Footwear, fashion and accessories legend Vince Camuto passed away yesterday at the age of 78, ending his battle with cancer. One of the founders of Nine West, Camuto spent decades bringing affordable and stylish footwear to the masses since he started the company in 1978. After selling his company to The Jones Group for $900 million in 1999, Camuto set his sights on other projects. He helped launch the Jessica Simpson brand, which today does about $1 billion in sales per year — with really cute shoes to boot.
In 2005, he launched his namesake brand, which now includes shoes, ready-to-wear, handbags, watches and fragrance. He helped Tory Burch develop her famous Reva ballet flat, which has since become a staple of the brand and was expected to rake in over a billion in sales in 2014.
Camuto’s legacy on the fashion industry will certainly be felt for years to come. The brands he’s built are the clothes and shoes we live in. He will certainly be missed, but never forgotten.
[via WWD, Camuto Group]
