retail

Nike's Cole Haan Signs Sharapova For Hybrid Line

Cole Haan screenshot Cole Haan has lined up 21-year-old tennis great Maria Sharapova as the face of its new of Cole Haan Sporting, a line that it says will push its fusion of fashion and fitness to a whole new level.

The collection, with shoes and accessories for both men and women, will continue to use Nike Air technology, which has been integrated into Cole Haan's high-end leather shoes for several years. But it will also add new sneaker technology, including Flywire, the company says. (Nike, which owns Cole Haan, first launched its Flywire, a superlight construction, earlier this summer, in the Kobe Bryant Hyperdunk, as well as other shoes for the Olympics.)

A spokesperson describes Sharapova as "the perfect hybrid of style and performance," adding that Sharapova will actually collaborate on design for the Fall '09 collection.

The shoes and accessories will weave "Cole Haan's history of craftsmanship with Nike's tradition of high-performance innovation," the company says.

Women's shoes will include wedges, flats and sandals, while the men's collection will have Cole Haan's signature boat shoe, as well as lace-ups, in bold colors. Shoes range from $115 to $200, and accessories such as racquet and duffle bags are made from recycled plastic bottles, and start at $225.

advertisement

advertisement

Next story loading loading..