Invincible: The Vince Camuto Story

Born into a family of artisans, Vince Camuto rose from humble beginnings to become a fashion luminary whose creative vision and entrepreneurial spirit forever changed America’s footwear industry.

A man with gray hair holds a high-heeled shoe with jeweled decorations in front of his face, looking through its opening. He wears a dark sweater over a checkered shirt and a watch, standing against a purple background.

"Some people dream things will happen. Some people want things to happen. Some people make things happen."

-Vince Camuto

1936 

Vince Camuto is born in Queens, New York, the child of Italian immigrants. Raised in NYC’s bustling East Village, Vince gets his first job at age fourteen—in a 1st Avenue shoe store.

Two black-and-white photos in an open book: on the left, a man helps a seated woman try on shoes; on the right, a man in a suit points at a drawing on a wall, with nearby text.
Elegant, ornate room with a large lit fireplace, tall arched windows with blue curtains, antique furniture, a candelabra on a table, patterned rugs, and a decorative crest above the mantel. Warm, inviting atmosphere.

1959

Vince joins the luxury footwear company I. Miller in Manhattan. Working his way from the store’s complaint department to its fabled selling floor—a hub for the day’s actors, models, and socialites—Vince quickly becomes the company’s top salesperson.

1962

Wooed by a top US shoe wholesaler, Vince is hired to turn around their worst-performing factory. He swiftly pivots the business to make it profitable.

Two women sit side by side as a man in a suit helps one try on a shoe. Shoe boxes and an open shoe are on the floor. The setting appears to be a shoe store.
Embossed coat of arms on dark leather, featuring a checkered shield, a lion, helmet, and elaborate, curled foliage patterns.

1983

With his finger on the pulse of newly empowered women consumers, Vince cofounds Nine West. He bucks the midcentury footwear industry’s mindset and identifies huge demand for fashionable, fine-quality—and accessibly priced—shoes.

2001

Vince Camuto and his wife Louise Camuto start Camuto Group. Visiting his father’s birthplace in Sicily, Vince gleans fresh inspiration from Italy’s cobbled streets, ancient architecture and artistic masterworks.

A man with gray hair holds a high-heeled shoe with jeweled decorations in front of his face, looking through its opening. He wears a dark sweater over a checkered shirt and a watch, standing against a purple background.
A person places a pair of black leather boots with gold chain and buckle details into a pink-edged shoebox, next to a closed Vince Camuto branded box on a white surface.

2005

Vince builds Camuto Group's shoe sourcing business and acquires the master license for Jessica Simpson Collection and the footwear license for Lucky Brand.

Present

Realizing a lifelong dream, Vince launches his namesake brand, Vince Camuto. An immediate hit, Vince Camuto goes on to introduce a long line of iconic, blockbuster styles.

A person opens a Vince Camuto shoebox with a black lid and red base, revealing white tissue paper inside. The scene is set on a table with some fabric or paper nearby.

Vince Camuto Today

Vince’s Italian roots, his craftsman’s eye, and genius for design remain at the heart of Vince Camuto. From artist to artisan, sourcer to shoemaker, we remain committed to our founder’s values.

Tell your brand's story through images.

Two women stand on a ledge under a structure with the ocean in the background. Both wear orange-red outfits and platform sandals. One wears a dress flowing in the breeze, the other wears a matching top and pants. The sky is clear and blue.
Two women stand outdoors wearing stylish, summery outfits in warm tones. One wears a checked crop top and pants, the other a flowing red dress. Both wear platform sandals. A blue sky and ocean are visible in the background.