Steve Madden

What Steve Madden does

Steve Madden is a publicly traded designer, marketer, and retailer of fashion footwear, accessories, and apparel, headquartered in New York and operating in over 80 countries. Founded in 1990 and listed on NASDAQ under the ticker SHOO since 1993, the company runs a multi-brand portfolio including the core Steve Madden brand, Kurt Geiger (luxury, acquired May 2025 for ~$360M), Dolce Vita, Almost Famous (apparel, acquired October 2023 for $52M), and Madden NYC. The company serves fashion-conscious consumers aged 18-45 seeking trend-led footwear and accessories at accessible price points, as well as mass merchants and department stores through a significant private label and wholesale business that generates approximately 70% of total revenue.

The company's technology and platform layer includes SteveMadden.com e-commerce, the SM Pass tiered loyalty program (Insider, VIP, SUPERSTAR, ICON), Amazon Buy with Prime integration, and a growing portfolio of AI-enabled third-party integrations including Spangle AI for personalized storefronts, Google Universal Cart, and Salesforce POS for unified omnichannel operations. Product breadth spans women's, men's, and kids' footwear (sneakers, boots, heels, sandals, loafers, platforms, mules, wedges), handbags and accessories, and apparel including denim, dresses, and outerwear.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: wholesale distribution to department stores and mass merchants (the largest stream at ~70% of revenue), direct-to-consumer e-commerce and company-operated physical retail stores, international licensing royalties via regional partners (Reliance Brands in India, Apparel Group in GCC), and acquired-brand revenue (notably Kurt Geiger). DTC revenue reached $206M in Q1 2026 (+83.8% YoY) and Q2 2026 revenue was $665.9M (+19.1% YoY), with FY2025 full-year revenue of $2.53 billion. International expansion is accelerating through licensing into India, GCC, Chile, and other emerging markets, while digital transformation initiatives target agentic AI-driven merchandising and unified commerce.

Name

Steve Madden

Legal name

Steve Madden Ltd.

Website

https://stevemadden.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Steve Madden is a publicly traded designer and marketer of fashion footwear, accessories, and apparel, operating through wholesale (~70% of revenue), DTC e-commerce, physical retail, and international licensing across 80+ countries, with a multi-brand portfolio serving mid-market fashion consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Revenue: Primary revenue stream generating approximately 70% of total revenue. Includes sales to department stores, specialty retailers, and mass merchants. Private label business represents a significant portion of wholesale.
2. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC): Company-operated e-commerce (SteveMadden.com) and physical retail stores. DTC sales growing significantly with Q1 2026 DTC revenue of $206 million up 83.8% year-over-year, driven by Kurt Geiger acquisition and organic DTC growth.
3. Licensing Royalties: International licensing partnerships including Madden NYC brand through Reliance Brands in India, and regional partnerships such as Apparel Group in GCC. Company operates in 80+ countries through licensing arrangements.
4. Acquisition Integration (Kurt Geiger): Acquired Kurt Geiger luxury brand for approximately £289 million ($360 million) from Cinven in May 2025. Kurt Geiger London is expanding with approximately five new U.S. stores planned and international expansion to India.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Steve Madden designs, sources, and markets fashion footwear, handbags and accessories, and apparel under multiple brands including the flagship Steve Madden, Kurt Geiger (luxury), Dolce Vita, Almost Famous, Madden NYC, and Madden Girl. The company sells through wholesale to department stores, mass merchants, and specialty retailers (approximately 70% of revenue), direct-to-consumer channels including SteveMadden.com e-commerce and physical retail stores, and international licensing partnerships across 80+ countries.

Product overview

Steve Madden is a footwear and accessories company operating under a platform-plus-sub-brands architecture. The core Steve Madden brand serves as the flagship, offering trend-led footwear across women's, men's, and kids' categories including sneakers, boots, heels, sandals, loafers, flats, platforms, mules, wedges, and dress shoes. The portfolio extends into complementary categories—handbags, accessories, and apparel—through both organic development and strategic acquisitions. Key acquisitions include Kurt Geiger (luxury, acquired 2025) and Almost Famous (apparel, acquired 2023), while sub-brands like Madden NYC (accessible fashion) and Dolce Vita (contemporary) serve distinct market segments. The company operates through both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels, with a proprietary e-commerce platform enhanced by the SM Pass loyalty program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Madden NYC: Accessible fashion sub-brand launched in India offering women's footwear at affordable price points, priced between ₹5,000 and ₹7,000.

Products and services

• Steve Madden Footwear (Core Brand) The flagship Steve Madden footwear brand offering trend-led shoes including sneakers, boots, heels, sandals, loafers, flats, platforms, mules, and wedges for women, men, and kids. Targeted at fashion-conscious consumers seeking runway-inspired styles at accessible price points.
• Handbags & Accessories Handbags, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, mini bags, clutches, top handle bags, wallets, bag charms, and fashion jewelry sold under the Steve Madden brand. The category is growing approximately 30% YoY.
• Apparel & Clothing Women's clothing including dresses, jumpsuits, tops, shirts, bottoms, denim, jackets, coats, matching sets, and swimwear sold under the Steve Madden brand. The apparel business was enhanced by the 2023 acquisition of Almost Famous.
• Denim Collection (The Denim Edit) Steve Madden's denim collection launched in 2026 featuring curated '90s-inspired styles blended with modern downtown aesthetics.
• Kurt Geiger (Luxury Footwear & Accessories) A luxury footwear and accessories brand acquired in May 2025 for approximately $360 million, expanding Steve Madden's presence in the premium segment and accelerating international growth. The brand is expanding with approximately five new U.S. stores planned and entry into India.
• Almost Famous (Apparel) A women's apparel designer and marketer acquired in October 2023 for $52 million, strengthening Steve Madden's apparel platform with expertise in junior apparel and value-priced channels. Almost Famous reported approximately $163 million in revenue for the 12 months ending September 2023.
• Madden NYC (Accessible Fashion Sub-brand) An accessible fashion sub-brand offering trendy footwear at affordable price points, launched in India in 2026 through partnership with Reliance Brands Limited. Women's footwear collection priced between ₹5,000 and ₹7,000.
• Dolce Vita (Contemporary Footwear) A contemporary footwear brand under Steve Madden's portfolio, contributing to organic growth alongside the core brand.
• SM Pass Loyalty Program A proprietary loyalty program with tiered benefits (Insider, VIP, SUPERSTAR, ICON) offering members 20% off first order, free standard shipping, and escalating perks including free expedited shipping for higher tiers. Drives customer retention and lifetime value.
• KIT Flat Shoe Style launch of the 'KIT' flat shoe introduced as Steve Madden's new signature flat shoe style.
• Madden Girl A contemporary footwear sub-brand targeting younger consumers with trendy styles at accessible price points.

Quantifiable outcome

• Direct-to-consumer revenue grew 83.8% to $206 million in Q1 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, emerging, flagship and minor.

• Reliance Brands LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 August 2026Exclusive 20-year licensing partnership (dating back to 2011) for Madden NYC brand launch in India. Initial entry through online channels and select retail outlets across major Indian cities. Women's footwear collection priced between ₹5,000 and ₹7,000. The partnership represents the first phase of Madden NYC's presence in India with plans for further product drops and consumer activations.
• GooglecoreTechnology or Integration · 26 May 2026Integration with Google Universal Cart, an AI-powered shopping tool enabling shoppers to add Steve Madden items across Google Search, Gemini, Gmail, and YouTube. The tool searches for discounts, aggregates price history, and analyzes payment and loyalty data to find the best deals. Steve Madden is among first partners including Nike, Sephora, Target, Ulta Beauty, Fenty, and Walmart.
• Apparel GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 March 2026GCC-wide partnership with Apparel Group for Steve Madden brand operations across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Ramadan 2026 CSR initiative 'Bold Style, Bigger Impact' donated 5,000+ pairs of adaptive shoes to children of determination through partnerships with five NGOs including Al Jalila Foundation, Down Syndrome Charitable Association, and Qatar Charity.
• SalesforcecoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2026Implementation of Salesforce Point of Sale platform to unify in-store and online operations, enhance customer experiences, and support omnichannel strategies. Partnership is part of broader digital transformation initiative.
• DoorDashemergingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 March 2026Fashion-on-demand delivery partnership enabling 30-45 minute delivery of Steve Madden products. Brings over 500,000 eligible products to DoorDash Marketplace, tapping into growing trend of consumers using delivery platforms for need-it-now purchases. Partnership expected to launch Spring 2026.
• ReshopemergingTechnology or Integration · 15 January 2026Instant refund platform integration providing customers with immediate refunds versus traditional multi-week refund processes. Steve Madden reports 5x higher repurchase rates compared to traditional refund methods, with repeat purchase values increasing 20% over refunded amounts.
• Spangle AIemergingTechnology or Integration · 9 January 2026AI-powered personalization software startup generating customized storefronts for online retailers. Spangle AI's platform helps Steve Madden increase revenue per visit by close to 50% and double return on ad spend. The Seattle-based company founded by former Amazon executives has raised $21 million in total funding.
• Kurt GeigerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2025Steven Madden acquired Kurt Geiger London from private equity firm Cinven for approximately £289 million ($360 million) in May 2025. The luxury footwear and accessories brand contributes significant revenue with pro forma growth of approximately 11% and is being expanded with approximately five new U.S. stores planned and international expansion to India.
• Black Retail Action Group (BRAG)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Black Retail Action Group for 'Celebrating Fashion's Future' program at Howard University School of Business. Third year of program providing 20 HBCU students with retail and brand strategy training, capstone projects, and hands-on fashion experience in New York City.
• ThredUpemergingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Sustainability partnership enabling customers to shop pre-owned Steve Madden items on ThredUp marketplace and trade in gently used shoes and accessories through Steve Madden ThredUp storefront.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aldo Group: Aldo Group is a global accessible-fashion footwear and accessories retailer and wholesaler serving similar mid-market consumers. Its product breadth, store footprint and international distribution make it a close business-model and customer comparison.
• Caleres: Caleres owns and operates a portfolio of footwear brands and retail concepts, including Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Naturalizer and Vionic. Its combination of brand ownership, wholesale relationships and direct-to-consumer footwear sales closely parallels Steve Madden's platform.
• Crocs: Crocs is a global footwear brand with a strong wholesale and DTC footprint and a portfolio expanded through brand and product extensions. It is relevant to Steve Madden because both companies use recognizable brands, frequent product refreshes and broad international distribution.
• Skechers: Skechers designs, markets and sells footwear and related apparel through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels worldwide. It is a direct product and go-to-market comparison for Steve Madden's trend-led footwear portfolio.
• Nine West: Nine West is a fashion footwear and accessories brand positioned around accessible, trend-led styles. Its product and customer overlap is high even though the brand is currently operated through a broader licensing and brand platform.
• Sam Edelman: Sam Edelman is a contemporary fashion-footwear brand with a strong direct-to-consumer and wholesale presence. Its focus on trend-right women's footwear and accessories makes it a relevant brand-level peer for Steve Madden and Dolce Vita.
• Kenneth Cole Productions: Kenneth Cole designs and markets fashion footwear, apparel and accessories at accessible price points. Its New York brand identity, fashion positioning and omnichannel distribution are closely comparable to Steve Madden.

Broad incumbents

• Designer Brands: Designer Brands operates DSW and related footwear retail concepts, serving consumers who shop branded shoes, accessories and apparel. It is a broader retail comparator because it overlaps with Steve Madden's footwear assortment, value proposition and omnichannel shopping occasions.
• Tapestry: Tapestry is a global fashion-accessories group with footwear exposure through Stuart Weitzman alongside Coach and Kate Spade. It is a broad incumbent comparator for Steve Madden's movement from accessible fashion into premium accessories and international branded retail.
• Genesco: Genesco operates specialty footwear retail concepts and footwear brands across Journeys, Schuh and other businesses. Its footwear-focused store network, brand portfolio and international exposure provide a relevant channel and category comparison.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SteveMadden
• YouTubeyoutube.com/SteveMadden
• Facebookfacebook.com/SteveMaddenShoes
• Instagraminstagram.com/stevemadden
• TikToktiktok.com/@stevemadden
• Pinterestpinterest.com/stevemadden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steve-madden

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A9 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Steve Madden