Black men and women are behind some of the most finely crafted footwear on the market. A few have always known that they wanted to design shoes, some stumbled upon the industry while tending to other business, still others were recruited by loved ones eager to establish an entrepreneurial outlet for their artistry. Whatever brought them to this corner of the fashion world, these sole providers are here to stay.
Vanessa and Angela Simmons
If it was money or status they were after, Vanessa and Angela Simmons pretty much had that bagged at birth. But when your father is Rev. Run and your uncle is Russell Simmons, a desire to make your own mark on the world might be more acute. With cameras trailing them for the reality series Daddy’s Girl, the sisters traded New York for LA and set about the business of building Pastry Footwear. What started out as a four-item collection has morphed into a $50 million empire outfitting women and children around the world with sneakers, shoes, clothing and accessories. As for what’s next, there’s a Barbie doll in the works, as well as negotiations to team up with the WNBA.
Tracy Reese
Knowing from an early age that she wanted to make pretty things, Tracy Reese took a straightforward path to a creative career. Studies at Parsons School of Design and stints in Paris and New York fashion houses gave her the wherewithal to release an eponymous line of clothing in 1998, followed by a less formal collection, Plenty by Tracy. Since then her designs have become fixtures on the runway and the racks of Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. The business has grown to include items for the home, accessories, and in 2005, shoes sold under the labels Plenty and Tiara. In 2009 she paired up with Keds for a new take on cute and comfy, and one would be wise to expect her to keep kicking around fresh ideas on the footwear front.
Candra Palmer
Unlike most designers, Candra Palmer didn’t spend her youth sketching and daydreaming about her own label. She was into computers and after graduating from Xavier University with a degree in information systems she landed a job with Intel. Through a program exposing her to various aspects of the company she discovered a knack for sales and marketing. When they moved her to Los Angeles she decided to explore this new interest through fashion. During off hours she networked and interned throughout the design community, before leaving Intel in 2004. By day she continued working with fashion companies to expand her knowledge base; by night she designed Artyce, custom, special occasion footwear for herself, friends and eventually paying customers. In 2006 the business moved into a space of its own, yielding a five-fold increase in sales. Within three years revenue approached $700k.
Samanta Joseph
When Samanta Joseph graduated with a degree in information technology several New York companies wanted her for their team. It would have been good money but a passion for design trumped the paycheck, leading the Guyanese Native to establish Samanta Shoes in 2003. Her husband Kelvin soon came aboard and together they’ve carved out a space for a collection both stylish and comfortable in a market often tone deaf to this need. After doing trade shows where wholesalers sometimes place orders but fail to pay, the Josephs decided to build relationships with independent retailers who they could check out prior to extending credit. Boutiques from here to Europe now carry the line, and if Sanaa Lathan, Rihanna, Tyra Banks and Queen Latifah are any indication of consumer demand, Samanta will be filling orders for years to come.
Kris Wright
Kris Wright was studying business administration at Clark Atlanta University when he landed an internship with Reebook. He was eventually hired and remained with company for eight years. He wore several marketing hats before a friend recommended him to the product division. The new role put him in charge of the entire product creation process for the company’s collaborations with Jay-Z and 50 Cent. With this experience he departed, and in 2005, established his own brand of men’s sneakers, Jhung Yuro. Today his designs are available in stores across the US, Bermuda and southern Africa.
Natischa Havey
Natischa Harvey’s first foray into the shoe business came via Bakers. While studying political science at Clark Atlanta University she moonlighted at the store, earning $6 an hour. She treated it as a “paid internship” and by 2004 knew enough about the industry to open her own boutique. While Harvey was successful, adding two stores within four years, she longed for her own line of footwear. In 2009 she debuted Fever Shoes. Having sunk $300k in savings into the endeavor, it was easy to second guess herself in the beginning. Yet, as celebrities like Angela and Vanessa Simmons, Vivica Fox and Raven Symone became clients, sales took off. Today Fever is on very good footing with more than $1.5 million in sales.
Asjha Jones
Finding fashionable shoes that fit has long been a problem for Asjha Jones. A player for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, she’s worn a size 13 since the age of 12. Rather than waste more time complaining, Jones decided to take a big step and start her own brand. She enlisted Atlanta-based Final IV Enterprises and with their guidance on everything from design to distribution, launches Takera Jones this month. Available in sizes 10.5 to 15, the debut collection is comprised of heels, with flats, boots and sneakers to follow in the fall.
Charles Turner
Sometimes following your dreams doesn’t mean quitting your job. Such was the case for Charles Turner. While holding down treasury operations for a Wall Street hedge fund he enrolled in shoe and graphic design courses at Parsons School of Design. He later signed up with a company pairing entrepreneurs with mentors in their field for brief but intense internships. For $1450 he shadowed an apparel buyer who took a look at his plans and encouraged him to go for it. In 2007 the investments paid off as he launched C.Everette, an upscale line of men’s boots.
Shane and Shawn Ward
Many twins spend a lifetime trying to foster an identity separate from their siblings. That may never have been the goal for Shane and Shawn Ward, but as one spent his days designing for Adidas, and the other traded stocks on Wall Street, it would have been an easy inference to make. Today their attitude toward independence is best represented by the name of their company, Shane&Shawn. Crafting shoes for men and women using materials and principles that mimic the shock absorption and support that make sneakers so comfortable, their designs have won over the likes of Diddy, Jamie Foxx and the Black Eyed Peas. When the recession descended their business suffered a swift drop in sales. Rather than give up they got lean. Scaling back staff, outsourcing manufacturing and closing their Manhattan boutique has allowed the brothers to focus on online sales and thereby keep their feet the market.
