Jillian first launched 10 years ago and remains Aetrex’s No. 1 selling shoe, representing 15 percent of total pairs sold in Spring 2024. This core style inspires new designs, including Josie, a braided adjustable slip-on, and Evelyn, a toe-post sandal with an adjustable back strap.

“With Jillian, we’ve proven that summer sandals can be as comfortable and healthy for your feet as sneakers, earning a spot in shoppers’ closets for many seasons. Consumers love the built-in arch support, ultra-light cork midsole, and adjustability, providing all-day comfort,” said Amy Egelja, VP of Footwear Design at Aetrex.

Popular flatform style Vania saw a 41 percent increase in sales in 2024 and influences the new Julia sandal, featuring a braided adjustable strap with a jute bottom. Romy, a fully adjustable quarter strap fisherman sandal with a blown rubber outsole, and Thea, a thick crossband platform sandal in soft leather are sporty-luxe styles inspired by Vania’s successful silhouette.

Expanding its heels and wedges category, the Sydney – another top seller for spring – was the inspiration for Andrea, a two-inch leather wrapped wedge with an adjustable quarter and vamp strap; Madelyn, a two-inch cork wrapped midsole wedge with adjustable quarter and vamp straps; and early-2000s inspired Ariel, a one-inch leather wrapped wedge with adjustable quarter and vamp strap.

Aetrex’s water-friendly SkyTech line featuring built-in arch support and UltraSky cushioning for an ultra-lightweight feel is also expanded for Spring 2025. New additions include Vicki, a braided strap thong influenced by Fiji; Skyler, a toe-post sandal with embellished colorways; and Kaia, a two-band women’s slide inspired by men’s best-seller, Milos. New spring sneaker styles inspired by the existing court style Courtney include Charlotte, a lace up rubber outsole with eyelet cutouts and jute detailing, and Morgan, a retro-inspired cup sole sneaker with adjustable straps.

Available February 2025, this line will also include new block heel styles and strappy sandals with built-in arch support and Aetrex’s signature adjustability features. Atlanta Shoe Market attendees can stop by Aetrex’s booth #1537 to view the collection and experience Aetrex’s new kids’ 3D foot scanning software, Tootsie. To learn more about the brand, please visit www.aetrex.com.

Bauer FitLabs, progressive in-store 3D foot scanning stations equipped with Aetrex’s Albert 2 Pro scanners, will identify an athlete’s unique foot type and provide personalized orthotic and skate recommendations for ideal fit and performance. Aimed to revolutionize the hockey skate and orthotic fitting process, the 20-second scanning experience will provide athletes with complete data about their unique feet and gait. The comprehensive data collection includes fundamental 3D measurements of each foot (i.e. length, width, girth, instep height, arch height, etc.), a detailed 3D rendering of the feet, and a pressure distribution analysis underfoot, both static pressure (standing) and dynamic pressure (moving). Athletes will gain a deeper understanding of their unique foot characteristics and will receive product solutions tailored to their individual needs for ideal fit and performance.

Both companies are relentlessly focused on innovation and performance. “The partnership is a perfect marriage. Bauer has an unwavering pursuit to invent, experiment and push limits in the hockey industry. At Aetrex, technology is at the core of everything we do. We are thrilled Bauer has decided to partner with us to upgrade their 3D fit technology solutions to better serve their customers and athletes at all levels,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO of Aetrex.

As a trusted skate provider of key NHL athletes, an inventive brand focused on driving performance with introductions like the Tuuk holder, and the first hockey company to adopt a digital solution for ice skate fittings in 2017, Bauer’s pursuit to pave the way for game-changing innovation led to its partnership with Aetrex. It’s during the scanning process within the FitLab where the Albert 2 Pro will recommend a premier Bauer skate based on the athlete’s individual 3D foot scan.

“Innovation lies at the heart of Bauer Hockey, and the FitLab is another example of our commitment to pushing the game forward. The trend towards a more personal and customized skate fitting process continues to grow in importance for players at all levels. Through our partnership with Aetrex, we can elevate the standards of skate fitting, while bringing the overall experience to a new level. Utilizing Aetrex foot scanning technology, we can view a digital 3D model of an individual’s foot, underfoot pressure and dynamic movement, and precise measurements. This data enables us to customize the process for each individual — setting the bar for premium skate fitting experiences. The FitLab and Aetrex will not only be a game changer for individuals shopping for skates; it will be a game changer across the entire industry,” said John Davidson, director of brand management at Bauer Hockey.

The program is scheduled to launch at 420 retail locations across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Additional information on the partnership and Bauer FitLabs will be released later this spring. To learn more about Aetrex’s technology, visit www.aetrex.com/technology.

To support FitStarter, Aetrex is establishing multiple Fit Labs to analyze shoes submitted by participating retailers each season. A member of the Aetrex Technology team will analyze the shoes using the patented Hank Jr Shoe Fitting Smartlast system developed by Heeluxe, which leverages pressure sensor technology. Within days, retailers will have footwear and fit recommendations available within their Aetrex Albert software. Once Aetrex collects shoe data within the Fit Lab, the FitStarter platform will analyze each customer’s unique 3D foot scan data collected in store alongside the Fit Lab data to provide immediate, personalized fitting recommendations.

“While FitGenius remains our gold standard fit recommendation offering for retailers, not every retailer has the capacity to quickly collect the required 5,000 foot scan data points necessary to feed the AI platform,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO of Aetrex. “With FitStarter, retailers can provide accurate shoe fit recommendations from day-one of installation while also collecting the foot scan data points needed to upgrade to the premium FitGenius AI.”

The FitStarter program provides in-store shoppers with personalized fit recommendations, while FitGenius has the capability to provide ideal footwear recommendations to consumers both in store and online. After a shopper completes an Aetrex 3D foot scan at a participating retail location, FitStarter will rank the retailer’s footwear inventory based on the likelihood of a good fit for that individual from excellent to poor. It will also display a graphic of the consumer’s selected shoe, highlighting areas that fit well and potential areas of pressure. FitStarter also considers the shopper’s preference for shoe fit, ranging from snug to roomy.

“Like Aetrex, Hank Jr Shoe Fitting is focused on data-driven technology solutions to improve footwear fit and design, bringing natural synergy to our partnership,” said Dr. Geoffrey Gray, founder of Heeluxe and Hank Jr Shoe Fitting, Inc. “This partnership allows us to bring our shoe data and testing process to the masses in an effort to help shoppers around the world get into the right fitting footwear on the first try, quickly and easily.”

FitStarter will be available to existing and interested Aetrex foot scanning partners on January 1, 2024 on a service subscription model. To learn more about FitStarter and all Aetrex technology offerings, visit aetrex.com.