Mario Batali Debuts Signature Shoe Line
Thursday, May 17, 2007 | posted by Mike
You know you're famous when they name a shoe after you. First it was a certain basketball player from Chicago with his "Air Jordans." Now, you'll be able to emulate your favorite redheaded Italian chef with his "Bistro" clog.
That's right. On the same day that Mario's alma mater Rutgers unleashed another year's worth of graduates on an unsuspecting nation (I can kid...I have an RU diploma!), Crocs, Inc., issued a release trumpeting the arrival of the Batali-endorsed Bistro, which is debuting at the Crocs booth at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago.
So, what's so special of this model that has Mario singing it's praises?
Batali is especially fond of the new Bistro shoe because it offers high comfort to workers in the restaurant and food service industry, while it is specially designed to meet workplace standards with a closed heel. In addition to its special slip-resistant design, the shoe also features a thicker metatarsal area to help protect the top of the foot, as well as a supportive arch and foot bed circulation nubs to ensure all-day comfort. The exclusive Croslite™ material conforms to the foot creating a custom fit and the added looseness allows the foot to bend and expand naturally to reduce fatigue. All of the new models are odor- and bacteria-resistant and can be simply sterilized in clean water and bleach.
The price-point for the new model seems to be a bit higher than other lines, but I'm guessing you're laying out a few more bucks for the Batali tie-in and the enhanced features. And the fact that it's aimed more at the professional means that they're more likely to see those features as an occupational necessity. Oh, and they come in a couple of groovy colors:
The Bistro (MSRP: $39.99) will be available in Mario Batali’s signature orange color, as well as in black, chocolate, navy, red, and white. The Bistro will be available to retailers in late summer 2007 in women’s sizes 6-12 and men’s sizes 4-13.Wait...who wears a men's size 4? Those will apparently be shipped to a restaurant kitchen somewhere in Oz.
Labels: Mario Batali
