Nexen Tire providing compound for Eider hiking boots

Purge any thought that Hankook Tire has a monopoly when it comes to tie-ups between the tyre and fashion industries, even in the Korean Peninsula. Rival firm Nexen Tire is collaborating with French-born outdoor wear brand Eider to release four types of hiking shoes and boots. All feature soles containing tyre compounds.

“Through this collaboration, Nexen Tire is expected to expand customer contact points by introducing hiking shoes used by customers of various ages,” comments the tyre maker.

Eider is an outdoor brand established in France 60 years ago. The brand first entered South Korea through a license agreement signed with K2 Korea Group in 2006. K2 acquired the rights to Eider for the Korean market in 2009 and globally in 2020. Last month the company announced that the Eider brand will re-enter Europe from 2023.