twenty DANSKO
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION
A SUPPLEMENT TO FOOTWEAR PLUS
Limited-edition 20th Anniversary Professional. On the cover: (Clockwise from top) Black Scribble Patent Professional; Volley Red Palm Frond; Volley Blue Patchwork; Jute Wrapped Clog. 2 DANSKO
HARDWIRED TO DO
THE RIGHT THING TWENTY-SOME YEARS ago, Peter and I had no idea that we would ever start a shoe company. We simply found ourselves in the path of an unexpected opportunity, and we seized it. We were professional horse trainers and we literally stumbled upon what we thought would be the perfect barn shoe, both for ourselves and for our clients. A large part of our business was about importing, training and selling horses and horse-related gear that wasn’t readily available in the United States. Another part of our business was service-related—training Olympic hopefuls and making dreams come true. Those were the “business” elements that we carried forward into Dansko. We knew about importing, had some perspective on retailing, and had a lot of experience in making customers happy. We’d had no exposure to the shoe industry, so our frame of reference was entirely from the “receiving end”: How would we want to be treated, both as retailers and as consumers? At the end of the day, all successful businesses have to be grounded in that. As a Dane, Peter has always been sensitive to the impact we make on the planet. Denmark is a tiny country with very limited resources, and kids are taught from an early age how to care for them responsibly with an eye toward future generations. In that sense, Denmark—and, by extension, Dansko—has an incredibly strong heritage of “sustainability.” I, too, was taught from an early age to give back and
pay it forward. I grew up believing what we stand for and how we behave matters more than anything else. Legacy is important. And that played out in Dansko’s business model: If you’ve got something great to share (in this case, our shoes), you share it. If, in the sharing, you can reinvest in more to share, you do that, too. And the gift keeps on giving. Dansko is our baby. We didn’t plan for her, but, once conceived, we taught her everything we knew and shared all our values with her. Like all parents, we want Dansko not only to prosper and flourish, but to outlive us, outgrow us, and accomplish things we might only dream of. For Dansko to be around for the long haul, we need to take the long view. We need to be agile, adaptive, attuned to the world around us, and cognizant of how the decisions we make today affect the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. For us, that’s the essence of sustainability. We would no more squander resources, treat our stakeholders unfairly or dishonestly, or be tight-fisted or irresponsible with our profits, than we would throw trash from a moving car. There are a lot of challenges in doing the right thing, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We do what we do because we’re hardwired that way. Speaking as a parent, I am beyond thrilled to watch our baby blossom into a responsible global citizen. It gives me tremendous comfort to know that everyone here at Dansko has her best interests at heart; we are all her stewards and we are all aligned in her continued development and long term success. As you’ll see in the pages of this magazine, sustainability isn’t just a “layer” of our business at Dansko. It’s part of the fabric of our business, our culture, and the way we live.
All best,
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DANSKO MILESTONES
Dansko moves off the horse farm and into dedicated office and warehouse space.
Dansko makes Inc. magazine’s list of the 500 fastest growing privately held companies in America.
Julia Roberts is spotted wearing Danskos. The list of celeb fans quickly expands.
Dansko is incorporated and a comfort generation is born. The American Podiatric Medical Association awards Dansko its first Seal of Acceptance for the Stapled Collection.
1990
1992
1996
1999 1998
1991
Dansko breaks ground on its new home: a 26,000-square-foot office and warehouse to accommodate a fast-growing business. Dansko begins shipping shoes to retailers. Stapled: The now-classic clog is where it all began. Over the years, the comfort icon has kept the flexible bottom and stapled construction that have made it a perennial favorite, but gussied itself up with fashion-friendly twists like pull-up leather, patent and a wide range of exotics. Innovations on the comfort side include improved lateral stability, better shock absorption and more secure heel.
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Named one of Region’s Fastest Growing Private Companies: Philadelphia Business Journal.
100
Dansko opens its on-site Research and Development Lab with SATRA Accreditation.
Dansko hires it 100th employee.
Dansko becomes the first footwear company to be a founding member of B Corporation, a group of for-profit businesses committed to caring for their employees, the community and the environment.
Footwear Plus magazine honors Dansko with the Plus Award for “Excellence in Design” in the Women’s Comfort category—the first of six and counting.
2007
2004 2002 Dansko flies past the one-million-pairs mark with a staggering 46% growth rate.
ONE MILLION
Dansko named one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
2005
Dansko celebrates its 15th anniversary and launches its Employee Stock Ownership Program to mark the milestone.
2009
2010 2011
More great things to come !
2008 Dansko’s newly constructed 80,000-square-foot headquarters building is awarded LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
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FORGET GREED. GOOD IS GOOD. WHY DANSKO’S MANDY CABOT DOES BUSINESS BY THE GOLDEN RULE.
BUILDING A LASTING
LEGACY
What does doing the right thing involve at Dansko? There are four essential ingredients. The first is Mindful Governance. This starts with a clear and compelling vision of not just what we strive for, but why it matters and for whom. It also involves transparency, fostering creativity, providing opportunities for growth, giving everyone a voice, and sharing both credit and profit. The second component is Sustainable Business Ethics. That’s the stuff we learned as kids: do unto others, reap what you sow, put your money where your mouth is, and lead by example. It also involves accountability—independent, third-party reality checks to see if we’re really as good as we think we are. The third piece is Corporate Philanthropy. Give back and pay it forward, make frequent deposits in your Bank of Goodwill, and support the communities you’re a part of. The fourth ingredient is Responsible Environmentalism, starting with “do no harm” and ending with leaving the planet in better shape than we found it.
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What has Dansko achieved in these four areas? We put our money where our mouths are when we set up our Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP). Every year we transfer a share of company profits and ownership to the folks who not only helped build us, but who are stewards of Dansko’s future. The ESOP is also a way for us to ensure a healthy future—both for our employees when they retire and for the company, by attracting new talent that can share in the value they help to create. Sustainable Business Ethics only take on real meaning when they’re verifiable. That’s where accountability comes into play. We’ve always been big believers in third-party validation. SATRA (Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), and APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) testing allows us to confirm our product attributes. Footwear Plus magazine’s Plus Awards that recognize design excellence allow us to gauge how meaningful our products are to our retailers. Independent and confidential surveys allow us to gauge our employee satisfaction.
We are Dansko! Company employees along with co-founders Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup and office mascot, Dude (foreground).
FOR US, IT ISN’T A QUESTION OF WHAT’S EASIER. WE WOULDN’T DO BUSINESS ANY OTHER WAY. But the mother of all gauges of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is B Corp. In 2007, Dansko became one of 80 founding members of B Corp, an organization of like-minded, for-profit businesses who want to benchmark their business practices against the triple bottom line of people, planet and profits. The idea is that while any company can claim to be a good corporate citizen, a B Corp can prove it—something valuable for both consumers and potential strategic partners. For us, the B Corp scorecard is tremendously helpful; however good we think we are, there are always areas to improve on. (To find out more about B Corp, see page 6.) In terms of Corporate Philanthropy, we’re proudest of our Dansko Foundation and our volunteer program. The Dansko Foundation is funded by company profits and run entirely by employees. Its mission is to teach employees the art and practice of philanthropy. The Dansko Foundation has given away nearly $500,000 in cash to well over a 100 organizations. We also pay employees to take time off to volunteer, either through company-organized service events or at non-profits of their choice. More than 85 percent of our employees participate each year, contributing more than 750 hours of volunteer time, which is then matched by Dansko with a cash gift to the organization that’s equivalent to those wage-hours. Last, in terms of Responsible Environmentalism, we’ve always been generous supporters of environmental causes, both on a personal and corporate level. We’re also constantly looking at ways to reduce our energy consumption. We utilize only solar and wind power, for example. We also look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of our products and packaging. The jewel in our crown is our LEED® Gold certified headquarters. My co-founder and husband Peter (Kjellerup) deserves all the credit for this one. Does trying to “do the right thing” make it easier or harder to run a business? For us, it isn’t a question of what’s easier. We wouldn’t do
business any other way. But the reality is that we’re in the business of making and selling consumable goods, and making truly cradle-to-cradle footwear is quite a challenge. Now that we’ve expanded into healthcare apparel, I see some promising new opportunities on that front. There are supply-chain challenges in doing the right thing, too. For instance, finding the right sourcing partners and policing our suppliers’ suppliers, transporting our goods to market quickly and reliably while minimizing our carbon footprint. It all adds up. How do sustainability efforts benefit Dansko? It’s difficult to measure the return on investment of CSR. In terms of energy consumption and waste, we know that we’re making a difference, but the impact to our bottom line is rather small. We know from our employee surveys that their overall engagement and satisfaction is very high. And we know from our consumer surveys and ongoing consumer dialogues that our CSR initiatives enhance our reputation and strengthen brand loyalty. These initiatives impact all of our stakeholders—suppliers, employees, consumers, strategic partners and investors—both today and for the future. Beyond enhancing reputation, I also believe in many intangible benefits of CSR such as process improvements; a culture of creativity and collaboration; and an opportunity to grow the business as consumers become ever more supportive of companies with truly sustainable agendas. Speaking personally, I am beyond thrilled to watch Dansko blossom into a responsible global citizen. It also gives me tremendous comfort to know that everyone here at Dansko has her best interests at heart; we are all her stewards and we are all aligned in her continued development and long term success. In terms of our workplace environment and culture, we wouldn’t have it Wdo ej^[h mWo$
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GoodDeed
Peter and Mandy plant trees for Stroud Water Research Center, one of many charitable organizations Dansko employees support.
WHEN DANSKO ISN’T MAKING FOOTWEAR, IT’S MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
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Making “B” the Best Grade Business Can Get Who says business has to be part of the planet’s problem? The corporate world has tremendous power to help the world at large—and B Lab has been on a mission to prove it ever since the nonprofit organization formed in 2006. The B was for “Benefit” and the idea was simple: Harness the power of business to do good by building a community of Certified B Corporations that would agree to meet rigorous independent standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. Dansko was among the first of 80 founding members—and the first footwear com-
pany—to sign up. What separates Dansko and its fellow B Corps from the green washers is that they subject themselves to rigorous outside scrutiny of their work environment, their charitable and green initiatives, and what they have done to make a better, more earth-friendly product for the consumer. “That means there’s real data to show that these are better corporations,” says Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab. “Transparency can be scary, especially when you have to be transparent about everything—not just what you do well.” Lots of companies publish reports highlighting areas where
they excel and glossing over weaknesses. Real leadership, says Gilbert, is willingness to take a hard look at every area, admit where you fall short and work to improve. “Leaders do things before others and they’re willing to go farther,” says Gilbert. “They get out of their comfort zone and take risks. That’s what’s inspiring about Dansko. They were already known as the good guys. Why bother with a third-party assessment? They had a lot to lose. But they wanted real metrics.” As an example of moving beyond principles to performance, he cites Dansko’s LEED-certified corporate
offices. “They didn’t just say they had a green building. They made sure they were certified to meet the highest green standards,” he says. Gilbert also gives Dansko props for braving the recent recession without downsizing or cutting employee compensation. “When other companies were laying people off and forgoing bonuses, Dansko put its people first,” says Gilbert. “They recognized that a company doesn’t exist without good people, and that theirs were performing as well or better than they ever had despite a difficult environment. So they didn’t penalize their employees. That makes them a special company. When I heard about it, I was proud they were a B Corp. It’s where you stand in times of conflict that defines your character.” Gilbert commends Dansko’s drive to make a difference beyond its own walls, too—to convince others in the footwear industry and beyond to adopt responsible policies and practices. “They’re in this to create real transformational change in the role of business in society,” he says. Over time, the community of B Corps has grown to 300plus members and become a powerful voice for policy change. Last year Maryland became the first state to offer a B-type charter of incorporation. Vermont followed suit a month later. Seven more states are interested in adopting B charters. “We’re creating the legal infrastructure for systemic change, for making business accountable for creating benefit to society,” says Gilbert. That, he says, will smooth the way for the next 1,000 companies to make the #. !ģ ƫ Čƫ* 01. ((5ċƫđ
Protecting the Places Where the Wild Things Are
The Conservation Alliance preserves wilderness areas like the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Call it enlightened self interest. Companies that sell products people use in the great outdoors need the great outdoors to survive. So, recognizing the many threats to America’s vanishing wilderness, a group of forward-thinking outdoor companies banded together back in 1989 to form the Conservation Alliance. Members would pay annual dues and work together each year to decide which environmental causes those dues would support. Today the alliance boasts 175 members—Dansko among them—and expects to donate $1 million (100% of members’ dues, as always) to conservation projects in 2011. Admittedly, Dansko isn’t exactly a hardcore outdoor brand. But the company is as hardcore as they come when it comes to saving the planet—so joining the Conservation Alliance (in 2003) was in many ways a no-brainer. Dankso also became a founding member of the CA Legacy Fund, established to ensure the Alliance’s continued operation for future generations. “I’ve been interacting with various folks from Dansko for about eight years and I’m very impressed,” says John Sterling, executive director of the Conservation Alliance. “They really care about the values that are important to outdoor people. It’s refreshing to have people in the room who say, ‘This might hurt our margins or cost us money, but we’re gonna do it because it’s the right thing to do.’ Our dues are designed on a sliding scale, which means there are larger members who give more, but it’s the spirit that Dansko brings to what they do that I really like and admire. “We’re very democratically run, with de-
cisions made by the membership,” Sterling continues. “Every member company can nominate organizations they think should receive money. Dansko’s been very active in the nominating process and in voting. But what makes them really special is that they really go above and beyond the basics to support us.” As examples, Sterling points to the Outdoor Retailer show, a key fundraising event for the Conservation Alliance, where Dansko has consistently sold shoes and donated a portion of sales to the Conservation Alliance for the past five years. They’ve also helped to spread the word about the group’s work and encouraged like-minded companies to join, he notes. Here’s one more anecdotal glimpse into the way Dansko thinks: A few years ago, the Conservation Alliance co-organized a bike ride from Portland, OR, to Salt Lake City in the weeks leading up to the Outdoor Retailer show. The plan was for riders to cycle past areas the Alliance had already helped to protect or was in the process of protecting. “We were going past this string of pearls of wild places, with the ride ending the day before the trade show,” Sterling recalls. “Mandy Cabot knew one of the people who worked at Dansko was an avid cyclist, so she called him and said, ‘You need to do this!’ She gave him two weeks off to ride his bike because she thought it was important for Dansko to be a part of the ride and to support our efforts. What’s more, she recognized that one of her employees was passionate about both bike riding and the environment—so this would be a great experience for him.” Talk about ƫ3%*ġ3%*ġ3%*ƫ,.+,+/%0%+*ċƫđ
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Planting Trees to Grow a Greener Future
L
ife as we know it runs on clean water. That’s one of the reasons Dansko employees have volunteered as tree planters for the Stroud Water Research Center for a decade. As many as 70 volunteers show up rain or shine several times annually to help the Avondale, Pennsylvania-based center’s researchers with plantings designed to expand scientific understanding of how best to protect America’s water sources. “Our mission is to provide fresh water and to make people stewards of fresh water,” explains Dr. Bernard Sweeney, the center’s director. “We have a beautiful partnership with Dansko because both organizations look for ways to protect and preserve the environment. Stroud does it through stewardship. Dansko does it by considering water in all aspects of making their products.” Each one-day planting includes about 3,500 seedlings and takes place within a 45-minute driving range of Dansko’s headquarters, under the direction of Stroud staff and along with volunteers from the public. Every one is unique and research-oriented. For example, Stroud varies the type of seedling, its size, its locale and its protective shelter (a tube that promotes rapid vertical growth—two to five times faster than a tree would grow without protection). Stroud’s scientists study the seedlings’ survivorship and growth into trees, calculating how much oxygen they produce and how much carbon dioxide they sequester, and gathering other data that is ultimately passed along to state and federal government in the form of recommendations for future plantings to mitigate industry’s impact on streams and other fresh water sources. The government also uses Stroud data for treeplanting grants to farmers designed to help them protect their water sources. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is one such program. Funded by the government through the Department of Agriculture, it provides money for farmers to plant trees in the space between their crops, herds of animals and streams on their property to create forest buffers that keep pollutants from entering the water. “A lot of the information and
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recommendations for CREP have come from results this program generated,” says Sweeney. “For example, how wide should a buffer be? What species of trees are best suited to do what we want them to do? What size should they be? How do you protect them? You can’t just plant a two-foot seedling in the ground and walk away. It’s got about a zero percent chance of survival. Is it better to plant small seedlings with lots of protection? Is it better to plant bare-root or potted seedlings? How do you keep them from being eaten by herbivores like deer or rabbits and overtaken by other plants? How much money do you spend on them? These are all questions we didn’t know the answers to; our plantings have helped us find answers that we’ve been able to pass along to the government. They give them to farmers along with money to plant the right kinds of seedlings. We have opportunities to learn the wonderful things seedlings can do for the world.” From Dansko’s perspective, volunteer work not only helps Stroud with its research, it helps the company to offset the carbon footprint of individual employees and the business as a whole. Employees drive cars to work every day, which produces carbon dioxide. Planting trees helps to balance the effect of that by removing carbon dioxide and other air- and water borne contaminants. One unexpected benefit of Stroud’s partnership with Dansko is the spillover effect. “A neighboring company showed up with four employees to help in our most recent planting because they had learned about Dansko’s work with us,” Sweeney recalls. “AfterDiana helps to reduce Dansko’s carbon footprint ward, they told us it was a great with a tree planting. experience for their volunteers and that they look forward to doing this more. We’re doing another planting in the fall, and I’ll bet that company will show up with eight or 10 employees. “Dansko plants these trees in an almost professional manner. They’re focused and they approach it the same way they run their business—very methodically, with great teamwork, and with a great work ethic. They’re setting the pace and the direction, and when word gets out that a company is doing something exciting like they are, it ][d[hWj[i _dj[h[ij$È
DOING THEIR PART Dansko gives employees 16 hours of volunteer time a year and donates the equivalent of their hourly wages to the organization for which they volunteer. Name: Mitchel Title: Director of Information Technology Volunteer project: Planting trees for the Stroud Water Research Center and building reef balls for oyster bed reclamation at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. I chose it because: “I enjoy the outdoors and am concerned about our environment.” The best part was: “Just knowing that what we do is helping our endangered natural areas and wetlands to recover. It was hot, muddy and wet, but well worth the effort.” Name: Christina Title: Senior Graphic Designer Volunteer project: Cooking dinner for residents of the Ronald McDonald House in Wilmington, DE I chose it because: “A homecooked meal has always been important to my family. I wanted to help provide that to the families at The Ronald McDonald House.” The best part was: “Seeing the families share and enjoy the food we and other volunteers prepared. Volunteering helps strengthen a community and provides hope to the members of the community who need it most.”
Mike pitches in for the Adopt-a-Highway program.
Peter and Bruce with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, helping to keep our waters clean.
Mitchel plants a tree for Stroud Water Research Center.
Christina cooks for residents of a Ronald McDonald House. Lending a hand to Habitat for Humanity are Fred, Karen, Lisa and Kyle (above). Peter leads a horse ride at Camp Dreamcatcher.
Jessica helps out at Camp Dreamcatcher, an organization providing free care for HIV/ AIDS infected or affected youth. DANSKO 9
DESIGN INSPIRATION Upclose with Ann Dittrich, Dansko’s Creative Director
THE DANSKO CLOG IS A FASHION ICON.
SO WHY MESS WITH SUCCESS?
Call it the little black dress of footwear. Dansko’s classic clog looks good everywhere and it never goes out of style. In the past 20 years, the silhouette has become one of the most beloved in footwear— synonymous with comfort, versatility, and casual chic. So what keeps Creative Director Ann Dittrich and her small, dedicated design team in the studio at Dansko’s headquarters busy all day?
How do you come up with new design ideas? We watch the runways, keep up with fashion blogs, shop the market in the U.S. and Europe, and use trend-forecasting services. But fashion trends are not what drives us. We’re much more attuned to follow lifestyle, so we use our eyes and ears every single day to spot new lifestyle trends. What are your muses? Nature. Our shoes are all really relevant to nature. We use a lot of natural materials and we want them to look as clean and beautiful as possible to show that they are real. We use leather that looks like leather—not like it’s something else. The theme of nature permeates our whole company very strongly.
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Does feedback from Dansko fans influence your designs? Yes. We have a terrifically interactive website with an element called “FanDansko,” where we invite fans to give us feedback. We also get lots of great feedback on our Facebook page. Our designers share a unique ability to look at the world through a Dansko lens; an understanding of our loyal customers and what’s important to them. That’s the most important trait I look for in a designer. What’s the Number One consideration when designing Danskos? Comfort always comes first, but comfort isn’t enough. The shoe needs that special something we call Dansko DNA—a
quirky, unique look that’s slightly off to the side of current fashion trends. Our customer likes a shoe with personality. How does a new design come to life? We start with hand-drawn sketches, often just rough thumbnails. From there, we go to Illustrator and/ or Photoshop to create a proportional rendering that goes to the factory, where the first prototype is made. Then we go to the factories to review it and make changes as needed. From there, we go to sales samples. Before we introduce a shoe, we take it out on the road and get feedback from retailers. We value their input and we’ll often make changes based on their views.
Our shoes are all really relevant to nature. We use a lot of natural materials and we want them to look as clean and beautiful as possible to show that they are real.
How did you get interested in design? In college I planned on being a theatrical costume designer. But I “fell” into shoe design shortly after graduation and I’ve never looked back! I’ve been working with Dansko for about five years, first as a design consultant, and for just over a year as Creative Director. What are your favorite highlights from the new Spring 2012 collection? First, the Mirabel Collection. There’s a return to simplicity and cleaner lines in fashion right now, and the Mirabel reflects that. We’ve backed off on surface detail and stitching and gone for shape and sculptural quality instead. We want to see the architecture—the bones of the shoe. We took our cues from mid-century Danish modern design and Art Deco design, where lines and shape were more important than embellishment. The Mirabel’s stapled construction combines the comfort of the Sausalito group with the fashion edge of our Rio group. Second, our Jute Wrapped Clog. We’ve reinvented our Professional clog, keeping the same design and comfort, but with a lighter weight and a more springtime look. It’s wrapped in jute and has fabric uppers in stripes or embroidered denim. It reflects the handcrafted look that is still strong in fashion, but less primitive than in past seasons. I’d describe the Jute Wrapped Clog as refined rustic. Finally, the Volley. We like to think we don’t take ourselves too seriously at Dansko. And we know Dansko wearers share our sense of whimsy. They’re not afraid of bold, funky styles. So, we’ve added a new tulip print to the Sanibel line. It’s in coated canvas, so it has shine, and it comes in bright, perky summer colors like hot pinks and lime greens. It’s available in both women’s and girls’ for mommyWdZ#c[ i^eff[hi$
The shoe needs that special something we call Dansko DNA—a quirky, a unique look that’s slightly off to the side of current fashion trends. Our designers share a unique ability to look at the world through a Dansko lens; an understanding of our loyal customers and what’s important to them.
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ALL IN THE FAMILY
Tracing the Evolution of a Classic.
Stapled
Sport Clog
2001 - 2006 The athlete of the family, she was rustic, rugged and outdoorsy.
Golden Gate
2000 - 2010 A true chameleon, this sociable trendsetter is remembered for her ability to feel at home virtually anywhere: lounging around the house, in the office and out on the town.
2006 - 2010 This sophisticate was no defiant rebel—she was dressy, classic and a bit luxurious.
Sausalito
Arcadia
2009 Well equipped for work or play, Arcadia is ready for any eventuality. Slips, spills and outdoor conditions are a breeze for this lady.
Beacon Hill
1991 The grandmother of them all, Dansko’s beloved matriarch is as dependable as ever and still irresistible after all these years...and following a little facelift in 2008 she’s even more comfortable than ever before.
Belmont
Carmel
2011 Carmel wins kudos for her balanced personality: a tailored silhouette and classic platform bottom with easy-fitting patterns and kid suede uppers.
2009 - 2010 The career girl of the family prided herself on her sleek good looks and practical, wearable stacked heel.
2008 The light-hearted sister of the Stapled clog, she’s not afraid to show off her soft, feminine side—a trait that makes her a welcome visitor in many different settings.
Caneel Bay
Bristol
2011 Praised for her femininity, the Bristol is versatile (available in pumps, updated booties, and boots) and sports a sculpted two-inch heel.
2011 Sausalito’s dressier sister shares her upbeat disposition but has a flair for sophisticated evenings out and special occasions.
Stapled
2011 A true chip off the old block, this youngster inherited all of Stapled’s lovable reliability, but puts its own fresh, fun, youthful twist on the family comfort tradition.
Nolita
2007 - 2008 Pretty, flirty, and youthful, this belle of the ball was known for her lightweight wedges featuring soft leather and linen uppers.
Rio
2010 She’s got attitude! Fashion-forward and a little bit rock and roll, Rio shows off a bolder, higherheeled silhouette than her ancestors, though she hasn’t lost that famous comfort DNA.
Mirabel
2012 This architecturally inclined beauty’s modern appearance belies her inner core: In her heart, she’s all about comfort—she just likes to wrap it in bold colors and fresh good looks.
Sanibel
2011 Part sneaker, part clog, this charmer wears well rain or shine. Always on the go, she’s likely to be spotted everywhere from the beach to the grocery to the office.
Jute Wrapped Clog 2012 Summer’s child, this easy, breezy espadrille-styled jute clog brings a sun-kissed new element to the family comfort tradition.
Molded Clog
2012 There’s more to this funky newcomer than meets the eye. Lightweight, flexible and stylish all in one.
Sanibel
2011 This fun-loving, playful youngster is as rough-and-tumble (slip-resistant rubber outsole and easy-clean canvas uppers) as she is adorable (tie dye and bright floral patterns).
Sport Clog
2002 - 2006 This outdoorsman was tough, active and—like his kin—always comfortable.
South Street
2005 - 2007 The city-dweller of the bunch. More urban than his siblings, he had officefriendly good looks but was cool and stylish enough to be at ease in sophisticated settings, too.
Walden
2010 The family clog heritage is obvious in his bone structure, but this waterproof newbie is a trooper with enough rugged appeal to be popular in both active-casual and occupational settings.
Presidio
2011 All decked out with places to go, Walden’s dressedup brother shows off hand-burnished full-grain leathers in rich browns and blacks.
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Well-heeled: Relax in the comfort of a favorite boot. Rylan, Rio collection. Photography by Dean Powell DANSKO 15
Rich leathers and classic styling transcend seasons. 16 DANSKO
Left to right: Sausalito Abby, collection; Arcadia collection; ThisStefanie, is s caption and it collection; looks like this andCarmel goes here. This is Kitty, s caption and it looks likeSolstice, this and Sausalito goes herecollection. DANSKO 17
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Rugged or refined—men’s styles slip on with ease. Professional Bullhide. Opposite: (Top to bottom) Travis, Presidio collection; Wynn, Walden collection. DANSKO 19
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Form meets function: gorgeous colors, supple leathers and craft detailing in varying heel heights. Left to right: Chrissy, Caneel Bay collection; Dani, Carmel collection; Sophie, Sausalito collection; Thea, Mirabel collection.
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Fine materials and chic heels provide a lift on and off city streets. Top to bottom: Bennett and Brinkley, Bristol This isRio s caption and it looks like this and goes here. and morefor other page here. collection; Reeny, collection. 22 DANSKO
DANSKO 23
MEET THE
FanDanskos Some people love Danskos so much they’d walk a million miles in—or for—a pair. Here, passionate devotees speak out about their unabashed addiction to the brand’s inimitable clogs…and fess up about the craziest places their Danskos have led them.
Shannon
Age: 32 I live in Delaware. I work in insurance claims. I own 22 pair of Danskos. I bought my first four pairs of Danskos all at once—gray, black , hickory, and cordovan cabrio Professionals in January 2008. I loved them so much that I went back the following week and ordered a fifth pair—black patent Professionals. My all-time favorite pair of Danskos is my limited-edition gray leopard patent Professionals. They were sold out at most stores, so I searched for them for six months! The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was everywhere—home, work, my child’s daycare, the aquarium, the zoo, the grocery store, the pumpkin patch, even out on the boat. What I love most about my Danskos is that I can wear them all day regardless of where I am going or what I have to do and there’s no “breaking in” period.
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Amie
Age: 31 I live in Grand Junction, Colorado. I work as an elementary school teacher. I own four pair of Danskos. I bought my first pair of Danskos two years ago and I’m looking forward to buying my four-year-old her very first pair of bubblegum pink Danskos so she can ‘be like Mommy.” My all-time favorite pair of Danskos is my Sigrids. The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was the Colorado Mountain Winefest. What I love most about my Danskos is that I am on my feet all day at work and I have no foot, hip, or back pain. Also, I can wear them with just about anything.
Amelia
Age: 28 I live in Spokane, Washington. I work as a receptionist. I own 11 pairs. I bought my first pair in 1999. My all-time favorite pair of Danskos is my Fleur boots in Raspberry. The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was The Labyrinth meditation garden at Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. in Virginia Beach. What I love most about my Danskos is you don’t sacrifice safety for style.
Amy
Age: 38 I live in Gainesville, Georgia. I work as a Certified Nurse Midwife. I own two pair of Danskos, but see MANY more in my future! I bought my first pair of Danskos… online when my mother gave me money to buy a special birthday treat. My all-time favorite pair is the Professional Pink Ribbon Patent. My mother has beat breast cancer twice and I do everything I can to raise awareness. The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was for 16 straight hours of hard core shopping on Black Friday 2010. What I love most about my Danskos is everything! The color choices, the comfort, the versatility for work or play.
Cynthia Age: 45 I live in Shillington, Pennsylvania. I work as an adjunct professor at Albright College and an artist at Goggleworks Center for the Arts. I own 15 pairs of Danskos right now, but I’ve gone through many other pairs. My all-time favorite pair is my red patent Mary Janes. The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was at the top of the Eiffel Tower at sunset in Paris. I also wore them through France, England, Wales, Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Ireland. What I love most about my Danskos is that they’re more comfortable to me than sneakers or slippers. They look cool and feel fabulous.
Noelle
Age: 41 I live in New York, New York. I work as a magazine publisher and part-time yoga instructor. I own one (trusted) pair. I bought my first pair, the Stapled clog, in 2000 at the Danbury mall in Connecticut. The boot cut was finally in and my Danskos made me feel tall and my posture was good. I love wearing them on ski vacations. They are incredibly comfortable and that extra height keeps me warm and dry. The craziest place I wore Danskos was in San Francisco. My friends were dressed to the nines for a night on the town, but I preferred my Danskos for walking those hilly streets.
Patricia
Age: 31 I live in Saratoga Springs, New York. I work as an operations manager for a software company. I own seven pairs of Danskos, all Professional clogs. I bought my first pair of Danskos four years ago when I was suffering from heel spurs. I left the doctor’s office after getting steroid injections and headed straight to the store to buy Danskos, vowing I would never need those shots again. My all-time favorite pair of Danskos is my Brown Leopard patents, but it’s tough to choose! The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was Inkwell Beach on Martha’s Vineyard. What I love most about my Danskos is I look fashionable while protecting my feet.
Jovan
I live in Wilmington, Delaware I work as a cosmetologist. I’ve been one for more than 20 years I own 25 pairs of Danskos I bought my first pair of Danskos last year. My all-time favorite pair of Danskos is the Tiger Eyes and my two pairs of Professionals, which I had airbrushed. The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was in the middle of summer while everyone else had on flip-flops. What I love most about my Danskos is that they give me the support I need after injuring both of my ankles in a fall. And with the stylish flavors I can still be a “Very Fly Mother”!
Andy
Age: 29 I live in Henderson, Nevada. I work as a retail manager . I own seven pairs . I bought my first pair of Danskos in 2007. My all-time favorite pair is my Bullhide Pro clogs. The craziest place I ever wore Danskos was in the ice and snow of Green Bay, Wisconsin, but I also wear them to hockey games and to work. DANSKO 25
CELEB WATCH Edie Falco
Melanie Griffith Sean Hayes
Jennifer Garner
Matthew Broderick
Felicity Huffman
Julia Roberts
Julianne Moore
Tina Fey
Kathleen Turner Jane Lynch
Kim Basinger
Lifestyles of the rich, famous and comfort-inclined: Danskos aren’t just for ordinary folks. Turns out celebrities have a down-to-earth side like the rest of us, as evidenced by their penchant for wearing their Danskos out and about—on the red carpet, hanging with the kids, even in photo shoots. 26 DANSKO
Heidi Klum
LITTLE SWEETIES
YUMMY CANDY COLORS AND SHINY FINISHES ON CLASSIC SILHOUETTES MAKE A MOUTHWATERING COLLECTION FOR PINT-SIZED DANSKO FANS.
Top to bottom: Valentine, Sanibel collection; Gitte and Jamie, Stapled collection; Vesta, Sanibel collection.
Clockwise from top left: Copen Blue Awning Stripe; Henna Zebra Safari; Lavender Geo Dot; Cappuccino Awning Stripe .
SOCK OPTIONS It’s what’s inside that counts: Dansko socks come in myriad prints, heights (crew, ankle, mid-calf, and knee), and fabrics ranging from recycled water bottles to temperature-regulating, naturally wicking angora.
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STEAL THIS IDEA! WHEN IT
COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY, DANSKO IS ALL FOR KNOCK-OFFS.
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Join business groups committed to sustainability. Cabot recommends B Corp—a collection of for-profit businesses committed to benchmarking their business practices against the triple bottom line of people, planet and profits—as well as The Outdoor Industries Association with its Eco Working Group and the Social Venture Network. Recognize that monitoring yourself isn’t enough. You need an authoritative third party to give you perspective on how your sustainability initiatives really stack up.
Usually copycatting is a no-no in the shoe business. But this one of those rare instances where Dansko is giving everyone a green light. “We learn so much from other companies who are not only struggling with the same issues that we are, but who are willing to share their successes and challenges. We’re constantly inspired by others when it comes to sustainability,” says Dansko’s Mandy Cabot. “Corporate social responsibility virtually mandates collaboration and sharing. You’d almost never see that under the old paradigm of capitalism!” Her advice? Whether you’re a retailer or a manufacturer, study the companies you admire, and adopt their sustainability strategies—or adapt them to your own corporate culture. Here are a few hints to get you started:
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Benchmark your progress both internally and using respected thirdparty groups with expertise in sustainability.
Give careful thought to the legacy you want to create. Then choose causes to support that allow you to be true to yourself and your values. “The best advice I ever got was to start with the end in mind,” says Cabot. “Ask yourself what you want to be remembered for.” Having outside lenses like B Corp can help you chart the right course and choose the areas that are most meaningful to your company.
6 5 Be realistic about what you can commit to and what you can accomplish this year, in five years, and for the long term.
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Share ideas, network, compare notes and don’t be afraid to ask for advice and input.
Commit for the long haul. Making sustainability a reality in your business might not be the easiest way to run things, but it’s the right way. “Remember, this isn’t just about being green. If you want to be truly sustainable— meaning, around for the long haul—you have to engage the passion and vision of the next generation of leaders, and prepare them to live and work responsibly.”
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