Cole Haan is an American brand specializing in footwear and accessories for men and women. Established in 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, the company has evolved from a men's footwear label to a global brand offering a range of products. As of 2023, Cole Haan operates over 500 stores worldwide and maintains dual headquarters in New York City and Greenland, New Hampshire.[3]
History
The company name comes from founders Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan, and was originally named "Cole, Rood & Haan" when the company was strictly a men's footwear label. Today it offers many products, including men's and women's dress and casual footwear, belts, hosiery, handbags, gloves, scarves, hats, outerwear, and sunglasses.
Cole Haan was sold to a group of partners headed by George Denney in 1975. These executives built upon the foundation established by Cole and Haan over the following decade, transforming the label into one of the leading U.S. footwear brands. They launched a retail division in 1982, which comprised 40-plus stores worldwide and cumulative annual sales of nearly $70 million by 1996.[4]
Nike, Inc. purchased Cole Haan in 1988. During Nike's ownership tenure, Cole Haan produced a number of experimental designs and achieved critical acclaim.