Dr. Scholl’s Shoes Turns 100 with Slate of Special Collections, Including One With the Late Style Icon Iris Apfel
Dr. Scholl’s Shoes is commemorating its 100th anniversary with a yearlong celebration marked with a series of four collections.
Started in 1924 by Dr. William Scholl when he opened his first Comfort Foot Shop, the brand founder aimed to change the comfort footwear category entirely with the launch of his original wooden sandal in 1959.
Over the next several years, the style quickly became a favorite of the fashion crowd in the 1960s. More recent iconic moments for the sandal include an appearance on Isaac Mizrahi’s runway, on the feet of Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Sex and the City” character Carrie Bradshaw, and on Jennifer Aniston. Former FN cover star Martha Stewart has also been a fan for years, most recently acknowledging she still wears them at the FN Women Who Rock event last June.
Dropping on Tuesday, the Caleres-owned footwear brand is celebrating the sandal that started it all with the release of the inaugural “100th Anniversary Collection.” Inspired by the brand’s original wooden sandal, the nine-style collection reimagines the silhouette by introducing modern comfort features and blending elements from the past.
According to the company, the new collection also takes the original sandal to new heights with the introduction of heels and wedges, and incorporates beloved features such as the buckle, classic rivets and wood bottoms while infusing a nostalgic Americana palette of red, white, and denim. The celebration will begin on Tuesday with a social campaign featuring a surrealistic interpretation of the 100th collection along with content from creators and influencers encouraging consumers to join in on the brand’s “Always Iconic” mantra.
“Dr. Scholl’s joins a small list of iconic American brands that have stood the test of time for a century,” Keith Duplain, division president of brand portfolio at Caleres, added. “It was original in 1924 when Dr. William Scholl opened his first Comfort Foot Shop. It became a fashion icon in 1959 with the creation of the Original Wooden Exercise Sandal, and we continue our legacy today with culturally relevant collaborations and new styles like the Time Off sneaker, which recently became a viral TikTok sensation.”
On the heels of the 100th anniversary collection drop, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes will debut its first collaboration of the year with Free People. The Dr. Scholl’s Shoes x Free People capsule collection, which drops in time for festival season, will offer a festival-worthy take on the original sandal.
This summer, Dr. Scholl’s will launch a special collaboration with the late style icon Iris Apfel, who died this month at the age of 102. While major details of the collection are still under wraps, the range will consist of sandals, mules and the brand’s viral Time Off lace up sneaker.
“Our goal for this collaboration was to create a collection that is iconic and truly original,” Jen Wiley, senior director of brand marketing and creative at Dr. Scholl’s, told FN. “Our intention from the start was to honor Iris as the fashion icon that she is and always will be. The launch will celebrate her legacy and contributions to the world of fashion and design as originally intended.”
As for how it was to work with Apfel on what was one of her last projects, Wiley said it was nothing short of inspirational. “Everything had a story,” she said. “Her unique and timeless style was a source of endless inspiration to our design team. Her incredible archives of prints and design sensibility made the collaboration an amazing process. When she saw the mule slipper style, she said it reminded her of her husband Carl, hence the shoe name ‘The Mr. Carl.’ She would make notes on sketch boards that we would send to her home in New York and later Palm Beach. It was an unforgettable experience.”
According to the company, the collection will debut in August to coincide with the release of Apfel’s new book “Colorful,” where she shares her design doctrine and greatest inspirations. The collaboration with Dr. Scholl’s Shoes is featured within the pages of her book.
“Our hope is that our customers will be inspired by the optimism, exuberance, and undeniable ‘Iris-ness’ that makes this collection so special,” Wiley added. “We hope everyone who wears the Dr. Scholl’s x Iris Apfel shoes will experience the joy, confidence and individuality that Iris carried with her throughout her life.”
Looking ahead for holiday 2024, the brand will reveal its final 100th collaboration partner, a collaboration with SmileyWorld.
Dr. Scholl’s Shoes 100th Anniversary Collection, which retails between $80 and $150, is now available at DrSchollsShoes.com. As part of the brand’s ongoing sustainability mission, a tree will be donated to Trees for the Future for each 100th collection shoe sold.