Samuel Hubbard Announces GORE-TEX Licensing Agreement

Debuting November 2016, “GPS” Collection for Men to Feature GORE-TEX ® Technology

MILL VALLEY, CALIF. (Sept. 29, 2016) – Samuel Hubbard, a leader in delivering supremely comfortable, lightweight men and women’s fine leather footwear, today announced its relationship with W. L. Gore & Associates. Samuel Hubbard will incorporate GORE-TEX® brand durable, waterproof and breathable technology into three styles of its new GPS Collection launching at retail November 2016.

Samuel Hubbard’s GPS Collection is the company’s first offering of rugged outdoor shoes and boots designed for off-road as well as for cold, rainy days in the city. Developed in its European studio, the shoes feature either the Vibram lug soles or the new Davos “Ice Grip” sole which utilizes a carbon and silica mix that gives the shoes non-skid traction for harsh winter days. The new collection launches for men this November with women’s shoes featuring GORE-TEX® coming in 2017.

“This coveted GORE-TEX® license optimizes Samuel Hubbard’s sneaker-like comfort with durable waterproofness and exceptional breathability,” said Bruce Katz, CEO and founder of Samuel Hubbard. “The addition of GORE-TEX® technology differentiates us from other footwear in the fashion-performance category, enabling our customers to feel good about their style without having to worry about the weather. It’s a natural extension of product offerings for our active customers.”

The GPS collection features both leather and shearling linings combined with GORE-TEX® technology. The three styles include:

• The Aspen Boot with genuine breathable shearling lining combined with the GORE-TEX® lining system. It includes the classic Vibram “Carrarmato” lug sole and English tumbled leather.
• Hubbard Mt. Tam Boot is one of the lightest all-leather hiking boots in the category and features the Vibram® “Carrarmato” rubber lug sole.
• The popular Founder men’s dress shoe has been “winterized” to include the same breathable, waterproof technology from Gore and the best-in-class “Ice Grip” sole from Davos. 

“We are pleased to have Samuel Hubbard among the high quality brands that consumers can depend on for stylish, waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX® footwear,” said Richard Leckenwalter, leader of Gore’s casual footwear business team. “This licensing agreement allows their customers to experience the same waterproof protection and breathability in a casual shoe that GORE-TEX® technology provides in demanding applications like hiking and trail running.”

About W. L. Gore & Associates: Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore posts annual sales of more than $3 billion and employs more than 10,000 associates with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and China, and sales offices around the world. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists, including all 19 of the Fortune lists and three earlier books by the same name. The company also appears regularly on similar lists around the world. Learn more at gore.com.

About Samuel Hubbard: Building on an 85-year family tradition, the Samuel Hubbard Shoe Company is dedicated to creating the world’s most comfortable shoes—for men and women. Founder Bruce Katz (previously cofounder of Rockport Shoe Company) says: “We make shoes that people can fall in love with.” To do this, we painstakingly design our shoes for fit and design, handcraft them in Portugal, and never, ever compromise on quality—using only the finest leathers and materials from around the world. For men, we currently offer: Un-Sneaker (the comfort of a sneaker in a beautifully styled shoe); Limited Edition (an array of eye-opening colors); and Go To Work (styled for work and evenings out). Our first line of women’s shoes will be offered in September 2016. For more information, visit samuelhubbard.com.