ORSM '12 New Exhibitors Recap: Forsake
SNEWS highlights some new exhibitors that attended the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2012 trade show. Check out Forsake’s story and visit their website for more information about their products.
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
Forsake
www.forsake.co / Sam Barstow, VP / Rochester, N.Y. / Founded 2010
Sam Barstow on Forsake: “Forsake is a new outdoor footwear company started by two friends with a shared enthusiasm for being outside, taking chances and doing things just a little bit differently. Frustrated with the lack of style and versatility in the market for casual outdoor footwear, we set out to create a brand that embodies our active lifestyle without sacrificing comfort, performance or style. Our mission is to build all-weather products for young outdoor and action sport enthusiasts that combine modern styles, functional design and practical technology. By building footwear based on these principles, we develop products that transcend traditional boundaries and environments. Products that feel equally at home at the resort, on the hiking trail or during a night out with friends.”
Tell us about your brands and products?
Forsake is a casual outdoor company producing footwear for young outdoor and action sports enthusiasts.
What were you, as the founder of the company, doing before this?
I was working towards my mechanical engineering degree and skiing as much as possible.
Where did your inspiration come from?
Watching all of my friends soak through their sneakers because they didn’t want to wear hiking boots.
What’s the one best feature of your product?
The combination of performance and style that makes the shoes able to handle just about anything.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Visualizing and executing our design ideas into a 3-D product.
Why did you exhibit at Outdoor Retailer?
Because we believe that there are a ton of people like ourselves that would love this type of shoe and [Outdoor Retailer] is the best way to get them on the selves and available to the outdoor world.
Who do you look up to in the industry?
Patagonia. Despite becoming extremely popular and successful they seem to be sticking to their core values and give back to the community.
Who do you want to compete against in the industry?
We want to compete against all of the large established outdoor footwear companies and provide consumers with a fresh new alternative to the hiking boot.
