Thanks to snugstop.com, we’ve gotfour pairs of Warmbat brand Kangaroo sheepskin boots to give away.  Two short and two tall pair.  To enter, call 0905 062 3671 or text more2 followed by your answer, name and address to 83070.  Warmbat Kangaroo boots come in UK sizes 3 to 11.  For more info, visit www.snugstop.com or call 07798 694 178.

Gorgeous and comfy, what girl wouldn’t want a pair of these sheepskin boots by Warmbat Australia, Inc? We’ve got four pairs up for grabs, with a 200ml bottle of sheepskin protector spray and a 250ml bottle of sheepskin shampoo, worth 167 each!  Go to snugstop.com for info.

Warmbat Australia, a collection of shearling boots introduced in Australia in 1969, is beefing up its presence both Down Under and in the U.S.  Its first full blown collection of lifestyle looks for both men and women, available through Warmbat Australia, Dayton, Ohio, is set for a spring ’07 debut.  The line will include both classic shearling boots and slippers.  In addition, clogs will be available in the brand’s Gecko Grip collection, sandals in its Outback range and athletic-inspired designs in its Tas-Mania offering – with many styles detailed with traditional Aboriginal art.

Warmbat styles are outfitted with waterproof uppers, outsoles featuring a patented traction system and memory-foam footbeds.  Set to hit stores in February, product will retail from $55 for slippers to $200 for boots and is aimed at independent retailers, catalogs and e-tailers.

Sheep to Chic

Shearling has never looked so refined.  Brightly colored, on-trend boots from Warmbat may feel like slippers but will never be mistaken for them.  “We use authentic Australian Grade A sheepskin, recognized as the world’s finest,” founder Paul Barclay said.  “Add innovative features such as soft, supple leather linings, our patented sole technology and flexible waterproof leathers, and you can see why we’re a force to be reckoned with.”  The Pony (right, $185), part of the Southern Cross collection, makes its mark with a rugged outsole and aboriginal-inspired fabric inserts.  Buckles (left, $189) is a showstopper in leopard print.  The Koz ($250) is made from waterproof deerskin with a shearling lining with a rubber outsole.  She’ll get two looks for the price of one thanks to removable deerskin tassels.  “Women take one look at these sleek sheepskin styles, and their eyes light up,” Barclay added.

Translating the trends: Cozy Boots

Warmbat shoes: A craze that's not going away

'The industry is saying OK — sheepskin boots, the whole category is here to stay. When something is this comfortable and practical, it's not a fad.'

DAYTON — Fashion may be fickle, but comfort trumps all fads.
That's the belief of Dayton-headquartered Warmbat — an emerging sheepskin boot-maker whose brand name is spreading worldwide. More...

By Lisa Bernard
Staff Writer

Warmbat for My Feet – And Yours!

Warmbat Australia Boots

Warmbat Australia really paid attention to every detail of the brand's 48 styles of shoes - lining its boots with real sheepskin and designing the perfect gotta-have-'em boots to keep feet cozy and stylish. Their superior quality is undeniable from your first step on the trademarked removable insoles. The boots are made with memory foam that molds to your feet. Quality is definitely not sacrificed for style. Inside and out, Valentine's Day sweethearts will be amazed at the high-end fashion and quality of Warmbat's authentic Australian footwear.

Fuzzy and Eco-Friendly

Two fo the hottest trends in footwear – invironmentally friendly materials and sheepskin – come together in a range of new products from Warmbat Australia.  “We’re changing our Gecko Grip boots from standar sheepskin to our own trademarked Eco-Friendly Sheepskin for fall ’07.”  CEO and president Paul Barclay told WSAToday.  That includes the new children’s line.

Warmbat is tanning its new sheepskin with a chrome-free and biodegradable tanning agent, eliminating potentially harmful chemical from the process.  “We’re doing this at quite a considerable cost that we haven’t passed on to the consumer,” Barclay said.  “Environmental responsibility has been important to us since the beginning.  Sheepskin is a biodegradable byproduct of the wool and food industry that might otherwise go to waste, whereas a synthetic shoe could sit in a landfill for thousands of years.”  By using longer-lasting rubber outsoles instead of EVA, lining that are sewn in instead of glued, and removable insoles, Warmbat creates boots that can last season to season, eliminating waste.  “People discard upward of 60 pounds of clothing per year,” Barclay noted.  “A pair of cheaply made boots you throw away after one season just adds to the waste.”

Barclay isn’t content to stop with sheepskin, though. “Right now we’re looking at recycled rubber soles,” he said.  “For the sake of the environment, we would hope others will follow in our footsteps.”

Is the world ready for an Australian shoe brand that doesn’t specialize in sheepskin boots?  Paul Barclay thinks so.  The president and CEO of Warmbat (the name is a play on the Australian marsupial, the wombat) has positioned his young company as “an Aussie lifestyle brand” that sells athletic shoes, sandals, slippers and après ski boots.

“Australia holds a fascination for people,” Barclay says.  “It’s wide open with mountains and open spaces and we like to believe that spirit is evident in our collection.”

Barclay got his start in the shoe business selling sheepskin boots several years ago.  He got involved with Warmbat in 2003, but pulled the company out of the market a year later because he didn’t want to be a “me, too” brand.  “Everyone was selling sheepskin boots then and there was Uggs and everyone else who was trying to be cheaper.”

Although Barclay aspires that Warmbat not follow the sheepkin boot trend, two of the strongest parts of his line are boots: The Koz waterproof after-ski collection and the Southern Cross line, which is also waterproof and features a criss-cross pattern on it outsoles inspired by the Australian flag.

The Koz collection takes its name from the Kosciuszko Mountains in eastern Australia and features deerskin uppers with sheepskin lining.  The Southern Cross collection features horse hide uppers, some of which are trimmed with aboriginal art.  The shoes have sheepskin lining and a patented non-slip outsole.  The Koz line retails from $200 to $350.  Southern Cross styles range from $175 to $200.

The Warmbat line also features the Gecko Grip fashion boot line with a gecko on the ousole mold and the Tas-Mania fashion sneaker line, which features a Wombat paw print on the outsole.

Barclay believes the designs should be fun, but also believes the technical features will differentiate Warmbat from other Australian brands.  Many of the shoes incorporate Dri-Lex moisture management fibers in the toes and footbeds of select styles.  The company also has begun selling a line anti-microbial insoles. 
Warmbat sells to about 120 accounts in the U.S. and has doubled its distribution in the past eight months.  “We believe we have room to continue to grow,” Barclay says.  “We offer fashion and comfort, but the technical features give us that extra edge from any comparable brands.”

Shifting Gears

Warmbat Australia, a leading maker of Australian sheepskin boots, has changed its manufacturing processes and will introduce eco-friendly sheepskin next month.  The company’s footwear will now be tanned with a chrome-free tanning agent that is recyclable and biodegradable, and all chemicals potentially harmful to the manufacturers or the environment will be eliminated from the process altogether.  Warmbat products already feature removable, washable and replaceable insoles, long-lasting outsoles; and the patented Dri-Lex moisture absorption system to extend the life of the boots and shoes and cut down on waste.  Priced between $39 to $200, the collection of baby, children’s and adult shoes will be distributed through better independents and specialty retailers. 

Read article...

Dayton Business Journal

Dayton sheepskin boot importer Warmbat Australia has inked a deal to sell a line of its boots at The Finish Line Inc.

Finish Line, one of the country's largest mall-based speciality retailers, will carry Warmbat Australia's Kangaroo Classic line beginning this month.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Warmbat, which also imports sneakers, slippers and sandals, has about a dozen employees, including seven in the Dayton area.

Paul Barclay, Warmbat's founder and president, said getting the classic line into Finish Line will bring the company's sheepskin boot to a larger audience.

"We have a great opportunity to show Finish Line customers how stylish and comfortable a quality sheepskin boot can be," Barclay said.

Finish Line (Nasdaq: FINL) operates nearly 700 Finish Line stores in 47 states and 95 Man Alive stores.

E-mail tkershaw-staley@bizjournals.com. Call 528-4425.

Warmbat Australia

Warmbat manufactures the World’s finest sheepskin footwear. The World’s fastest growing brand of sheepskin boots, Warmbat is Australia’s #1 selling brand and is now available in the USA, Canada, Germany, Italy and the UK. With features like Eco-Friendly Sheepskin , a patented sizing system, memory foam inserts and more, it’s no wonder why Australian’s prefer Warmbat. Visit Beanstalk Business Blog...

Look for these fun kid kicks, which retail for about $80.00 to roll into stores September 15.

A big hit with Miley, and many other trend-setting stars, was Warmbat Australia. Warmbat manufactures the fastest growing brand of sheepskin boots. Read the article...

The original...

Gift dilemmas?

What to get for the hard-to-buy-for people on your list

Anna Roufos / Special to The Detroit News

Spoiled kids? Scary boss? Wired friends? Stop racking your brain. We've got the hard-to-buy-for department covered, and you can buy everything online. So get cozy and click. What more could you ask for? Except maybe two of each.

...Eco-chic sibling

Your sister/brother -- and the environment -- will thank you. It's definitely cool to be green with these gifts.
• Warmbat Australia boots are not only unbelievably warm, but they're made with eco-friendly sheepskin. ($185 for the Gecko Grip tall; www.warmbat.com)...

Update their style

Mom still thinks "comfortable" means wearing something two sizes too big for her, and dad rocks the plaid flannel. They gave you life, so the least you can do is give them some much-needed guidance.

Warmbat Australia is the world’s fastest growing brand of Australian sheepskin boots. Their 2007 collection includes tons of unique styles (hey, including one-of-a-kind aboriginal designs) and is the world’s first eco-friendly sheepskin boot. Show your mom the coolest way to buck a trend is to develop and expand on it before all the hipsters do. Then tell her what a hipster is.

http://www.wsatoday.com/industry-news/industry-news/warmbat-gets-to-the-finish-line.html

Kangaroo Classic Flier by Warmbat Australia

Genuine sheepskin makes Warmbat’s Kangaroo Classic Flier cool in summer, warm in winter and cozy anytime. Read the article...