Stuart Weitzman is one of the best-known and most influential shoe designers in the history of the United States. His company is known for high style yet functional women’s footwear. Stuart has been called the “designer to the stars” for his industry-changing marketing and branding techniques and long list of celebrity devotees. However, his international brand began at 151 Essex Street in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on the floors of his father’s factory, decades before his heels graced red carpets.
Seymour Weitzman, Stuart’s father, spent his adult life in the footwear industry, first in New York City and then in Haverhill, working for both I. Miller and A. S. Beck. In 1955, after designing and selling for others, he founded Mr. Seymour Shoes. At that time, Warren, Seymour’s eldest son, joined the company as treasurer. The company produced women’s shoes in the mid- to high-market range. They quickly became known for their stylish designs, spectacular handcrafted adornments, and consistent fit in a wide range of sizes and widths.
Stuart learned design and the fundamentals of production in the Mr. Seymour Shoes factory. When Seymour died in 1965, Stuart, a recent graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, took over as lead designer, adding his name to the label from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. He officially founded Stuart Weitzman Shoes in 1983, creating a multi-million-dollar global brand found in seventy-five countries, while never forgetting his Haverhill roots.
