The Clarks Companies N.A. announced the market launch of its celebrated kids' footwear brand, Clarks kids. One of the premier brands in children's footwear, Clarks kids is modeled after the same principles of other Clarks brands, comfort and quality, and the commitment to keeping kids' feet healthy, happy and looking good.

"Our goal for introducing Clarks kids in the U.S. market is to offer our customers a choice in premium children's footwear," said Bob Infantino, president, The Clarks Companies, North America. "As with all our shoes, we invest significant time in research and development to make sure we deliver the best possible fit and the highest quality materials. We think the collection will be greeted with the same excitement it continues to gather in the European market."

Clarks kids are specially designed to fit the unique characteristics of kids' feet. Research shows that the right fit is critical to promoting healthy bone development and that an improper fit can cause irreparable damage to kids' feet. From the product development stage to the point-of-sale at Clarks' store, Clarks kids' upholds the promise of comfort and fit.

During the early stages of production, Clarks road tests each style of shoe with school-age children in the U.K. At the store, all Clarks store associates go through rigorous training and are not approved to fit kids until they have witnessed 50 fittings, a system that creates a staff of Expert Trained Fitters.

"It's not about the sale; it's about ensuring a perfect fit every time," continued Infantino. "Clarks kids was created to meet the unique needs of kids' growing bones without compromising style and durability, and we're pleased to bring the same level of craftsmanship to our American customers."

Available in a full range of width fittings and whole and half sizes, Clarks kids take baby from diapers to Kindergarten and are designed to fit kids as they grow from ages 0-5. Clarks kids' "First Shoes" collection includes crawlers, cruisers and walkers made to nurture and protect tiny feet as they move through the key stages of foot development, while Clarks kids' toddler and pre-school shoes are designed to ensure children have confidence as they begin to run and play.

All Clarks kids feature built-in growing room and additional padding for comfort to the foot. In addition, Clarks offers parents a "Growing Feet Record" to keep track of their child's foot growth and regular fit checks are encouraged to ensure a perfect fit, season after season.

Soft, supple leathers, fun colors and charming embellishments make Clarks kids an attractive option for the pint-sized trendsetter while ensuring little feet are protected every step of the way.

Clarks kids is also pleased to offer CICA by Clarks. A European athletic footwear brand "built for action", CICA by Clarks feature the same performance benefits as other athletic footwear collections like supergrip soles and underfoot cushioning while being the only athletic footwear line specifically designed to fit the shape of kids' feet.

Already established in Europe, Clarks kids retains a brand share by volume of 27.4 percent in the UK market.