Steve Madden founded Steven Madden, Ltd. in 1990, starting with 500 pairs of his own designs that he sold to New York-area stores from the trunk of his car. The company is based in Long Island City, Queens, and trades on Nasdaq.
The brands
Beyond its namesake label, the company owns Dolce Vita, Betsey Johnson, Blondo and others, and licenses Anne Klein. In May 2025 it completed its acquisition of the British brand Kurt Geiger London.
The early hit
The Mary Lou, a take on the Mary Jane, was the company’s first major success in the early 1990s, according to Britannica.
Fall 2026
The brand’s Ask Steve campaign for fall 2026 launched in August with a late-’90s and early-2000s New York theme, an interactive hotline and a cast led by Delilah Belle.
Where to find it
Steve Madden sells through department stores, off-price retailers, shoe chains and online retailers, as well as its own stores and websites.
Sources
- Steve Madden: First quarter 2025 results
- Britannica: Steve Madden
- Apparel Group: Steve Madden introduces Ask Steve for fall 2026
Featured photo: Nielsoncaetanosalmeron via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. The photo shows the Steve Madden store in Times Square, New York City.
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