3 Female Footwear Pioneers Who Are Inspiring the Current Generation of Leaders

1. 3 Popular 3 Popular Female Footwear Pioneers Who Are Inspiring the Female Footwear Pioneers Who Are Inspiring the Current Generation of Leaders Current Generation of Leaders Tracy Reese, photographed for WWD in 2009 CREDIT: STEVE EICHNER Female designers and executives now wield significant influence over the footwear industry, shaping its direction with their creativity and ingenuity. But today’s leaders are quick to acknowledge those who came before them — the intrepid women who were first through the door and who overcame immense barriers in order to secure a place for others to follow. FN recently asked several influential footwear execs to highlight the female pioneers whose work and stories inspire them. Here are their picks. BETH LEVINE BETH LEVINE Beth Levine and her husband, Herbert, were a dynamic duo in the footwear world, with Levine designing shoes under theHerbert Levine name beginning in the 1940s. Over the years, her shoes were worn by Hollywood icons and first ladies, including Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner and Lauren Bacall, as well as Pat Nixon and Jacqueline Kennedy. Levine died in 2006 at the age of 91.

2. “Although she was self-taught, Beth became one the mid-century’s leading shoemakers, and she was renowned for her wit and innovation,” said Colleen Hill, curator of costume and accessories at The Museum at FIT, who noted that Levine’s most-experimental design was the “No-Shoe” that debuted in 1957. “Although the high-heeled sole was wearable thanks to pads that could be adhered to the foot, it was a conceptual product that was decades ahead of its time,” added Hill. Levine also established the see-through shoe trend with her clear-vinyl “Cinderella” shoes. Figure 1| Footwear designer Beth Levine TRACY REESE TRACY REESE The Detroit native is best known for her bright and optimistic ready-to-wear collections, which she designed for two decades for her eponymous label and now as part of the sustainable Hope for Flowers brand. But Tracy Reese also helped shape footwear design while head of the women’s portfolio at Perry Ellis in the early 1990s, and through the licensed shoe collections for her Plenty label. However, to Angelique Joseph, VP of design at Naturalizer, Reese’s influence goes beyond her sketched creations. “I have so much respect for Tracy Reese, a powerful champion for change in the fashion industry and a personal inspiration,” said Joseph, who recently collaborated with her on an eco-friendly sandal capsule. “Tracy knows how to stay true to her brand and her values while helping others move away from the fast-fashion mindset and find better, more eco-conscious ways to bring their own visions to life.” Figure photographed in her New York studio in 2007. 2|Tracy Reese, CONNIE RISHWAIN CONNIE RISHWAIN Connie Rishwain first earned her footwear stripes at Nine West and Impo International, but she truly cemented her legacy in the industry at Ugg, where she directed the brand strategy from 1995 to 2015. In 2003, she took over as president of Ugg and helped lead the shearling bootmaker into a billion- plus-dollar business, by entering new categories, such as home goods, and expanding into more year-round footwear styles. Tacey Powers, EVP and GMM for shoes at Nordstrom, applauded Rishwain’s skill at shepherding the brand and staying true to its heritage. “I also appreciated the confidence and leadership it took to build the brand to the level it grew to. She was a real role model in that way. I will always appreciate her partnership and insight on what good looks like,” said Powers. Figure 3|Connie Rishwain After leaving Ugg, Rishwain piloted the Vionic brand for three years and now serves as an advisor and board member for Manitobah Mukluks.