work my

core muscles, lower abdominals, glutes

and legs,” she says. “My boyfriend [Robert

Farah] is a professional tennis player, so

we go running together in the morning at

the beach and he pushes me to do longer

distances. We’re both extremely hard

workers and we have the same dream of

success in professional sports, so we’re on

the same page.”

Since discovering three years ago that

she suffers from celiac disease, Mozo

has also become scrupulously careful

about her diet. “I can’t have any gluten

or lactose, so I’ve learned to be very

disciplined with what I eat,” she explains.

“I used to crave fast food, but once you

learn you can’t have it, the craving goes

away. I have my portion of chocolate

every night and my glass of wine, but I

control what I eat and I cook a lot. I feel

much better, and my performance and

my energy levels are much higher.”

Another key factor improving her golf

game is her ECCO BIOM golf shoes, says

Mozo. “They’re so comfortable I could

spend the whole day in them. I don’t even

notice I have them on. I’ll be in my kitchen,

cooking, and my boyfriend will walk in and

say, ‘Aren’t you going to take off your golf

shoes?’ and I’ll be surprised to realize I

still have them on. I used to have to wear

orthotics, but now I never have problems

with my feet. They don’t get tired, and I

don’t get any blisters.

“They also fit my personality because I’m

very girly, but I’m also very, very athletic

and BIOMs are very athletic-looking,” she

adds. “They look like running shoes, but

they have this classy, girly style with pop

colors and leather that is just unreal.”

Speaking of girly, Mozo freely admits

to having a fashionista streak. “I love

shopping. I love hot trends,” says the

golfer known for her long, blonde tresses.

ecco_golf_revise.indd 12 3/18/13 11:53 AM

13

More than just a (very) pretty face, rising star Belén Mozo is determined to make it to the top of her game.

PAR EXCELLENCE“To me, fashion in golf is no different. I like

to wear the trendy colors, the different

cuts in polo shirts and new styles in skirts,

shorts and dresses.” Off the course, she

lists her favorite looks as fitted, colored

jeans with heels and neutral colors like

ivory, gold, beige and brown, often with a

splash of hot pink, red or green thrown in

“to keep it sexy-looking.”

Though her style might be eye-catching,

Mozo still garners attention primarily for

her golf skills. In her second year on tour,

she’s made the top 65 female golfers list

and has set her sights on breaking into

the top 30 this season. “I feel very positive

about next year,” she says. “I’m working

hard with my coach and my trainer. It’s

the little stuff that I need to pay attention

to, like my mental game. I need to

believe that I can be where I want to

be—in the top 10 or 20 in the world.”

If she achieves her goal, Mozo

plans to put it to good use, bringing

more attention to women’s golf and

ultimately working to help children in

underdeveloped countries. “When players

become well known they can do so much

to help,” she says. “I want to help with

things like bringing clean water to African

countries and giving kids more athletic

opportunities like the ones I got as a child,

even though they might not have the

family support I had.”

Belén Mozo

ecco_golf_revise.indd 13 3/18/13 11:53 AM

14

N HIS FIRST decade as a pro

golfer, Northern Ireland’s Graeme

McDowell has racked up quite a

record. He made golf history in

2010 at Pebble Beach when he

became the first European in 40 years to

win the U.S. Open. Among McDowell’s

other feats are winning seven events on

the European Tour, representing Ireland

at the World Cup, serving as a member

of the European Ryder Cup team three

times and being ranked in the top 10 in

the world. McDowell is just 33 years old,

which means golf fans can expect to

hear much more from him in the years to

come. Here, he talks about his game, his

goals and his favorite ECCO footwear on

the course.

Q: What do you consider the greatest strength in your game? A: I’ve always had a decent short game,

and putting has always been a strength.

It probably all stems from days practicing

in Portrush, Ireland, as a teenager, from a

pitching wedge in and tackling the tricky

greens from every angle. I would typically

fade the ball left to right, particularly off

the tee. I’ve worked on my draw from

right to left the last few seasons and it’s

still something I’m trying to master.

Q: How much time do you practice?A: I play golf most days, even in the off-

season, whether I’m on the range, the

putting green or playing a round with my

mates, I’m always working on my game. But

there are times when I’ll shut off completely

and not see the clubs for a week or two.

We all need a break sometimes.

Q: Watching a Manchester United match or hitting the driving range: Which do you choose?A: I know which one I’d prefer! I love kick-

ing back on a couch, watching sport. But

my choice would depend on the time of

year and the condition of my game. I’m

actually quite disciplined. If there’s some-

thing I’m not happy with, then I might

spend hours on the range, much to the dis-

tress of my caddy. Even in the pouring rain

while Man U might be playing Liverpool on

TV, if needed. Work always comes first.

Q: How do you stay on top of your game?A: By being positive and patient at all

times. We all have our ups and downs,

and golf can beat us up from time to

time, but remaining positive and knowing

what I’m capable of ensures that even

when things aren’t going my way, it won’t

be long before I’m back to my best.

Q: How would you describe your style?A: Over the last few years I’ve taken my

on-course clothing a lot more seriously. A

key is looking sharp. I’m never afraid to

wear strong, loud colors, but they have

to be done tastefully. I like a nice mix of

tailored trousers, sharp shirts and a wide

range of knitwear.

Q: Word is you’re switching to ECCO Tour Hybrid shoes in 2013. Why?A: I’ve been wearing ECCO World Class

shoes for the last few seasons, and I’ve

loved them. But the golf world is evolving

toward a hybrid spikeless type shoe. It’s all

about comfort, stability and performance.

But I’m also about how the shoes look.

The Tour Hybrid is considerably lighter than

the World Class, and I love to have a wide

choice of shoes and colors to match my

outfits, so I should be able to pack five or

six pairs of Tour Hybrids for each event. So

watch for some nice outfits in 2013.

Q: Any advice for recreational golfers?A: I’ve always believed playing competitive

golf is the best way to improve. We can

all work hard on the range and play fun

fourballs with our friends, but play in as

many competitions as you can and you’ll

reap the rewards.

HE’S GOT GAMEUp close with tour de force Graeme McDowell.

Leading pros to weekend duffers can hit the links this spring

in ECCO’s range of performance golf shoes. No matter

your handicap, the innovative technologies found in the

Golf Street, BIOM Hybrid and Tour Hybrid collections take

comfort, performance and convenience to new levels.

TEE TIME

Tour Hybrid

Golf Street

BIOM Hybrid

ecco_golf.indd 14 3/15/13 9:37 AM

15

HE’S GOT GAME

MERICAN!BORN GOLF

great Fred Couples has

won some of the sport’s

most prestigious tourna-

ments, including the

fabled Masters (1992), the Senior Players’

Championship (2011) and the Senior

British Open Championship (2012). The

53-year-old Couples, inducted into the

World Golf Hall of Fame this year, dis-

cusses his upcoming season, his favorite

career highlights and his love of ECCO

shoes.

Q: How would you describe your style?A: I like to be current and follow the cloth-

ing trends. I was always a very traditional

golf shoe guy—lots of solid white shoes or

saddle shoes. I made a big step toward

cutting-edge when I started wearing

ECCO’s Golf Street shoes and now their

BIOM shoes.

Q: What impressed you most about ECCO Street?A: They are so comfortable. I love them

because I can wear them all the way from

my house to the golf course and back.

A lot of the time I don’t even wear socks

with them. And the style is a lot like the

sneaker styles that the skateboarders wear

in California, which I think is great.

Q: What tangible results have you got-ten from wearing ECCO shoes?A: Golfers are on their feet for hours for

every practice and tournament round,

and the foot comfort ECCO shoes provide

helps with how I feel overall while I play.

It decreases fatigue, which has a positive

impact on performance.

Q: In 2012, you switched to playing in BIOM Hybrid almost full time. Why?A: It was a combination of style, com-

fort and performance, but I have to put

comfort at the top. From the first moment

I put on the BIOM Hybrid, I knew I would

be wearing them a lot because they’re

so comfortable. Just like when I started

wearing the Street shoes, I was sold on

them instantly.

THE MASTER

Golf legend Fred Couples reveals why he took it to the ‘Street’ and what’s behind the fist pump.

Q: What are your goals this season?A: I hope to play a full schedule in 2013.

Everyone knows I’ve had problems with my

back for a number of years. I always hope

I’ll be able to keep them to a minimum so I

can play the majority of the Champions Tour

events. In the fall, I’ll be the captain of the

U.S. Presidents Cup team.

Q: How often do you practice?A: Actually, I don’t have a very heavy prac-

tice schedule. I try to rest my back during off

weeks, but I’ll go to the range occasionally

or play a round or two with friends.

Q: You’re renowned for appearing laid-back on the course. Are you really that relaxed?A: I’m as competitive as the next guy;

I’m just not the type to show my intensity.

You see athletes and coaches in all sports

who are very vocal and animated when

they’re playing. Others just go about their

business. I’m one of the quiet ones, but I

can break out a good fist pump occasion-

ally. Inside, I want to win as much as any-

one else, if not more.

Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement in golf?A: I’ve had a number of great moments,

ones I’ll never forget. Winning the Masters in

1992 was a career highlight, and this past

year winning the Senior British Open was a

fabulous week. I’ve also had great moments

in team events at the Ryder Cup and

Presidents Cup matches, and I’m very proud

to have played on those U.S. teams. One of

my biggest honors was being chosen as the

captain for the U.S. Presidents Cup team in

2009. This year, I’ll be the captain of my third

U.S. team. Being chosen for the World Golf

Hall of Fame was also a huge thrill.

Q: Any advice for recreational golfers?A: Concentrate on the basics. Consistently

hitting the ball solid and having good

rhythm and tempo in your swing are great

as a foundation for better scoring. You

don’t have to hit the ball the hardest or

the farthest, but if you can get around the

course without many mistakes, your score

should improve.

ecco_golf.indd 15 3/15/13 9:37 AM

16

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Think vibrant pops of color this spring.

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24 ECCOUSA.COM

How the little details add up to an inspiring ECCO accessories collection each season.

INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONS

S ECCO CELEBRATES its golden anniversary,

the company’s Accessories group is

heading into its second decade of

existence—and gearing up for big things

in the years to come. Accessories, which

encompasses products from shoe care kits to handbags

and wallets, was founded in 2002, but only recently

stepped into the spotlight, explains Lindsay Campbell,

Managing Director.

“About two and a half years ago, we started getting

serious about the fact that there was a great opportunity

to complete the consumer experience through high-

quality leather goods in our stores to complement our shoe

range,” says Campbell.

The 21-member team of ECCO Accessories has been

responsible for double-digit annual growth over the

past several years. In 2013, the division will also shift from

freelance-driven design

to dedicated in-house

designers. As Campbell

puts it, “We want what

makes our bags work

to be proprietary, so

we’re building up that

competence internally.”

In terms of design,

Campbell and her team

are aligned with their

colleagues in footwear.

“We’re combining our

signature leathers with

the Scandinavian design principles of simplicity and form-

follows-function, and using them to develop the DNA of

our accessories,” she explains.

Lindsay Campbell

ACCESSORIES

Barth

accessories.2.indd 24 3/15/13 2:15 PM

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”Functionality appeals to people. It speaks to their multi-organizing, fit-all-your-things-inside needs.”

Austin


27

The team pays keen attention to the fine points of design. “We

think through every detail that can make someone’s life a bit

easier, whether it’s how you organize the bag, the strap length or

the closures. We spend a lot of time exploring different brands,

picking up bags and trying them out. Intelligent solutions—that’s

how we translate comfort.”

IN FOR SPRINGOf ECCO’s new handbag collection this spring, Campbell is most

excited about the Natal—a soft, slouchy sac bag that showcases

the company’s buttery leathers—and the Barra, a small cross-

body bag that’s been a hit globally, and particularly in the U.S.,

where hands-free, on-the-go styles for weekends and shopping are

gaining steam, she notes. She also likes the Belmar, a fresh take on

the long-popular hobo bag featuring rougher, more worn-looking

leather.

Of course, handbags are just part of the story. Men’s belts are a

steady seller, and ECCO plans to add a women’s line in the near

future. The division is also dipping its toes into the fast-changing world

of tech accessories like iPhone and iPad cases for men and women.

Wallets, too, have struck a chord with ECCO fans. “People

are looking to make more of a statement with their wallets in

terms of colors and materials, so that’s been a fun way for us to

create more color and merchandising interest in our stores,” says

Campbell. The top seller is the Belaga, a large continental wallet

that comes in a variety of temptingly bright shades. “It’s been

flying out of our stores everywhere around the world,” she says. “I

think the functionality appeals to people. It speaks to their multi-

organizing, fit-all-your-things-inside needs.”

USER FRIENDLYBeing relative newcomers allows ECCO’s Accessories division to

revitalize its collection seasonally, keeping only about 30 percent

carryover. “When it comes to shoes, ECCO’s 50-year history

means there are customers who are loyal to certain styles, and it’s

a challenge to strike a balance between existing items and new

ones. Every season, we look at what worked well, what didn’t,

where there are gaps and what the trends are,” Campbell says.

Inspiration comes from all corners and from within. “We

collaborate closely with our leather division, because they

perceive color and structure trends earlier. They also know

leathers very well, and this allows us to develop unique leathers

for each season’s collection. Using our leather as the starting

point, we combine fashion trends, market insights and the identity

of our brand to create our collections.”

Among the most important sources of inspiration for the

Accessories team are ECCO fans themselves. “Our consumer is

very much aware of trends but isn’t a slave to them, so we don’t

strive to incorporate every single trend,” says Campbell. “We

spend a lot of time in the market and talking with consumers to

find out how we can be in line with their needs and, hopefully,

how we can surprise them.

“We want to develop a collection that takes into account how

people really use our products,” she concludes.

Belmar

Belaga


28

WALK IN STYLE

ECCO honors the 2013 Walk in Style Award winner at Copenhagen Fashion Week.

FASHION WITH A CAUSE

ECCO BELIEVES IN the future. The

company is passionate about

supporting charity projects that will

make a real difference in the years to

come. That’s why ECCO created the

Walk in Style Award in 2008, presented

every year at the fall fashion show,

held during Copenhagen Fashion

Week (pictured at right).

The Walk in Style Award pays tribute to

remarkable women who are devoting

their time, energy and leadership

to improving the lives of vulnerable

women and children around the world.

Each year, ECCO selects one

remarkable honoree for her

accomplishments and donates 35,000

Euro to the charity of her choice.

“Women and children make up

the majority of the most vulnerable

populations in the world,” says ECCO

CEO and designer Dieter Kasprzak.

“That’s why we have chosen to make

them our priority.”

The 2013 Walk in Style Award

winner is Swedish entrepreneur Julia

Mjörnstedt. Mjörnstedt is a living

example of how to cope with a

life-threatening illness with strength

and dignity—and to channel the

experience into positive change in

the world. She won a battle against

colon cancer in 2007, but the

disease changed her life forever.

She now uses her experience with

the disease to help others through

an organization she founded called

Ung Cancer (Young Cancer), which

assists young cancer patients and

their families. Making the most of her

great communication skills, Mjörnstedt

has shared the details of her own

struggle, making cancer easier to

cope with for many patients and has

crushed numerous myths about the

disease. She has even received royal

recognition from Swedish King Carl

Gustaf for her outstanding leadership

and humanitarian work.

Ung Cancer has four goals. First,

to create a safe meeting place

for young people with cancer.

Second, to make information about

cancer available. Third, to build a

system where all university hospitals

in Sweden have cancer wards

specifically for young adults and

all major cities have aftercare units

to help them adjust afterwards.

Fourth, to raise the general level of

awareness about youth and cancer.

For a list of past Walk in Style award

winners, go to ecco.com/en/events/

walk-in-style/previous-winners.

Julia

Mjörnstedt

runway.indd 28 3/15/13 2:22 PM

ECCO PUTS ITS

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FASHION WEEK.


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