Hickies (shoes)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Footwear accessories |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Gaston Frydlewski, Mariquel Waingarten |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York , United States |
Key people | Gaston Frydlewski (CEO), Mariquel Waingarten (CMO) |
| Products | Hickies Lacing System (no-tie shoelace replacement) |
| Website | www |
HICKIES, Inc is a company specializing in footwear accessories, based in Brooklyn, New York. It offers a unique no-tie shoelace replacement that is available in more than 40 countries worldwide. Established in 2011 by Gaston Frydlewski and Mariquel Waingarten, Frydlewski holds the position of CEO while Waingarten acts as the chief marketing officer. The brand’s name is inspired by the word for a love mark, symbolizing the founders' aim to create a memorable impact on footwear through inventive design.
History
The initial launch of Hickies’ product occurred through a Kickstarter campaign in 2012, where it successfully raised US$159,167—surpassing its original target of $25,000 by sixfold. After this achievement, the company set up its headquarters in Brooklyn, New York and commenced manufacturing operations in Taiwan. Later on, Hydra Ventures along with other investors provided an additional US$6.2 million in capital.
In October 2012, Brookstone brought Hickies to the footwear retail market.
By 2015, Argentine sportswear manufacturer and distributor Topper (sports) acquired the rights to distribute the Hickies Lacing System across Argentina and other countries within South America.
Products
HICKIES produces and sells the Hickies Lacing System, which serves as a plastic replacement for conventional shoelaces. This system improves ease of use and accessibility, particularly benefiting people with limited fine motor skills such as those affected by cerebral palsy or autism.
The lacing components are crafted from a plastic Elastomer, while the locking heads are made from Polycarbonate. Users customize the fit by inserting combinations of straps and heads into their shoe eyelets according to various preset lacing configurations.
Endorsements
The Hickies brand has received endorsements and usage from notable figures including professional golfer Danny Willett, actress and television personality Whoopi Goldberg, actress Chloë Grace Moretz, and fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. In May 2016, Hickies entered into a two-year endorsement agreement with Willett that included the creation of a Danny Willett signature edition of the HICKIES Lacing System designed specifically for golf.
External links
- US site (English)
- Argentinian site (Spanish)
- Japanese site