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Brown Shoe adds Disney touch to its character footwear lineup
MUMBAI: The 100-year-old kids’ division of Brown Shoe Company Inc, has signed a major licensing agreement for footwear with Disney Consumer Products encompassing more than 30 of Disney’s famous characters.
The new footwear lines will feature Disney’s standard characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and his loveable friends, Bambi, Lady and the Tramp, etc. Also Disney’s TV action heroes like Power Rangers- SPD and Kim Possible, and characters from upcoming feature films including Pooh’s Heffalump Movie and the Disney/Pixar Cars film.
Brown Shoe previewed its first Disney shoe designs at the shoe industry’s trade show in Las Vegas from 5 – 8 August. The new Disney character lines for kids are expected to launch at retail in the early spring season of 2005. These will include athletic and casual shoes, sandals, and slippers for boys, girls and toddlers. Boots and winter- season shoes will follow. Footwear will be targeted at kids from the age of 1 – 12.
Brown Shoe also is designing a line of junior fashion footwear to capitalise on the appeal of vintage Disney characters with the junior consumer, particularly Mickey Mouse. This footwear should launch at retail in spring 2005.
“We are thrilled to be developing this alliance with Disney,” said Brown Shoe Wholesale president Gary Rich. “Disney’s beloved characters add their own special magic to children’s feet. Further, Disney’s position as the number one global consumer products company aligns well with Brown Shoe’s strength, especially in children’s footwear. We believe this combination will add new excitement to the children’s footwear marketplace.”
“This announcement is also significant because it comes as our Buster Brown kids’ division celebrates its 100th anniversary. We see it as a tribute to our heritage of developing quality footwear that has been trusted by retailers and parents through generations,” Rich added.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
