Steve Madden's candid confession: Are his designs knockoffs?

IOL News

6 days ago

Shoe brand owner Steve Madden.
Image: TikTok Screenshot
In a recent interview with fashion podcast The Cutting Room Floor, hosted by designer Recho Omondi, shoe mogul Steve Madden addressed long-standing criticisms of his brand being a "knockoff" label.
Rather than shying away from the accusation, Madden responded, 'It's like calling the Beatles a knockoff band because they would take a little bit from Motown, and a little bit from Elvis,' Madden said during the interview.
'We design tons of shoes, but there's been the odd little shoe that I've nicked here and there.'
To push the convo even further, Omondi brought out photos of iconic shoe designs by the Steve Madden brand and asked him to name the original source.
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The first picture showed a pair of popular Alaïa's fishnet ballerina flats.
He got it right instantly. 'Do you think that some of my girls even know who Alaïa is?' he joked. Honestly? Probably not. But they know a cute flat when they see one.
Steve Madden version of the popular Alaïa flats.
Image: TikTok
Next was a sandal with a very familiar 'H' strap, which is clearly a nod to Hermès' famous Oran sandals.
Madden didn't hesitate and responded, 'I have made so many of these shoes.'
'Obviously we know who it is. This is one of the greatest shoes in the world. We changed it a little bit.'
Steve Madden Hermès sandal knockoff.
Image: TikTok
Then she showed him an image of a two-tone nude with a black cap-toe ballet flat.
'C'mon,' Madden said. 'I love those shoes. Those are inspired by Chanel.'
Then came a pair of black horsebit loafer-style mules.
'This is not a copy,' he insisted. 'We do a lot of versions of this shoe. Many more than they do. Gucci, of course.'
Steven Madden version of the popular Gucci shoe.
Image: TikTok
The only time Madden seemed stumped was when shown a pointed-toe slingback kitten heel with a three-buckle strap.
'I really don't know,' he admitted. When Omondi told him it was Miu Miu, his response was pure admiration: 'Is that Miu Miu? What a great brand Miu Miu is.'
If you've ever walked through a mall or scrolled Instagram, you've probably come across a pair of Steve Maddens.
The brand has been around since the early '90s.
Madden started selling chunky platform shoes from the trunk of his car, and the brand exploded.
Thanks to its ability to translate luxury runway looks into wearable, wallet-friendly versions, Steve Madden has remained popular for over three decades.
Even though he spent some time in prison for financial crimes in the early 2000s, he managed to bounce back.
And instead of pretending to be high fashion, he's leaned into his role as a brand that gives people what they want, even if it's 'inspired by' something with a four-digit price tag.