Caleres Appoints Suzanne Vega SVP of Design, First Ever Design Lead for the Company

Suzanne Vega, a notable designer with a 25-year career in footwear, has been appointed as the SVP of Design at Caleres. Based in New York City, Vega will be responsible for leading the creative vision and design strategy for all of Caleres’ brands, including Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Naturalizer, Allen Edmonds and Dr. Scholl’s. She will oversee the global design teams.
Vega will report directly to Jay Schmidt, the chief merchandising and design officer of Caleres. According to Schmidt, having a design leader for the company provides a unique opportunity to strengthen and elevate the company’s portfolio and accelerate its strategic growth initiatives.
Vega has held leadership positions at Aerosoles, Donald J Pliner, Cole Haan, Tommy Hilfiger Footwear, Ralph Lauren Footwear and Nine West Group, where she led the design strategy, concept development, product innovation and team management. She has a proven track record of building strong brands through her unique ability to translate global trends and consumer insights into profitable products.
In 2020, Vega launched her own namesake lifestyle brand, Suzanne Rae, which offers a collection of modern, elevated footwear, handbags and accessories. The brand’s designs are known for their unexpected details, vivid color stories and unique material combinations.
Vega holds a Bachelor of Science degree in design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. She also received her footwear design certification from The Fashion Institute of Technology and the Ars Sutoria School in Milan, Italy. Her work has been recognized by Footwear News and included in the permanent collection of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.
Caleres is a global footwear company with a diversified portfolio of contemporary, lifestyle and performance brands. It is home to some of the industry’s most recognized brands, including Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Naturalizer, Allen Edmonds and Dr. Scholl’s, as well as emerging brands like Vionic and Blowfish Malibu. With a focus on innovation, the company’s products are available online, through leading department and specialty stores and at its more than 1,000 retail locations in the United States and Canada..