What made Merrell a good fit for Jeep?
A legendary brand and the innovator of the world’s number one hiking boot – the Moab – Merrell was an authentic choice for this Jeep branded collaboration. Moab, Utah is the preeminent playground of the Jeep enthusiast and both brands represent the highest in quality and craftsmanship – and the opportunity to enable consumers in the pursuit of extraordinary journeys.

Can you talk us through some of your favorite design details in the boot?
Merrell thoughtfully designed this boot with a number of authentic features that align with our vehicle designs. Just a few of our favourites include the custom Rubicon molded badging, the lace hooks representing the red tow hooks on the front of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and the embossed iconic seven-slot grille.

Great stuff. Thanks again Kim – let’s tie in again soon!

The post Kim Adams House – Head of Licensing and Merchandise at Stellantis – on bringing Jeep into footwear appeared first on Brands Untapped.

“We selected the upper mesh to resemble the Wrangler’s grill.”

We upgraded the world’s best-selling hiking boot – the Moab – with trail-rated designs inspired by Jeep. With an increase in outdoor as a lifestyle, our historical knowledge of merging performance, style and comfort empower all people to confidently explore the outdoors. We welcome the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts to explore on-and-off-road adventures in both Merrell and Jeep. We hope this collaboration inspires more people to discover the simple power and joy of being outside.

What kickstarted the design process? How did you get to grips with the Jeep IP?
All you had to say was Jeep! We’re have big fans of the brand – especially the Wrangler – on the team so it was easy to take our favorite design details and reimagine them through the Moab. We practically had the whole idea designed in minutes!

Minutes! Wow! Can you talk us through some of those design details?
At first glance, you’ll see the custom molded Rubicon badging, red “tow” lace hooks representing the hooks on the front of the Wrangler, and metal lace hardware representing the hatches on the Jeep hood. Looking closely at the boot, we selected the upper mesh to resemble the Wrangler’s grill with a hexagon pattern and larger heel webbing hook to mimic a seat belt. There is even a seven-slot grill embossed in the backstay! Surprise and delights are important to us – the unique footbed inserts feature a topographical map of Hell’s Revenge, a popular off-road trail in Moab, Utah.

Lots of lovely touches! What do you feel is the key to crafting great footwear based on brands?
Comfort, fit, and traction are just as important as knowing your consumer base and taking their feedback into consideration as you build and enhance new product.

Ian, this has been great. I have one last question: How do you fuel your creativity? What helps you have ideas?
Anything and everything fuels our creativity, so ideas can come from anywhere. Constantly listening and observing and then knowing when to apply the ideas and learnings is key. There’s always room for improvement to fuel the next generation of creativity.

Thanks again!

The post “This collaboration is authentic down to its roots”: Merrell’s Ian Cobb on designing the Moab 3 Mid x Jeep hiking boot appeared first on Brands Untapped.

The limited-run Merrell Moab 3 Mid x Jeep boot includes several design details nodding to Jeep 4x4s. These include red “tow” lace hooks representing the red tow hooks on the front of the Wrangler Rubicon and metal lace hardware inspired by the hatches on the Jeep 4×4 hood.

The boot’s monochromatic colour scheme mimics Jeep 4×4 exterior colours, the upper mesh resembles the hexagon pattern on the Wrangler’s grille and Jeep’s seven slot grille is embossed in the backstay.

“The Jeep brand has a loyal fan base similar to Merrell – and these boots have on-and off-road capability for you to navigate any journey with confidence,” said Merrell Senior Director of Brand Marketing Lindsey Lindemulder.

Kim Adams House, Head of Licensing & Merchandising – All Brands at Stellantis, added: “Moab, Utah, is the Jeep brand’s preeminent playground, and it’s only fitting we honour it with the landmark designs featured in the Merrell Moab 3 Mid x Jeep.

“The craftsmanship you expect, know, and love in our vehicles is matched in this trail-rated boot.”

The Merrell Moab 3 Mid x Jeep will be available from October 16th in both men’s and women’s sizes in the US, Canada, Taiwan, China, Japan, Peru, Panama and Colombia.

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