The Stories Behind 29 Family Dynasties That Shaped the Shoe World

For generations, the footwear industry has been defined by families that have contributed their passion, determination and business prowess to building thriving companies.

Along the way, many of their monikers have become household names, from Birkenstock and Clarks to Nordstrom and Ferragamo.

As FN marks its 80th anniversary, the editors look back at the stories behind some of those legendary shoe dynasties.

The Bensadouns

Aldo Bensadoun — the son of a footwear merchant and grandson of a cobbler — wasn’t initially drawn to shoes. During his formative years in France, he would drop by the family store, but never planned to become a retailer, instead studying economics at Montreal’s McGill University. But a business consulting job led him back to retail, where he found his true passion. In 1972, he launched Aldo as a concession in Le Chateau, and six years later began opening stand-alone stores. In the 1990s, Bensadoun expanded into the U.S. and internationally, growing the business with help from his wife, Dianne Bibeau, and sons David and Douglas. When asked about lessons from his father, David Bensadoun said, “The main thing I’ve learned is how to combine capitalism with a human touch.” Today, the company, which is overseen by David as CEO, has stores in more than 100 countries. It is also the go-to licensing partner for G.H. Bass, Sperry, Ted Baker and more.

The Birkenstocks

Church records dating to 1774 list Johann Adam Birkenstock as a shoemaker. But it was Karl Birkenstock, in the 1960s, who translated the contoured arch support concept his grandfather had established into the comfort sandals now beloved around the globe. In the 1990s, Karl sought to integrate his sons — Alex, Stephan and Christian — into the company by dividing it into subbrands. In an interview with FN in October 1994, Karl said reorganizational changes were also “in response to the need for greater market segmentation.” By 2013, Christian, serving as chief executive officer, led another transitional process, turning 38 single entities into the Birkenstock Group. He also tapped the company’s first non-family leader, Oliver Reichert, to take over as CEO. That year, Stephan sold his shares in the company to his brothers. And in 2021, Christian and Alex sold a majority stake in Birkenstock to L Catterton for $4.3 billion. (The brand went public in 2023.)

The Birmans

In 1972, brothers Anderson and Jefferson Birman closed their eyes and randomly selected a spot on a map of Italy. They stopped on Arezzo, a small Tuscan city, and a shoe brand was born. (Four years later, Anderson’s son, Alexandre, came along.) “He was born in a shoebox,” said Anderson Birman in a 2016 FN interview. “He was around 6 years old when he started getting interested and would follow me [during] my daily routine at the factory. I noticed he was talented.” At age 19, instead of joining the family venture, Birman started his own brand, Schutz, focusing on his venture before eventually merging it with Arezzo and Co. In 2011, after his father had turned 60, the senior Birman handed over the leadership reins. Since then, Alexandre, who also has his namesake brand, has focused on expanding the company’s portfolio internationally. Just last year, he orchestrated another power move when the company merged with Grupo Soma in a marriage of two Latin American powerhouses.

The Blahniks

“I walked into something that my mother and my uncle built from the ground on their own, at a very gentle, organic, natural pace. The roots of this tree are so deep and they are something that we need to protect,” said Kristina Blahnik in 2016. The CEO of Manolo Blahnik — and her legendary uncle — have always been determined to do things their own way. This spring, the label made a splash with the opening of its first Miami store, in the city’s Design District. More U.S. expansion is in the works, as well as a spate of international openings. 

The Boninis

Driven by their belief that shoes are an essential part of any fashion business, Massimo Bonini and Sabrina Scarpellini Bonini opened their first showroom in Milan’s Via Montenapoleone in the late 1980s. For decades, the husband-and-wife duo, who love discovering new talent, have been a go-to product development and distribution partner for many of the industry’s top luxury brands, including Amina Muaddi, Missoni, Fear of God, Mugler and No. 21, among many others. Now their daughter Giorgia is busy growing the U.S. business as president of Massimo Bonini New York. The company will inaugurate its new Madison Avenue showroom this week. Its newest venture? The relaunch of iconic brand Herbert Levine. 

The Boyles

Gert Boyle, known for her “Tough Mother” persona, worked for nearly half a century to turn Columbia Sportswear Co. into an outdoor giant, until her death in 2019. But the family’s business trajectory dates back much further. Gert’s parents, Paul and Marie Lamfrom, purchased a Portland, Ore.-based hat company in 1938 after fleeing to the U.S. from Nazi Germany. They branded it the Columbia Hat Co. after the local river. In the 1960s, Gert’s husband, Neal Boyle, took over the business (now renamed Columbia Sportswear). After Neal’s sudden death in 1970, Gert and her son, Tim, stepped in to lead the company — and grew it to outdoor dominance. Today, Tim continues to serve as chairman, president and CEO of the public company. His son, Joe, is executive vice president and Columbia brand president.

The Campbells

Coming from the hard-scrabble streets of Pittsburgh, Bob Campbell became one of the most powerful players in the shoe business. After spending nearly 20 years rising through the ranks at Kinney Shoes and parent firm F.W. Woolworth Co., where he focused on women’s footwear, Campbell launched BBC International in 1975, specializing in children’s shoes, a category he knew little about. But Campbell carved out a niche in an underserved segment for private-label kids’ footwear. And after a few years, a shoe deal for the then-unknown Belgian cartoon “The Smurfs” put BBC firmly on the map in licensing, paving the way for lucrative partnerships with entertainment giants such as Disney and Marvel. His son Seth Campbell joined BBC in 2014 and rose through the ranks, learning all aspects of the business. Following Bob’s passing in 2020, Seth was elevated to company president.

The Caovillas

During Milan Fashion Week each season, René Caovilla typically holds court in the brand’s showroom. The octogenarian continues to be fiercely passionate about his namesake company, which he inherited from his father, Edoardo. “I started in 1952. At that time, I was still finishing school but already had a passion for shoes,” Caovilla said in 2016 when he was inducted into FN’s Hall of Fame. One of his first jobs was cutting leather, but “quickly, as soon I learned the essential skills, I focused on creativity,” he added. Micro crystals and precious embroideries rooted in the Venetian tradition punctuate the designer’s upscale shoes. And it was an antique jewel that prompted him to design the brand’s famous Snake shoe, which features a twisted strap that wraps the ankle. Today, Caovilla continues to be a mainstay on luxury shoe floors, and René’s children, Edoardo and Giorgia, have held stints at the company over the years. 

The Casadeis

“Women are capable of everything.” Arianna Casadei, the CEO of her family business, grew up hearing those words from her grandfather Quinto, the late founder of Casadei. Quinto and his son, Cesare, Casadei’s gregarious creative director (and Arianna’s father) also taught the younger Casadei the importance of valuing every part of the shoemaking process. “Ours is a family business, and since Day One, every single person’s job made the difference. The shoe business is still very artisanal, and my story passes literally through the hands of each craftsman since 1958, generation by generation,” she said.

The Clarks’ story began in 1825 when James Clark came to work at his brother Cyrus’ sheepskin rug business in the small village of Street in Somerset, England. After observing the waste of offcuts piling up, he had the idea to turn the scraps into simple, handsewn slippers, which came to be known as Brown Petersburg slipper. By 1842, the Clarks were selling around 1,000 pairs a month. Eventually, the company — which traded as C & J Clark at the time — expanded outside England. After facing bankruptcy in 1863, the brothers handed over leadership of the business to James’ son William. The 20th century brought more innovation, such as mass production and the invention of the zipper. And William’s children, Alice, Roger and John Bright, joined the company. The fourth generation of Clarks picked up the mantle in the 1940s, with Bancroft Clark appointed chairman and managing director. And over in Burma, Bancroft’s brother, Nathan, encountered some 8th Army officers from the North African campaign wearing ankle-high suede boots — a design he turned into the brand’s Desert Boot. Following in those footsteps, Lance Clark, part of the sixth generation of the Clark family, turned out a hit of his own in 1967: the Wallabee. The Clarks family sold a majority stake in 2020. However, the shoemaking tradition continues with Galahad Clark and his cousin, Asher Clark, who run the eco and wellness-minded Vivobarefoot brand. 

The Coles

All four of Charles Cole’s children — Kenneth, Neil, Abbie and Evan — followed in his footsteps by working at his El Greco and Candie’s businesses in the late ’70s and ’80s. Neil went on to launch Iconix Brand Group. And Kenneth remains one of the industry’s top fashion footwear executives, having established his namesake firm in 1983. For four decades, he has used his platform to rally around his host of social issues, ranging from AIDS to mental health awareness. And in 2024, he welcomed the next generation into the business, with daughter Emily taking over as executive vice president, women’s creative director and product strategy. Emily told FN her father has been her role model in every step of her career: “I feel that my dad has been such an inspiring example of a way to do really important work and provide a platform for issues that are important and meaningful, while also getting to be creative and build a brand.”

The Dasslers

It’s a sibling story for the ages. Brothers Adolf “Adi” and Rudolph Dassler began making sports shoes in the 1920s, outfitting numerous Olympic athletes. When a rift developed between the pair in 1948, Rudolph left to launch rival brand Puma, while Adi forged ahead with Adidas. Today, the brands — two of the biggest names in the athletic business — are located just a few miles away from each other in Herzogenaurach, Germany. FN helped both companies mark their 75th anniversaries, Puma’s in 2023 and Adidas’ in 2024. The rivalry is alive and well: The companies often trade top executives. 

The Davises

Born in Boston in 1906, New Balance has been under the stewardship of the Davis family for more than 50 years. Current chairman Jim Davis bought the brand from owner Paul Kidd in 1972 and has since led it to the forefront of both the performance and lifestyle categories, thanks to styles like the 574, 990 and many more. In 2024, for instance, the athletic company posted record revenues of $7.8 billion. Along the way, other family members have contributed to its success, including Jim’s wife, Anne, who is vice chairman; and his son Chris, who serves as New Balance brand president and chief marketing officer. Daughter Kassia, who previously worked in merchandising, stepped away to steer other brands, including the historic P.F. Flyers shoe label, which she bought from New Balance in 2021.

The Della Valles

The Della Valle family’s footwear roots run deep. After all, it was more than a century ago when Filippo Della Valle set up a small shoemaking workshop in Italy’s Marche region. Fast-forward to today, and Tod’s Group — under the direction of chairman Diego Della Valle and vice chairman Andrea Della Valle (Filippo’s grandsons) — is a fashion powerhouse, with shoes still the heart and soul of Tod’s, Roger Vivier and Hogan. In 1995, then-FN fashion director Vivian Infantino marveled at the success of Tod’s driving mocs in her Fashion Viewpoints column. “They have become wildly popular in Italy and here at home, and price is no object,” Infantino wrote. 

The Edelmans

Power couple Libby and Sam Edelman met in 1979 at The New York Shoe Show. She was a fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar and Seventeen magazine, and he was running Horseshoes, a line of English riding-inspired footwear that he launched with his father. After Sam made his mark at Candie’s and cofounded Kenneth Cole, the young couple moved to California to lead Esprit to major footwear success. In 1987, the duo famously launched their own label, Sam & Libby, and their bow ballet flat was an instant smash, selling 7 million pairs from 1987 to 1991. Decades later in 2004, Sam Edelman launched his namesake brand, now one of Caleres’ star labels. The couple — who were honored with FN’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 — continue to steer the ship, with their son Jessie now also playing a major role as senior vice president. This year, the brand is poised for further growth with openings in key markets like the United Kingdom, France, Asia, Middle East and Latin America.

The Ferragamos

When shoemaking genius Salvatore Ferragamo died in 1960, he handed his wife, Wanda, and six children a treasured dynasty: 350 design patents and a footwear manufacturing plant. Under the family’s careful and dedicated oversight, the Ferragamo brand is one of Italy’s most enduring fashion companies. For decades, the children ran separate company divisions under the auspices of their mother, who served as Ferragamo’s president, until they took the company public on the Borsa Italiana in 2011. While the family remain the majority shareholders, Ferragamo limits the number of third-generation family members directly involved in operating the business to guarantee the right balance. Among the current representatives are James Ferragamo, Angelica Visconti and Niccolò Ferragamo, who serve on the company’s board under chairman Leonardo Ferragamo. In a 2017 interview with FN, James said, “the biggest risk for a family business is when it gets to the third generation. It gets harder the more distant you are from the founder.” 

The Fishers

This New York footwear family has a multigenerational track record of success. Sam Fisher, for instance, was a founding member of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, and his son Jerome Fisher famously cofounded Nine West and transformed the industry with help from his own son Marc, who oversaw the firm’s private-label business. After Nine West was sold to Jones Apparel Group, Marc ventured out on his own, launching Marc Fisher Footwear with Susan Itzkowitz in 2005 with the license for Guess. The brand roster also now includes the Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Hunter and Rockport licenses — in addition to offering in-house brands Marc Fisher, Easy Spirit and others. Marc has been rapidly expanding his namesake business alongside his children Adam, Amanda and Lauren Fisher. Amanda serves as an executive vice president of design; Adam is an EVP of product development and Lauren is a director of product development. As for where the younger Fishers get their drive, each credited their parents for setting the bar high when they were young. “Our parents ingrained a strong work ethic in us from an early age, making it a natural part of our daily lives. I try to live up to the standards that my dad sets for us,” said Lauren.

The Florsheims

The Florsheims’ history in shoes extends back to 1892, when Sigmund Florsheim, a shoe retailer in Chicago, branched out into the manufacturing business, creating a line of footwear under the family name. When he died in 1894, son Milton assumed control, developing the brand nationwide — and subsequent generations have continued the legacy, growing the business further through acquisitions and brand expansions. Today, brothers John and Tom Florsheim are the fifth-generation family members leading Weyco Group, the parent company of Florsheim and several other men’s brands, including Stacy Adams and Nunn Bush. In addition, they have broadened the company’s portfolio by acquiring outdoor brands Bogs, Rafters and Forsake.

The Goldmans

Family is built into the name of Cels Brands, which stands for Carol, Elise, Lauren and Stewart (the late wife and children of founder Bob Goldman). Goldman established Cels in 1971 after working through the department store ranks at Gimbels. He and Carol started by developing a self-service shoe display system called Modumode, but in 1973, pivoted to importing footwear. Over more than 50 years, he’s established the company as a leading footwear fashion player, with a portfolio of four brands: Chinese Laundry, Dirty Laundry, CL by Laundry and 42 Gold. Today, son Stewart has taken on many of the day-to-day leadership duties as the firm transitions to its next phase. In a 2023 conversation with FN, Bob explained how their experiences as leaders differ: “I started scrapping. He doesn’t have to scrap. He’s got a team in place. He’s looking at tomorrow.”

The Greenbergs

Robert and Michael Greenberg have been at the helm of Skechers for more than three decades, taking the brand from startup to global powerhouse. And the father-son duo just engineered the biggest footwear buyout ever — a $9 billion go-private deal with 3G Capital that is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025. “The growth of Skechers is a story of many faces,” Michael Greenberg told FN in 2023, when he received the FNAA Person of the Year honor. “Nothing great is achieved alone on an island.”

The Millers

In 1946, Philip Miller left behind a small corner grocery store to invest in and eventually take over a business that sold Native American-inspired products to small gift shops throughout the Midwest. After his son Marshall joined him in the business in 1953, they expanded Minnetonka, growing it with popular styles such as the Classic Fringe Boot that appealed to the hippie fashion wearers of the 1960s and the Thunderbird Moc that gained recognition in the 1980s. These classic styles and a full line of slippers continue to drive Minnetonka’s sales today. In 1979, Marshall’s son, David, joined the company and continues to serve as CEO. Today, a fourth generation of family leaders include David’s daughter, Jori Miller Sherer, who was named president in 2019 after nearly a decade of learning the ropes.

The Muskats

Few footwear families understand the shifting speed of trends better than Rick Muskat, president and chief operating officer of Deer Stags Concepts Inc. After all, his father, Jack, and uncle Hy, built the firm by always seeking the next big thing. Formerly Dunbar Boot Co., the company made boots in Spain for Dan Post and also did work for Lucchese, Tony Lama and Nocona. It branched out into the traditional shoe business in 1968 with the formation of Glen Shoe, which took a more novelty approach with the Nature Shoe negative-heel concept and licensing deals for “Saturday Night Fever,” “Grease” and others hot properties. In 1989, the leadership team at the time — made up of Rick and his brothers Michael and Steve — acquired the Deer Stags label and renamed the company. Today, several third-generation family members are helping to lead the company forward.

The Nordstroms

It’s been 124 years since John W. Nordstrom and his friend Carl F. Wallin opened a shoe store in Seattle. That fateful decision laid the foundation for the Nordstrom family to build the company into the powerhouse it is today, led by fourth-generation brothers Erik Nordstrom (co-CEO) and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEO), alongside cousin Jamie Nordstrom (chief merchandising officer). The late Blake Nordstrom, Erik and Pete’s brother, was also a huge force in the business until his death in 2019. And there was no one like their father, Mr. Bruce, who led the company for roughly four decades before his death last year and relished the opportunity to walk the retail floors. Pete said of his father in 2018: “[His best advice was to] get on the floor — the sales floor. All the answers to your business are on the floor.” As they look to the future, the Nordstroms are aiming to take more control of the department store business. In December 2024, they revealed plans to go private, and the deal closed in May.

The Raynes

Talk about a loyal customer. Queen Elizabeth II wore Rayne — the brand launched by Henry and Mary Rayne in 1885 — for much of her legendary reign, and even before. In 1947, then Princess Elizabeth walked down the aisle in a pair of Raynes for her wedding to Prince Philip. (Rayne was granted royal warrants for both the queen and the queen mother.) Sir Edward Rayne, the founder’s grandson, joined the company after World War II, expanding the business into a fashion label. “Everybody seemed to know my father,” said Nick Rayne, the fourth-generation member of the shoemaking family. “The queen would always say to my father, ‘Please, could you persuade mummy [the queen mother] to wear lower heels?’”

The Rossis

In the storied Italian shoe industry, the Rossis loom large. A true pioneer, Sergio Rossi learned the business from his father in the 1940s and ’50s. By the age of 14, he was a skilled shoemaker, and together with his brother, Franco, produced shoes he would sell along the Italian Riviera.  Sergio would go on to craft some of the most iconic styles of the 20th century and helped turn his hometown of San Mauro Pascoli into a capital of luxury women’s footwear. As he carved out his own distinct path, Rossi got his son, Gianvito, hooked on the business, too. “[Growing up], it was very difficult to distinguish the difference between home and factory — it was all the same,” Gianvito Rossi said at the FN Summit in 2019. So it was no surprise that Gianvito followed in his father’s footsteps, launching his own brand in 2007. Today, he works alongside Sofia, his daughter.

The Rubins

British businessman Stephen Rubin grew his parents’ small shoe business, later renaming it Pentland Group. “The best thing I ever did has got to be [investing in] Reebok. But the truth is no one ever knew at that stage how big it was going to be,” Rubin said in 2012, when he was inducted into FN’s Hall of Fame. Rubin purchased a stake in the athletic brand in 1981 for $77,000, finally divesting those shares in a two-part deal in 1991 for $770 million. Today, Pentland’s stable of brands, helmed by Andy Rubin, Stephen’s son, includes Speedo, Ellesse, Kangaroos, Kickers, Berghaus and more. Pentland Group also holds a 51.89 percent share in JD Sports Fashion Plc, which has been rapidly expanding its presence in the U.S. market. Carrie Rubin, a visible face in the shoe industry, serves as a Pentland Group director.

The Swartzes

The Timberland brand began in 1952, when Nathan Swartz bought half an interest in the Abington Shoe Co., a maker of private-label boots. He later bought the rest of the company, and in 1973, Nathan’s son, Sidney, debuted the yellow Timberland boot. By 1978, the shoes were so popular that the company shed the Abington name and incorporated as The Timberland Co. His son, Jeff Swartz, joined Timberland in 1986 and the pair took the company public the following year. After Jeff succeeded his father as CEO in 1989, he subsequently grew Timberland’s revenues, capitalizing on the brand’s popularity in hip-hop and urban culture in the 1990s. In 2011, Jeff sold the third-generation family business to VF Corp. in a $2.3 billion deal. 

The Tuckers

Husband and wife Robert and Carolyn Tucker founded Shoe Show Inc. in 1960, growing the family-run footwear business to a national chain with more than 1,000 stores across 47 states. Robert first caught the retail bug in high school, and after a brief stint with Pic ’N Pay, one of the country’s early self-serve footwear retailers, he set on off on his own, opening his first Shoe Show location in Kannapolis, N.C., when he was only 23 years old. Daughter Lisa Tucker took over leadership of the Concord, N.C.-based retailer in 2018 and now serves as president and CEO. She told FN that her father, who died in 2023, was committed to caring for Shoe Show employees and staff. “Dad always said, ‘Ten thousand families depend on you to make the right decision by them,” said Lisa. “These people are who made us, keep us and will get us to the future.”

The Van Dorens

In 1966, Paul Van Doren, his brother James and their partners opened the first Vans store under the name The Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim, Calif. Vans harnessed the power of skate and surf culture to become a global streetwear player. VF Corp. bought the brand in 2004 for $396 million — but the family ties run deep and several family members still work at the company.