Hari Mari Appoints Kate White as Chief Merchandising Officer
Hari Mari, the upscale sandal and slipper company known for its comfort and color-forward craftsmanship, announced the hiring of Kate White, an industry expert with deep premium market experience, to lead its newly expanded merchandising arm.
Hari Mari’s Chief Merchandising Officer Kate White. Courtesy of Hari Mari.
White brings over twenty years of experience in the fashion industry, specifically in product strategy, commercialization, go-to-market execution, product lifecycle management, and inventory optimization.
“I’m thrilled about the opportunity to contribute to Hari Mari’s mission of delivering premium materials, bold designs, and unparalleled comfort,” said White. “Collaborating with the talented team to drive continued product innovation is an exciting prospect, and I look forward to elevating the brand’s impact in the market and ensuring each step forward is a memorable one.”
Prior to joining Hari Mari, White worked as the Head of Commercial Merchandising for North America and Europe at Fossil Group, where she successfully led cross-functional teams in shaping product strategies and executing go-to-market initiatives for brands like Armani, Diesel, Fossil, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch.
“Kate has joined the Hari Mari team at the most opportune moment for us as a company,” said Lila Stewart, Hari Mari Founder. “This year has been focused on growth and expansion and I can’t imagine a better fit for the Chief Merchandising Officer role. Her experience in the premium market will be invaluable in elevating our product line to new heights.”
Working with her newly placed merchandising team, Kate will help lead Hari Mari’s launch of its Spring 2025 line, including new styles and categories of sandals, apparel and accessories, starting in February. Hari Mari’s expanding its retail presence in 2025 to include notable store names like Nordstrom, DICK’S Sporting Goods, and Free People, among many.
ABOUT HARI MARI (@HariMari)
Hari Mari is a premium sandal and slipper brand based in Dallas, Texas, with distribution in over 800 retail locations, including specialty boutiques, department stores, and e-commerce sites throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and the Bahamas. The brand prides itself on combining premium leathers and textiles with memory foam and soft-squeeze materials to make best-in-class, ultra-comfortable footwear, ranging from $60 to $160.
Jeremy & Lila Stewart founded Hari Mari in 2012 with the goal of creating a flip flop brand steeped in comfort. The brand’s signature is the patented MemoryFoamToe™, which mitigates the painful break-in period and toe irritation associated with most sandals. Combining its comfort-first approach with classic looks and updated colorways, Hari Mari quickly gained traction for crafting timeless flip flop silhouettes with modern comfort components.
The idea for Hari Mari came while the Stewarts were living abroad in Indonesia. As such, ‘Hari’ means ‘Sun’ in Indonesian, and ‘Mari’ means ‘Sea’ in Latin—a nod to the idea’s roots. Hari Mari also donates a portion of all sales to help children and families battling pediatric cancer through its Flops Fighting Cancer program.
