If you’re on the quest for your next pair of footwear such as “Derby shoes, oxfords, slip-ons, loafers, water-resistant work boots, or casual sneakers” the huge variety of options in the market may leave you feeling uncertain, especially when trying to choose between brands with apparently similar products, such as Ecco and Cole Haan.
Both of these brands share many common features, including the use of full-grain leather in the majority of their offerings, and have close resemblance at a glance but there are a few things that make them different. Let’s explore how they differ:
Comparison Table Between Ecco And Cole Haan:
| Ecco | Cole Haan |
|---|---|
| Founded in 1963 | Founded in 1928 |
| Size can be run Bigger | Slightly Narrow Fit |
| Athletic, Boots, Casual Sandals, Dress Shoes, Oxfords, Boat Shoes, Casual Pumps, Flats, Wedges, and Golf shoes | Pumps, Loafers, sandals, Heels, sneakers, Espadrilles, Flats, Slippers, and others |
| Waterproof Technology | Weather Resistant and Water Proof Options |
| Polyurethane sole units | FlowerFoam and Rubber |
| Aesthetically appealing | Iconic, Retro |
| Highly Sustainable | Recognized for using recycled materials |
| Best known for its leather production and technologies | Best known for different kinds of versatile shoes regardless of condition |
Overview of Cole Haan:
Cole Haan is a shoe and accessory company dedicated to providing fashionable and practical footwear.
The brand was created in 1928 by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan. The company began as a label for men’s footwear but has since extended to include shoes for men and women as well as accessories such as belts, handbags, sunglasses, and luggage.
Ultimately, they became one of the most popular lifestyle brands in the United States, but their primary focus remained footwear.
They relocated its headquarters to Maine from Chicago, where they had developed a high-quality brand.
The company was sold to George Denney’s partners in 1975. Over the course of a decade, Cole Haan grew into a leading American footwear brand and entered the retail market.
Then, in 1988, they teamed up with Nike to combine their traditional shoe quality with the latest innovations in athletic footwear. This development is still reflected in their unique aesthetics.
After years of working together, Nike and Cole Haan announced their separation.
In 2012, Apax Partners Worldwide purchased Cole Haan. Their current headquarters are in Greenland, New Hampshire, while their design center is in New York City.
The new ZEROGRAND models from Cole Haan are their best sellers, redefining the term “dress shoe.”
The collection brings in the future of formal shoes by innovating design and comfort. More than 300 Cole Haan stores are located in America, Asia, and the Middle East.
Overview of Ecco:
Ecco is a Denmark-based company that is known for making comfortable footwear with high-quality materials and advanced technologies all over the world.
Birte and Karl Toosbuy two brothers came up with the idea for ECCO in April 1963. In 1996, ECCO opened a center in Denmark called “Futura” to do research and design work, then launched its first big store on Oxford Street in London, England, in 1998.
By the year 2000, Ecco was proud of being the only shoe manufacturer to operate its own production tanneries and retail locations. This enables the brand to maintain complete supervision over the manufacturing process and product standards.
The brand has been at the forefront of casual and outdoor shoe design for many years, and its long-term partnership with Gore-Tex has led to some of its all-time favorite shoes including a top-rated model Ecco Men’s Track 25 Moc GTX Shoe.
Furthermore, Ecco promises to provide a huge variety of high-end footwear and handcrafted leather items without sacrificing quality. If you’re seeking trendy everyday footwear or something special for a particular occasion, the brand claims to have it all.
Today, it manufactures and distributed its footwear in over 99 countries and can be purchased from more than 2000 different retail outlets.
Major Differences between the Brands:
Here is our in-depth comparison that will help you weigh the differences between these two brands and select the one that suits your preferences.
1) Comfort:
Being fashionable and classy should not mean suffering through blisters and painful feet thanks to Cole Haan. The company’s dedication to fashion and innovation results in comfy, sleek, and lightweight shoes.
The brand incorporates the 3D Lux comfort technology in all of its designs making sure that your feet will be comfortable all day long.
Moreover, with cushioned and flexible soles their shoes are made to alleviate heel and arch discomfort by conforming to your foot as you move or walk.
Some of their shoes even have a special forefoot cushioning system that works to reduce the impact of your steps.
However, one notable fact is, if you have wider feet, it is essential that you should get the correct size when purchasing Cole Haan boots and dress shoes because they tend to run narrow.
Ecco shoes, on the other hand, are best known for their comfort, their insole is made of soft fabric and full-grain leather and integrated with an innovative System for comfort.
The famous “ECCO Comfort Fiber System” is based on modern research conducted by the brand, which allows the leather to breathe so that it remains soft and supple in warm weather and actively circulates air on the foot during any activity.
Furthermore, Ecco’s “hand stitch” approach and modern technological machines that can shape leather in any direction contribute to the company’s efforts to create supportive yet comfortable shoes.
Last but not the least, due to its direct comfort technology it molds to the shape of your foot to improve your gait.
2) Popularity:
Ecco shoes are a popular pick for those with an active lifestyle, such as walkers, travelers, and athletes. In addition to receiving “The Green Imprint Award at the eighth annual ELLE Style Awards,” many Ecco’s models have been featured and honored with many prizes.
Moreover, Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Fred Couples, Erik van Rooyen, and Lydia Ko are among the golfers who are well-known ambassadors for the brand.
Conversely, Cole Haan has always been a favorite among the elderly, but their footwear is now a popular option among young creatives. In addition, the brand has collaborated with renowned designers, athletes, and fashionistas, and manufactured its capsule collection of men’s footwear with CFDA-nominated designer “Todd Snyder”.
Also, Fast Company magazine has awarded Cole Haan the prestigious honor of being one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the World for 2017” in the Style Category.
3) Target Market:
Cole Haan claims that its products are designed to perform almost any condition from “office use to work out to the off-hours” for men, women, and young adults between the ages of 24 to 44.
On the contrary, Ecco caters to a broad range of consumers, from casual wearers to pro athletes. Its target demographic consists of upper-middle-class males and females, ages 16 to 30. Also, the brand states that most of its client base is from China and its products are more successful there.
4) Price:
Ecco shoes are generally within the price range of $75 to $300 whereas Cole Haan is $49-$270, boots and sports shoes from both brands will cost a bit more than sandals and casual shoes. You can buy them on sale at cheap prices through the website or in other retail stores.
5) Design:
Ecco designed its products to have a fashionable and contemporary appearance. To keep up with fashion trends their shoes are constructed with “anatomical lasts and distinctive 3D molds”, which also contribute to their exceptional degree of comfort.
The lightweight fluid materials are pumped directly into the sole, upper, and outsole, of these shoes which are then linked together in a way that is robust and flexible, to make these shoes highly durable.
Also, the brand incorporated “BIOM Natural Motion” in most of its golf, outdoor, and “athleisure” shoes, to encourage a natural movement that boosts strength.
Additionally, the inventive “ECCO TRI-FI-GRIPTM” outsole features three distinct zones: one for stability, the second one for durability, and another for rotational support. Each of these zones contributes to an overall excellent performance.
Alternatively, Cole Haan has transformed from a traditional New England dress shoe producer to a footwear brand known for innovation. Each year, it launches new collections that are on a level with the most popular names in the shoe industry and meet a set of high standards, including superior cushioning, breathability, and endurance.
The most important step in the manufacturing of these shoes is to figure out the lifestyle of the average customer. Their design team takes into account the existing pain point, such as the need to transition from dress shoes to trainers during a walk or at the office, or the discomfort of wearing bulky winter boots to tackle the cold.
This is how the brand came up with its collection of shoes that are versatile enough to perform as “Oxfords on top” and “trainers on the bottom”.
In a word, this reliable brand has everything you need, whether you want high-fashion kicks or shoes for everyday wear.
Conclusion: What To Choose?
That brings the end of our comparison, we have tried to thoroughly run down all the distinguishing and important features of Cole Haan and Ecco.
Precisely, Cole Haan offers many shoe options and their style has evolved into an athleisure trend, where lace-up sneakers and oxford shoes can be worn to work and on the weekend.
Alternately, Ecco is the only shoe company that owns and runs its own manufacturing facilities, retail locations, and tanneries and always aims to make shoes that were practical, comfy, and designed to perfectly fit the shape of the foot.
We hope this article has helped you figure out what to buy next, the final decision it’s up to you now.