Vida Shoes International

What Vida Shoes International does

Vida Shoes International is a privately held, family-owned footwear design, sourcing, and sales company founded in 1973 by Victor Dabah and headquartered in New York City. The company manages a portfolio of more than 30 proprietary, licensed, and acquired footwear brands spanning women's fashion, children's, outdoor/lifestyle, athletic, and men's categories, including Kenneth Cole, BCBGeneration, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Bruno Magli, Aquatalia, Carter's, OshKosh B'gosh, Stride Rite, Jambu, Merrell, Saucony Kids, and Gentle Souls. Vida provides end-to-end capabilities spanning design, business planning, sourcing, manufacturing oversight, marketing, sales, logistics, finance, digital/ecommerce, and quality assurance, with development and sourcing infrastructure in Hong Kong, Dongguan, and Putian, China.

The company's revenue model is anchored in wholesale footwear sales to US retail partners including department stores, off-price chains (TJX, Ross), family channel mid-tier stores, and independent retailers, supplemented by direct-to-consumer ecommerce through brand-specific sites such as Jambu.com and exclusive marketplace partnerships with Amazon (Simple Joys by Carter's) and Target (Just One You). Vida supplements organic growth with strategic acquisitions, most recently completing the purchase of Aquatalia in September 2024 and Munro in September 2025, and growing its licensed brand stable through deals such as the Kenneth Cole women's license (2021) and Stride Rite license (2017). The company operates with 51-100 employees and remains controlled by the Dabah family across three generations (Victor Dabah as Founder/Chairman, Solomon Dabah as President, and Gabriel Safdeye as Senior EVP).

Name

Vida Shoes International

Legal name

Vida Shoes International, Inc.

Website

https://vidagroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vida Shoes International is a privately held, family-owned footwear company managing 30+ licensed, proprietary, and acquired footwear brands across women's, children's, outdoor/lifestyle, athletic, and men's categories, distributing via US wholesale retailers and select DTC ecommerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Branded Footwear

NAICS

Footwear Merchant Wholesalers (42434), Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Footwear Wholesale (CRAOADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB), Luxury Footwear (CRAKAFAD), Outdoor & Hiking Footwear (CRAAACAD)

Keywords

• Wholesale footwear distribution
• Licensed footwear brand management
• Children's branded footwear
• Fashion footwear design sourcing
• Footwear licensing portfolio

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Wholesale footwear sales: Vida Shoes International generates revenue primarily through wholesale sales of licensed and proprietary footwear brands to retail partners and department stores across women's, men's, and children's categories.
2. Direct-to-consumer ecommerce: The company sells directly to consumers through ecommerce storefronts, including brand-specific sites such as Jambu.com launched in 2014.
3. Brand licensing and brand management: Vida acquires, develops, and manages footwear brands including licensed and owned labels, generating revenue through product sales across all distribution channels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Vida Shoes International is a multi-brand footwear company that designs, sources, and distributes licensed, acquired, and proprietary footwear brands across fashion, children's, outdoor/lifestyle, athletic, and men's categories. The company sells its portfolio of 30+ brands through wholesale channels to US department stores, off-price retailers, and independent retailers, supplemented by direct-to-consumer ecommerce and exclusive marketplace assortments.

Product overview

Vida Shoes International operates as a footwear design, sourcing, and sales company with a multi-brand portfolio spanning fashion, children's, outdoor/lifestyle, and athletic categories. The company manages licensed brands (Kenneth Cole, Carter's, Stride Rite, Esprit, UNIONBAY, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Kurt Geiger, Merrell, Saucony), acquired brands (André Assous, Bruno Magli, Aquatalia), and proprietary brands (Jambu & Co). Services include design, business planning, marketing, sales, manufacturing, logistics, finance & operations, digital/e-commerce, and testing & quality assurance. The company distributes through retail partners across department stores, family channel mid-tier stores, independent retailers, and direct-to-consumer via brand websites and marketplaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kenneth Cole New York: Socially-conscious global lifestyle brand providing essential solutions to everyday problems with modern style, comfort, and performance.
• BCBGeneration
• Reaction Kenneth Cole
• Kensie
• XOXO
• UNIONBAY
• Esprit
• Splendid
• Gentle Souls
• André Assous
• BCBGMAXAZRIA
• Bruno Magli
• M by Bruno Magli
• Stride Rite
• Stride Rite 360
• Munchkin by Stride Rite
• Carter's
• OshKosh B'gosh
• BCBG Girls
• Jambu & Co
• Jambu
• JBU by Jambu
• Pastry
• Kurt Geiger
• Merrell
• Saucony Kids
• Aquatalia
• Just One You
• Simple Joys by Carter's
• Child of Mine
• Little Planet

Products and services

• Kenneth Cole New York Socially-conscious global lifestyle footwear brand providing modern style, comfort, and performance through TECHNI-COLE technology, sold wholesale to retailers and through DTC channels.
• Reaction Kenneth Cole Global lifestyle footwear brand designed to embrace mobility, providing modern style essentials with comfort and performance for active living.
• BCBGeneration Young contemporary footwear brand made for the bold and spontaneous spirit, drawing inspiration from Parisian heritage and West Coast adventure.
• BCBGMAXAZRIA Footwear brand embodying European sophistication and American spirit, bringing global style to wholesale and DTC channels.
• Kensie Lifestyle footwear brand offering international styling, quality, and design at affordable price points for fashion-conscious women.
• XOXO Day-to-evening lifestyle footwear brand with attainable price points offering runway and celebrity-inspired high fashion looks for young women.
• Splendid Lifestyle footwear brand focused on ultimate comfort with soft fabrics and a laid-back California attitude.
• Gentle Souls Sustainable footwear brand creating modern comfort styles through enduring craftsmanship and planet-friendly processes using naturally renewable materials.
• André Assous Luxury footwear brand established in the 1970s, known for hand-sewn espadrilles crafted by skilled craftsmen in Spain and designed in New York City.
• Bruno Magli Luxury Italian footwear brand founded in 1936, known for artisanal craftsmanship and luxurious essentials with distinctly modern Italian sensibilities.
• M by Bruno Magli Men's footwear line offering Bruno Magli heritage and luxury at attainable prices for the modern man.
• Aquatalia Luxury footwear brand established in 1994 offering fashion, quality, and comfort with Italian design and innovative weatherproof and stain-resistant technology.
• Munro Arkansas-based comfort footwear brand expanding Vida's reach to a multi-generational customer base in the comfort category.
• UNIONBAY Teen-driven sportswear and footwear brand founded in 1981, known for cutting-edge designs targeting style leaders.
• Esprit International fashion footwear brand founded in 1968, representing style and quality with effortless style, authenticity, and easy-going living.
• Stride Rite Children's footwear brand since 1919 with expert-approved kids shoes and patented technology including Soft Motion, SRtech, and Made2Play.
• Carter's Heritage baby and children's footwear brand since 1865, with quality materials and thoughtful designs celebrating childhood.
• OshKosh B'gosh Heritage children's footwear brand founded in 1895 from OshKosh, Wisconsin, celebrating childhood with quality materials and thoughtful designs.
• Stride Rite 360 Children's footwear line designed with a dual width fit system at affordable prices, featuring removable insoles or adjustable buckles and 100% machine washable construction.
• Munchkin by Stride Rite Children's footwear made for first steps with flexible outsoles and easy-on features for new walkers.
• BCBG Girls Girls' footwear aged five to twelve in age-appropriate silhouettes that express individuality and enable active lifestyles.
• Jambu & Co Proprietary outdoor and lifestyle footwear brand bridging function, fashion, and comfort with memory foam insoles and All-Terra Traction outsoles.
• Jambu Proprietary fashion-comfort footwear brand with dependable memory foam inner soles and All-Terra Traction for outdoor adventure and urban exploration.
• JBU by Jambu Proprietary value-driven footwear line with memory foam inner soles designed for confident self-expression under the Just Be You philosophy.
• Pastry America's #1 dance sneaker brand, founded in 2007 by Vanessa and Angela Simmons, featuring bold colors and unique patterns for professional and university dance teams.
• Kurt Geiger London-based footwear and accessories brand powered by creativity and kindness, with statement styles reflecting London's vibrance and authenticity.
• Merrell Active kids' footwear built with durable materials and comfortable fit.
• Saucony Kids Athletic kids' footwear focused on comfort, wide widths, laces, and alternate closures, designed to make kids' sports and lives better.
• Just One You Target-exclusive accessories line for little ones from preemie to toddler offering cute, high-quality products at exceptional value.
• Simple Joys by Carter's Amazon-exclusive selection of baby and toddler accessories with fresh prints, bright colors, and exceptional value.
• Child of Mine Walmart-exclusive assortment of heartwarming infant and toddler products.
• Little Planet Sustainable brand crafted in organic fabrics and sustainable materials for babies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Became the #1 resource of branded toddler footwear in the US market in 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FluzminorOthersVida Shoes uses Fluz, a cashback platform, to earn rebates on business expenses including travel and logistics. This fintech partnership helps the company turn ordinary operational costs into savings that support the bottom line amid a tougher retail environment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Genesco: Footwear-focused company operating Journeys, Schuh, and Johnston & Murphy retail chains plus wholesale footwear brands, representing a broader incumbent with similar footwear category focus.
• Crocs Inc. Public footwear company operating the Crocs and HEYDUDE brands with diversified wholesale and DTC distribution, comparable as a scaled multi-brand footwear operator.
• Designer Brands (DSW): Footwear-focused retailer and brand owner operating DSW stores plus Camuto Group brand portfolio, comparable in combining wholesale footwear brand management with retail distribution.
• Skechers: Global footwear company distributing across department stores, off-price, and DTC channels with a comparable multi-category wholesale-led model including kids' and lifestyle lines.

Direct peers

• Wolverine World Wide: Multi-brand footwear company managing Merrell, Saucony, Sperry, and other licensed and owned footwear brands across wholesale and DTC channels, with a comparable brand-licensing and portfolio strategy.
• Marc Fisher Footwear: Fashion footwear company licensing and managing brands for women's and children's categories with wholesale distribution to department stores, closely mirroring Vida's core go-to-market.
• Caleres: Multi-brand footwear holding company (Sam Edelman, Famous Footwear, Allen Edmonds) operating across women's, men's, and children's categories with a similar wholesale-plus-retail model.
• Camuto Group: Footwear brand management company overseeing licensed brands including Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, and others with comparable wholesale relationships and brand portfolio strategy.
• Steve Madden: Fashion footwear company managing multiple owned and licensed brands across women's, men's, and kids categories with strong wholesale distribution to department stores and off-price retailers.
• Deckers Outdoor: Multi-brand footwear company (UGG, HOKA, Teva) operating across lifestyle, outdoor, and athletic categories via wholesale and DTC, with a similar portfolio diversification approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vida-shoes-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vida Shoes International