Leading women’s footwear brand, Naturalizer, and American fashion designer, Tracy Reese, launched their joint initiative, the “Hope for Flowers” sustainable capsule footwear collection. The new line was created to shine light on the shared passions of both brands. Reese’s belief in the transformative power of fashion is at the center of the partnership, which champions the importance of art education through a scholarship program at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies while benefiting Nest, a non-profit organization focused on advancing the artisan and maker economy.

The bold, bright, and vibrant “Hope for Flowers” collection of eight styles includes flat sandals, sport sandals, kitten heels, and espadrilles. The capsule collection was designed to convey the optimism, color and prints that have become synonymous with Reese. The limited single run collection will range in price from $110-$148 and will be available on Naturalizer.com as well as in select Anthropologie stores and Anthropologie.com.

“Through this partnership, we are working together to unlock the potential for communities to thrive – when we cultivate creativity and teach new generations essential life skills, amazing things can and will blossom,” Reese said. “Our capsule collection is a great opportunity to educate and provide opportunities for local students while also supporting Nest’s work to provide resources to diverse makers who are key contributors to local creative economies.”

Naturalizer and Reese – a former star of Naturalizer’s ‘Today We Will’ campaign – partnered with the College for Creative Studies in Detroit to invite design students to participate in an illustration competition for the “Hope for Flowers” capsule collection to garner real world experience in the fashion industry. Reese, who sits on the college’s board, will select three participants to receive tuition scholarships and the winning design will be featured in the collection’s national marketing campaign.

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“Tracy Reese brings not only her endless talent and passion to our highly-anticipated capsule collection, but also a deep commitment to being a positive force in the fashion industry and in her hometown of Detroit,” said Angelique Joseph, vice president of design at Naturalizer. “Her core values and her mission align with our ‘Today We Will’ campaign, which supports women making a difference through mindful actions and positive social change.”

In the same spirit of promoting creatives and building communities, the collection will benefit non-profit Nest’s Makers United program, an initiative providing free resources and market access opportunities to micro maker businesses across the country. Through Makers United, Nest focuses on increasing diversity within local creative economies, including Reese’s hometown of Detroit, as well as St. Louis which both Naturalizer’s parent company, Caleres (NYSE:CAL), and Nest call home.

“We are grateful for support from partners like Tracy Reese and Naturalizer, who help us ensure that the growing makers movement within the U.S. generates opportunities for all,” said Rebecca van Bergen, founder and executive director at Nest. “They share Nest’s belief that fostering inclusive and diverse creative communities can be a crucial driver of economic growth.”

“Naturalizer actively identifies and partners with people like Tracy to keep innovating on every front, and we are proud of initiatives like this because they allow us to steward the advancement of design while empowering the communities around us from within,” said Joseph.

More information on the Hope for Flowers collection can be found at https://www.naturalizer.com/hope-for-flowers-by-tracy-reese.

Environmentally Conscious Properties of the Collection: Naturalizer has been increasingly vocal about its commitment to a more sustainable future by aligning with like-minded partners including Reese and designing shoes in more eco-conscious ways. Caleres was recently recognized for its ESG efforts by Newsweek and its 2022 list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, debuting at number 68. The recognition goes beyond sustainability, calling out the company for its ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), particularly as it relates to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives. In the“Hope for Flowers” collection, Naturalizer uses recycled materials to craft toe boxes, insoles, fiber board and strobel materials and linings. Fabric uppers utilize environmentally preferred materials whileall leather products in the line are responsibly sourced through Leather Working Group silver and gold rated suppliers. To ensure that our communities and the environment are taken into account at every stage of the production process, the company is also committed to ensuring that all packaging, including boxes, is made with 80% recycled paper as well as eco-conscious soy-based ink.

Source: Tracy Reese