Steve Madden

Steve Madden is a footwear designer who created a shoe line by the same name for men and women. What began as a concept of selling a Western clog from the trunk of his car, soon became a million dollar empire.

Fast Facts

1. Born: 1958
2. Worked at Jildor instead of finishing college
3. Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1990
4. Named company of the year in 2006
5. In 2002, Steve Madden was convicted of stock manipulation and money laundering and sentenced to 41 months in prison
6. From prison Madden worked as a creative consultant for the brand

Early Career of Steve Madden

Known as a natural born salesman, Madden began selling shoes and soon found himself working for a shoe wholesaler where he learned marketing and manufacturing. After eight years learning the ropes, Madden was arrested for drunk driving in 1988. The situation led him to quit drinking and get on the right path. In 1989 with only $1,100 in the bank, Madden designed a clog which he sold out of his car, but it was his Mary Lou shoe, a patent leather Mary Jane with a big toe that became a hot item among teen mainstream.

Madden's Career Turns

As Madden's business began to boom with the teen culture, another hurdle placed itself in front of his path. Questionable associations with banking partners and business associates began to alert authorities and after a long investigation Madden was convicted of money laundering in 2002.

Quotes

"The story's sad. It's a real American story. My old friends took me public, they turned out to be crooks, and I'm innocent." -Steve Madden

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