Upon entering the US market in 2017 with Ccilu USA, we wanted first and foremost to imprint ourselves as a lifestyle brand. After all, our colors, styles and materials shout fun, so why go scientific about the fact that Ccilu is ridiculously lightweight, feel-good footwear? And yet, to fully understand the Ccilu brand philosophy, you must know how style and technology live side by side, without limits. Our emphasis on liberation would lose meaning if we did not encourage our designers to give their imaginations free reign.
It began with SKIVE-ON and CCILUCELL. "CCILUCELL" is really a fancy word for "walking on a cloud." Thanks to this eco-friendly technology, Ccilu shoes can weigh as little as 70 grams (compared to the 600 – 2,000 grams, the weight of most regular footwear). Is "SKIVE-ON" a verb or a noun? It can be either, thanks to this technology, which offers insane flexibility. Each pair of shoes in Ccilu's Horizon Collection is bottomed-up with 100+ completely independent and highly resilient "dots," allowing us to take a major step in the evolution of the comfortable sneaker (shoe, boot, or sandal).
Never satisfied, Ccilu's design team next sought to be your "all-weather" friend, by creating DIFFUSION - the antidote to heavy, thick, clunky winter boots. We took home some awards for this product, but the real fun was in seeing how much consumers loved it. This collection is even featured in the upcoming sci-fi web series, Moto Nostra. The show is about good tech vs bad tech. With DIFFUSION, it's easy to see which side we are on.
It's one thing to turn to traditional oriental medicine for answers; it's quite another to make it wearable. But that's exactly what Ccilu has done with Stepping Stones, featuring acupressure pods that effectively improve circulation and wellness. We've named each of our three changeable insoles (Original, The Therapist, The Masseuse), because each serves a different function, from everyday comfort to pain relief and ongoing massage. Our 2018 honors from the Red Dot Awards (the largest and most renowned design competition in the world) are nice to put on our shelf, but the real win is seeing them on your feet and a smile on your face.
What do you call it when each step provides pressure on a heel pump that circulates air throughout your shoe, releasing air at the toe, constantly taking in, circulating and pumping out air as you walk? We call it AirQlation®. Also featuring the ETPU insole technology, AirQlation® will debut, fittingly, with a premium dressing collection, allowing you to experience the cool comfort of this new tech in both the formal and casual moments of your daily life.
Then, there's HeelioTech®: With the molded heel cavity (that perfectly accommodates the heel shape) and the seamless bralette material that delicately kisses the skin of your foot, the latest innovation from Ccilu treats your feet to a luxurious experience, with a locked-in fit and unparalleled comfort. Coupled with our award-winning Horizon outsoles, HeelioTech® offers the best expression of lightweight, flexible, cushioning, skid-proof, and anti-wear footwear.
What's next? Let's just say you're about to enjoy your morning coffee – and help our planet – in a way you've never imagined.
When Ccilu USA first sponsored the World of Dance Winners Circle in 2017, we were supporting a live competition tour that dovetailed with our message of self-expression, individuality, and walking on air. "World of Dance" on NBC – starring J Lo, Jena Dewan, Derek Hough and NE-YO – turned a niche tour into a media behemoth, but the message is still the same: joy and music are universal. Ccilu USA and World of Dance have partnered for two more seasons; Ccilu is now global sponsor of the Winners Circle, covering dance lifestyle events in 25+ countries, spanning the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia. The adventure is just beginning.
Step forward, give back. Each design, innovation and accolade must be complemented by compassion. In establishing Ccilu's presence in the USA, one of our priorities was to align with outstanding charitable causes. With the donation of 100,000 pairs of new Ccilu shoes, as sponsor of the Soles4Souls Travel Program, Ccilu has given shoes to those in need in Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Guatemala, Ecuador and Costa Rica. Ccilu shoes have also been used in relief efforts here at home, helping hurricane victims in Texas and Puerto Rico. Our #StepForwardGiveBack initiative expands this year, with a donation to Two-Ten Foundation, which has been supporting and uniting America's footwear industry since 1939.
Ccilu's first product, 2011's "Amazon Summer," won the Silver Award of the Best Designed Products in the 72nd Tokyo International Gift Show. Our brand continued to innovate with its Horizon and Diffusion collections, taking the two top honors at Italy's 2017 A'Design Awards, the world's largest international design competition. The Stepping Stones sandal, from Ccilu Footwear and technological innovator Monique Rini, was honored with 2018's Red Dot Design Award for Fashion & Lifestyle Accessories. This ongoing commitment to style and structure spans the Ccilu Footwear brand and its licenses of top brands in Japan, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.