Stride Rite Children’s Group brings blockbuster excitement to kids with the all-new X-celeRacers by Stride Rite Marvel collection. Premiering at locations where Stride Rite shoes are sold, X-celeRacers feature superhero favorites such as Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Man.
The new X-celeRacers sneaker features a strap with an adjustable closure for extraordinary fit, X-Grip with a grooved outsole for traction, Extra Flex with a lightweight outsole for agility, and lightweight cushioning for comfort.

Stride Rite will advertise the product through an integrated marketing campaign, called “Imagination” that will inspire 3- to 8-year-old boys and their moms through TV, online, and in-store. Commercials, airing on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney XD, highlight boys imagining themselves as the legendary Marvel Universe Super Heroes through the Power of X in their X-celeRacers shoes. There will also be a special X-celeRacers by Stride Rite Marvel collection Web page that will host a variety of interactive activities for moms to share with their sons.

Shane&Shawn have partnered with KangaROOS to create a line of footwear for men, women, and children. The design duo plans to pay homage to the original line, while incorporating recent trends, such as fur lining and innovative pockets built into every shoe.

ROOS will launch its men’s line in August, with the women’s and children’s collections following for the holiday season.

Skechers Signs Licensing Agreement for Skechers-Branded Youth Electronics

Skechers USA, Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with Sakar International to produce youth electronics and accessories featuring Skechers branding and Skechers Kids’ animated characters. The line is scheduled to launch in the Q1 2012 at retailers across the United States.

Under the agreement, Sakar will design, produce and distribute a wide range of Skechers-branded electronics and accessories, including MP3 players, molded earbuds, speakers, digital cameras, cases, skins, and USB flash drives inspired by Skechers Kids’ footwear styles. Products will be designed for boys and girls from elementary through high school with artwork from Skechers’ Zevo-3 animated television series, the Twinkle Toes by Skechers collection, as well as additional Skechers Kids’ characters and Skechers branding.

SwaddleDesigns Introduces New Angry Birds Baby Products

SwaddleDesigns and Rovio have signed a definitive agreement granting SwaddleDesigns licensing and merchandising rights for Angry Birds. SwaddleDesigns’ Angry Birds Baby products are now available for pre-order at SwaddleDesigns.com and shipping worldwide.

SwaddleDesigns is introducing products featuring Angry Birds including the Ultimate Receiving Blanket, Marquisette Swaddling Blanket, zzZipMe Sack wearable blanket, Baby Lovie security blankie, and Baby Burpies. Products will begin shipping by October 10.

—The TLB Team

Some early news this morning from Total Licensing, Inc. (TLI) in the U.S. (not to be confused with our publishing friends in the U.K.), which has signed a deal with Glamm, Inc. for Skechers-branded time instruments to be available at retail in the fall.

Glamm is currently the exclusive U.S. licensee of watches and timepieces for Skechers. As part of the agreement, Glamm maintains the multi-year exclusive domestic licensing and manufacturing rights, as well as certain non-exclusive global manufacturing and distribution rights.

The parties are in the process of completing terms relating to the compensation and participation of TLI, a subsidiary of Total Apparel Group Inc., and further announcements regarding the agreement will be made in the coming months.

Hidden City Entertainment, Inc., the rights holder of Bella Sara, announced a new licensing agreement with CCI Shoes. The deal was brokered by Francoise Bouvet of MJA Licensing and offers French fans a selection of shoe styles.

The license acquired by CCI encompasses a variety of shoes including slippers, canvas, sport, rain boots, snow boots, casual, and flip flops; they are scheduled to arrive in stores this summer.

Also in France, Hidden City announced a licensing partnership with video game publisher and accessory development company Bigben Interactive. The deal, which was brokered by Francoise Bouvet of MJA Licensing, grants Bigben the rights to create a Bella Sara 3D Nintendo DS video game. The game is expected to be available later this year.

Skechers Entertainment, a division of global footwear company Skechers USA, Inc., is leveraging the popularity of its original branded content and characters with a global licensing campaign.

Among the initial properties driving this new initiative is Zevo-3, the first originally produced animated television series from Skechers Entertainment, which premiered on Nicktoons in October 2010. Additionally, the direct-to-DVD movie Twinkle Toes, which is currently in production, will be among the other key properties leading the licensing roll-out. Skechers Entertainment will develop licensing partnerships in all categories including apparel, interactive, toys, games, accessories, food & beverage, stationery, gifts, arts & crafts, publishing, personal care, dress up & role play, home, novelty, seasonal and back to school.

It catapulted a TV sitcom actor into an international movie star, put a veteran character actor in the limelight and made a limited-production sports car from Ireland into an ‘80s relic. Of course, I’m talking about Back to The Future. The iconic film and staple of ‘80s cinema has made several “Top Ten” lists in the past and had a special 25^th anniversary re-release in November.

Although it’s been a while since we’ve seen Mr. Fox or Christopher Lloyd, the DeLorean Motor Company is capitalizing on the movie with a new shoe. Yes, a shoe—a shoe that looks like the DeLorean DMC-12.

In a partnership with Nike, the limited-edition DeLorean Nike Dunk actually does have a few elements of the car, including a gullwing eyestay and taillight-inspired sole. The good folks at DeLorean even sent us a pair to see first-hand. The verdict? We like it, even down to the box, which opens like the doors of the famed car. Fun fact: Besides being overall cool, this is the first sneaker made by Nike with no stitching.

Let me be honest for a second, what we really really like is the fact that we are one of a select few that now have the shoe—it debuted on Black Friday with a list price of $90 and has already sold out. Only a thousand were made, with a few hundred pairs made for Nike athletes and some other VIPs. Now, if you want it, check ebay and be willing to part with a cool $800. Don’t be jealous.

—Mackenzie Allison

Spidey’s feet just got happier.

Marvel Entertainment today expanded its partnership with Reebok with a collection of children’s sneakers featuring Spider-Man at Finish Line.

This new line expands on Marvel’s relationship with Reebok, which initially launched with a collection of children’s sneakers featuring Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk in spring 2008 and was followed by a collection of Spider-Man sneakers at Finish Line in 2009. Building on that success, the new line of co-branded sneakers will be available at Finish Line stores nationwide beginning in spring 2010.

The sneakers are designed exclusively for Finish Line, and Reebok and Finish Line are supporting the Marvel introduction with in-store signage and graphics.