Favorite Daughter & Caleres: A Powerful Partnership in Premium Footwear

Favorite Daughter, the contemporary lifestyle brand co-founded by sisters Erin and Sara Foster, is set to make a significant splash in the premium footwear market with its first shoe collection, launching in Fall 2025 under an exclusive licensing agreement with Caleres. This strategic partnership combines Favorite Daughter's unique aesthetic and brand appeal with Caleres' expertise in design, scale, and global reach, positioning the collection to capture a substantial share of the premium footwear market.

The new shoe collection, co-created with Caleres' senior vice president and chief design and product officer Natelle Baddeley, is a tightly curated assortment of essential styles. The collection includes soft construction timeless/boyish loafers, quilted low profile sneakers, chic ballets, t-strap/refined heeled pumps, and boots, all featuring timeless buckles on removable straps for added styling options. Crafted in premium materials such as soft nappas, exotic leathers, satins, velvets, and subtle suedes, the shoes will retail between $195 and $495, targeting the sweet spot between contemporary luxury and accessible premium.

One of the standout features of the Favorite Daughter shoe collection is the integration of athletic-grade foam technology in dress shoes. This innovation addresses the growing consumer demand for comfort without sacrificing style, providing a competitive edge in the contemporary footwear segment. The cushioned footbed using athletic-grade foams not typically found in dress shoes is a notable departure from traditional designs, catering to consumers who seek both fashion-forward designs and the comfort typically associated with athletic footwear.

The strategic partnership with Caleres enables Favorite Daughter to expand its reach into the footwear category, leveraging Caleres' established distribution channels, including FavoriteDaughter.com, Favorite Daughter stores, and select better department stores. This exposure can help Favorite Daughter reach new customers and expand its market share, while also diversifying its product offerings and creating a more comprehensive lifestyle brand.

The collaboration between Favorite Daughter and Caleres also includes a teaser collection set to launch in May 2025, featuring a small assortment of shoes in collaboration with Caleres-owned brand Dr. Scholl's. This capsule collection will include the first-ever kitten-heel version of Dr. Scholl's signature Original Sandal and a fashion take on the brand's viral Time Off sneaker, retailing for $225 and $150, respectively. This collaboration is a clever marketing strategy to generate buzz and anticipation for the full shoe collection launch in the fall.

In conclusion, the strategic partnership between Favorite Daughter and Caleres is a powerful alliance that combines the unique aesthetic and brand appeal of Favorite Daughter with the expertise and global reach of Caleres. The new shoe collection, featuring innovative design, premium materials, and athletic-grade foam technology, is well-positioned to capture a significant share of the premium footwear market. With a strategic pricing strategy and a multi-channel distribution approach, Favorite Daughter is poised to become a major player in the footwear industry, further solidifying its status as a leading contemporary lifestyle brand.