But the story didn't end there. Recognizing that the Cushe "DNA" was too good to waste, Wolverine's designers began migrating the brand’s most successful features over to Merrell. Today, loyal Cushe fans often find the ghost of their favorite slippers living on in Merrell’s "after-sport" and lifestyle collections, where the same focus on casual comfort and "cushy" midsoles remains a staple.
However, the retail landscape began to shift. In 2015, as part of a strategic "portfolio evaluation," Wolverine made the difficult decision to shut down Cushe. Fans of the brand were devastated, watching their favorite quirky designs disappear from shelves. did merrell buy cushe
By 2009, the brand’s unique aesthetic caught the eye of the industry giant Wolverine World Wide , which already owned massive names like Merrell and Hush Puppies. Wolverine bought Cushe, hoping to capture the "younger consumer seeking comfortable footwear". For a few years, Cushe thrived, offering an alternative to the rugged, outdoor-heavy image of its sibling, Merrell. But the story didn't end there