News

The team at Camtrade debuted the exciting new Enjoiya collection at the June FFANY show and the response was terrific!  In fact, Sourcing Journal staff writer Christopher Hall featured the shoes in a story detailing fresh new brands for 2010. We totally agree! Take a look at the story below:

SOURCING JOURNAL

June 10, 2019 6:24PM ET

At FFANY, Brands Bring Newness to Spring ’20 Shoes

By Christopher Hall

CREDIT: Sourcing Journal

For spring, footwear is getting a refresh.

This year at the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) Market Week, the buzz on the showroom floor was all about newness. Gen Z is aging into financial independence and millennials have more purchasing power than ever before, so brands are taking notice and offering up new ideas and styles that appeal to a different, younger audience.

Newness and spring go hand and hand and, according to brands, and consumers are responding positively to anything they haven’t seen before.

“Sandals are a very important category for Crocs entering into Spring ’20. We are investing heavily in newness and looking to make sure we are creating sandals for what we call our ‘feel good’ and ‘explore’ consumer,” a Crocs representative told Sourcing Journal. “We have a lot of momentum around our classic clog. The teen and Gen Z consumer is loving all the fashion colors, the prints—and also the opportunity, which is unique to Crocs, to personalize our product.”

Speaking in reference to Jibbitz shoe charms, which lets wearers personalize their pair of clogs by inserting the charms into the holes at the toe of the iconic shoe, Crocs said it’s expanding on what’s available to allow for more customization opportunities. The new Jibbitz have already been a hit with teens involved in extracurricular activities, like sports, who wish to show their team pride in every way possible, the rep said.

True sandals will also play an important role for Crocs next spring. The brand will have a new sandal collection for the coming season featuring two new silhouettes—a strappy sandal and a flip with a closed toe.

“It’s really important in women’s sandals to really think about wearing occasions for the consumer and then also, certainly, comfort,” the representative said. “To add and build on that, we are looking at heel heights. They’re critical to women’s assortments in sandals.”

Also critical for Crocs are the vibrant new colors it’s rolling out for spring: mint, cantaloupe and a new electric pink. Additionally, the brand debut a jumbo-sized clog, a play on the dad sneaker trend with a substantial, chunky sole and oversized features.

At Camtrade, the announcement of its new line, “Enjoiya,” took center stage, and according to the company, it’s adding “a lot more color and material interest” in its footwear.

Camtrade’s new president of footwear, Gene DeCristofaro, who joined the company in February, said the brand will be looking to provide women with brand new options next spring.

“She still wants her comfort, she still wants her basic styles,” DeCristofaro said of the female footwear consumer. “But, she’s also looking for something that she’s never owned before.”

In hopes of responding to that demand, Enjoiya will be crafted with fine Italian leathers, and will be at a higher, more exclusive price point than Camtrade has embraced in the past, DeCristofaro said.

“I can’t go to a better independent [retailer] and say this is a great shoe for $39—they don’t want it. They want to sell $100, $150 shoes,” DeCristofaro explained. “This will expand our customer base.”

Camtrade already has a few higher priced independent and department stores lined up for future orders but declined to say which until the orders were finalized. Enjoiya will primarily be produced in Italy, though some production will occur in India, according to the brand.

It will also be the first line under the Camtrade banner to use European sizing, a tactic DeCristofaro said will help consumers associate the brand with higher-end products. The line will have a soft launch over the next few weeks as Camtrade takes their new samples around to trade shows but will launch in earnest shortly after.

Some of the new styles that will launch with Camtrade’s Enjoiya line.

In the meantime, Camtrade’s president spoke more about the trends he saw resonating with consumers in the coming season.

“Because of the way women are dressing, which is with a plain pair of pants, they are putting more emphasis on putting some fun and color into their footwear and their accessories,” he said. “They still want comfort, they still want adjustability. But, they want shoes that they can wear with multiple outfits. Versatility is very important now.”

Looking forward, DeCristofaro said Camtrade expects to have a very “tight” fall line. The next season will also be a harbinger for change in the boot category, he predicts.

“Booties are shoes now. Booties are not boots anymore, they’re shoes,” he said. “Boots are up to the knee, these are shoes.”

At Birkenstock, the classic sandal brand sees an opportunity in the upcoming season to capitalize on what it has always been good at—high-quality open-toed footwear. However, the brand has decided to open up its style variety this spring, offering more styles than it has had in recent memory, including new wedges and platforms.

Birkenstock is continuing to expand its selection in 2020 with a “blown out” collection of new styles.

“The beauty of this collection is that it really offers everything that a classic Birkenstock offers, just with a little bit of an elevated fashion look,” Dania Shiblaq, a senior PR manager at the brand told Sourcing Journal. “So, if you want to dress it up or dress it down, it works from day to night.”

Adding the signature Birkenstock contour cork footbed should go a long way in making those styles more comfortable. However, the brand is also aware that a large portion of its following are outdoor-oriented consumers who care about more than comfort. That’s why, Shiblaq said, Birkenstock is planning on adding to the performance end of the footwear spectrum in April of next year with its “Active Adventure” collection too.

“We find that the Birkenstock consumer is already wearing their sandals either when they hike or go outside but the traditional Birkenstock isn’t built for that kind of wear,” she explained. “So, we’ve just made some simple—though complex—innovations that kind of take you a step up. For us, the outdoor consumer is already wearing our shoes, so how can we make [our products] better for them?”

Shiblaq said Birkenstock’s upcoming outdoor collection will still keep the cork footbed and looks very similar to the brand’s classic sandal. However, features like self-cleaning lugs on the sole, synthetic uppers and a footbed sewn directly into the sole will help the collection stand apart in terms of durability.

Birkenstock is adding new styles outside of its open-toe collections, too. Next year, the brand will introduce an expanding closed-toe offering after opening the category in the past year. Shiblaq said the collection will work to bring supreme comfort to styles that are not typically known for it, like ballet shoes, something consumers have been very responsive to.

“Ballet shoes are one of those styles that women will slip into for comfort—but they actually don’t provide any comfort,” she remarked. “In a lot of ways they end up being more painful than heels.”

Sourcing Journal, one of the top trade publications, recently wrote a feature story on the new trends Camtrade will be focusing upon for Fall '19 and Spring '20. Take a look at what staff writer Christopher Hall has to say:

   SOURCING JOURNAL

March 18, 2019 6:53AM ET

Camtrade Talks Women’s Footwear Trends for the Upcoming Seasons

By Christopher Hall

Now that spring is almost officially in the air, it’s time for brands to start looking at upcoming seasonal footwear.

Camtrade, always with its finger pressed to the pulse of mainstream footwear, has provided Sourcing Journal with the trends it is focusing on in the coming months.

Following a period defined by comfort and animal prints, Fall ’19 and Spring ’20 trends promise to give fans of the classics something to look forward to.

To start, Camtrade has announced that it will be offering genuine leather and suede in all of its collections, likely motivated by a growing interest in western styles. Additionally, the company says it will be focusing on color as a priority in the upcoming seasons, showcasing the growing power of fashion in comfort footwear.

Western Details

Soft Comfort Western Style Clog

Be it a sidewalk-ready western bootie or a moccasin-inspired slip-on, western details and styles are a big part of Camtrade’s upcoming Fall ’19 offering and an easy trend to follow for others. Large buckles and fringe made from leather or suede will be common in the fall, as exemplified by the above western-inspired clog from Soft Comfort.

Much like the western styles at FN Platform, the only constants among footwear that follows this trend are the accompanying details, and brands look to be willing to apply those details to a wide variety of silhouettes and styles for the fall.

The Strapped Calf

Soft Comfort Denim Jodhpur Boots

Heel details were all the rage in the previous season and it looks like rear details will be alive and well in Fall ’19. However, it’s possible they may be found a little higher on the calf instead of at the heel. Regardless, as trends become slightly more traditional, the details will become more subtle. Following that template, this is a trend that works well with the western details mentioned before and will likely be seen on a variety of silhouettes, as well.

Soft Comfort’s Denim Jodhpur boot shows how a combination of trends can work to create a silhouette that has mass appeal while staying true to the classics. Jodhpur boots are traditionally used in equine sports but, when combined with a casual strap, it’s a silhouette that looks right at home on Fifth Ave.

Comfort and Color in the Spring

Secret Celebrity Suede Carolina Sandal

Camtrade will be focusing on color for next year’s spring season. With Pantone declaring “Living Coral” to be its color of the year for 2019, bright pinks and saturated reds will be common in many lines—that is until a new color champion is crowned.

Camtrade’s Secret Celebrity specializes in fashion-forward comfort footwear and its upcoming footwear line for Spring ’20 is defined by its detailed straps and brash colorways. If bold colors continue to be popular, brands can look to styles that utilize color blocking and contrast to stand out while simultaneously appealing to the mainstream consumer.

Red shoes make a powerful impact, which is probably why they are one of the biggest shoe trends for Fall 19. According to Footwear Plus, red can totally transform a shoe. Take a look at the new ruby red espadrille wedge from Secret Celebrity. It's one of the five shoes featured in this month's Trend Spotting column on the virtues of the cold red. Bold, bright and beautiful!



Pink pastel flats are one of the easiest ways to update your wardrobe this fall.

Take a look at Secret Celebrity's new Rosella shoe.This elasticized ballet flat has it all: comfort, style and value. Note the gold tone logo, perforated design and quilted sole. Pair with black, beige, white -- or go "all pink" for a dramatic ensemble. In addition to the beautiful blush shade, Rosella is available in black and tan. With a suggested retail price of $39.99, women can easily indulge in more than one pair.

We've been getting rave reviews on the fit and the style. Comfort, it seems, is the number one priority in casual footwear today. Style plays a close second. And all blushing aside, the Rosella flats are the most versatile shoes in the Secret Celebrity collection. Wear all-day long; dress up or down.

Comfort never looked so good!

We always knew Frank Cammarata was special, but now all of Boston is in on the secret! Take a look at the recent article in Boston Voyager, a popular online magazine. We think the magazine captured Frank perfectly!

Meet Frank Cammarata of Camtrade Footwear

September 4, 2018

Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Cammarata.

Frank, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Camtrade Footwear in late 2013 when I determined after a significant amount of research that there was a demand for a brand-centric, stylish, quality, comfortable shoe in the women’s footwear sector — at an accessible, mid-level price.

We then carefully crafted our brands Secret Celebrity® and Soft Comfort® to support this platform of fashion, quality, comfort and outstanding value. Our goal was to consistently deliver fresh and alluring product to the retailer while building trust and confidence with our end consumer.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The shoe business is quite complicated. On a general basis, it involves trend-spotting, forecasting, design and development, prototype analysis, fit-testing, quality control, sizes and widths, manufacturing, logistics, fulfillment centers, PR and marketing, sales, customer service and so on. Although ‘brick and mortar’ retailers are our primary and favored business, we have adapted to online and direct-shipping needs to the consumer and have implemented that into our business model.

Our organizational staff is still relatively small by industry standards. However, our associates are experienced, hard-working, conscientious and very dedicated to making Camtrade the best company it can possibly be, thus sharing in the rewards and benefits of our long-term success. We tend to be laser-focused and apply simple and pragmatic solutions to some complex challenges that the shoe business brings. This has been very impactful to our success.

In addition, over the last several years we have invested a significant amount in research & development and market testing. This has provided a wealth of information and great learning opportunities which helps us manage efficiencies and avoid costly missteps.

How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
I personally define success as loving what you do and seeing people around you grow, flourish and succeed, in small part due to my own mentoring. That, to me, is what’s truly gratifying. And as important as work is, it’s vital to create harmony and balance in your life with family, friends and blessed good health. I am honored to work towards this goal, each and every day.

Pricing:

• Secret Celebrity: $49.99 to $79.99
• Secret Celebrity Athleisure Collection: $49.99 to $69.99
• Soft Comfort: $39.99 to $59.99

Contact Info:

• Phone: 978-263-1105
• Email: info@camtradeinc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/softcomfortshoes;
• Facebook: info@camtradeinc.com
• Other: www.secretcelebrityshoes.com https://www.facebook.com/SecretCelebrityShoes/ https://www.instagram.com/secretcelebrityshoes

The hugely popular Stella denim flats by Secret Celebrity were featured in the August Footwear Plus, which is the most widely read issue of the year. In a sea of denim shoes, Stella stands out with it's logo zipper and stylish detailing.

Take a look at the feature. Denim is definitely the way to go. And we think Stella is the hands-down winner!

Just in time for the upcoming shoe industry trade shows, Sourcing Journal published it's Spring '19 Footwear Buyer's Guide, with three Camtrade shoes included in the story! Looks like we are "spot-on" with this year's foot wear trends.

Take a look at the excerpt below. Color, style and comfort are what Camtrade is all about for Spring 19.

Footwear, Footwear Trends

Spring '19 Footwear Buyer's Guide

By Angela Velasquez

From streetwear, luxury and fast fashion, to Instagram, influencers and the basic desire to be comfortable, footwear trends for Spring ’19 are spiraling from every imaginable direction.

With the buying season kicking into high gear in the coming weeks, Sourcing Journal has culled down the key trends you don’t want to miss.

Dad sneakers

The mass takedown of the Dad sneaker includes all the hallmarks of the polarizing luxury streetwear trend: clashing color, inflated outsoles and a hodgepodge of every crucial sneaker materials from nylon mesh to suede. The shoe allows tried-and-true sneaker brands like Gola and Tretorn to envision their sneakers through a new lens, while fashion labels just have fun with the concept. Case in point: Kendall + Kylie’s pink confection.

Snake

This year, luxury designers like Chloe, Givenchy and Salvatore Ferragamo showed the wild side of snake by using the exotic to make red cowboy boots and thigh highs. Expect the look to be tamer in Spring ’19. This new version of snake print—often tonal mixed of gray, black and beige—has the ability to turn any shoe into an instant classic, including slip-on sneakers.

Yellow

The demand for yellow show no signs of waning. Recent data from retail analyst firm Edited indicates that demand for yellow is outpacing supply, meaning there is still plenty of room for retailers to capitalize on this trend. And footwear is a relatively risk-free way to dabble in yellow. The color is flattering as a strappy sandal, at home on an espadrille bottom and exudes a Y2K sport look on sneaker.

Yellow

Soft Comfort

Courtesy of brand

Cloudy effects

It may be a trend that throws shade in yellow’s direction, but cloudy dye effects and blotchy metallic finishes are moving in for spring. The abstract colors and textures serve as a fresh alternative to the minimalist white marble motif that’s covering everything from sport slides to iPhone cases. The effect is especially strong with metallic silver, adding a luminous glow to dress and casual styles.

Espadrilles

The Spanish staple has a permanent place in spring/summer closets, but the trend is benefiting from two other parallel stories this season—the return of the wedge and the “sneaker-fication” of all shoes. Our favorite styles are hybrids that pair casual sneaker uppers in natural canvas or denim with jute rope bottoms. The shoes smack of summer Fridays.

Espadrilles 

Secret Celebrity 

Courtesy of brand

Color block

Fashion is obsessed with color, and color blocking allows brands to offer saturated colors in a wearable and commercial way. A paint box of color is bound to help rejuvenate the women’s footwear. Expect to see color splashed across categories, from mod-inspired block heels and comfort wedge sandals, to sport slides and outdoor sandals.

Knits

Engineered knits are not for just the performance giants anymore. Casual footwear brands like Cougar, Dr. Scholl’s and Celebrity Secret are using breathable, stretchy knit uppers to underscore their comfort stories. Even brands like Cat Footwear are inventing new ways to use the tech-y fabrication with a Spring ’19 novelty work boot.

Knits

Secret Celebrity 

Courtesy of brand

Metallic blue

With mystical stones, celestial skies and the deep sea influencing material and apparel trends, it should come as no surprise that metallic blue seeps into fashion for Spring ’19. The shiny take on navy adds a dressy look to nautical sandals, while brighter metallic blues add a beachy, festival-vibe to comfort footbed sandals.

Sport slides

Consumers’ deep desire for comfort is helping fuel demand for sport slides. It doesn’t hurt that the luxury market has enthusiastically embraced this athleisure trend. Expect to see the full breadth of the sport slide for Spring ’19, from blank slates like Dr. Scholl’s all-white style, to sandals overloaded with personality à la Irregular Choice.

Woven

Romantic, bohemian fashion has taken a backseat to sport and streetwear as of late, but Spring ’19 invites artisanal techniques and textures. Footwear with woven straw or raffia uppers are an extension of the current straw bag trend Instagram helped create. Missoni-inspired wovens decorate heels and straps for a touch of ’70s glamour. And woven leather adds a new level of richness to platform sandals.

Fur

The furry footwear trend lives on as sandals that toe the line between slippers and sport slides. The latest incarnations embrace its quirkiness, so look for cotton candy tufts of sky blue, mint and pistachio to incite newness.

Wedge sandals

The wedge is the new block heel, which was the new wedge just two years ago. Yes, fashion is cyclical and Spring ’19 welcomes the return of the easy-to-wear wedge. The heel slides right back into its old habits pairing with cork, espadrilles and platforms