Luxury footwear designer Brian Atwood has joined Express as its creative director of footwear, the company announced Tuesday. Concurrent with the announcement, Atwood is launching a new collaboration shoe line with the retailer called “Brian Atwood for Express.”
Atwood’s namesake imprint will feature styles familiar to fans of his previous work, including stiletto heels and slouchy boots, with prices for that line ranging from $68 to $298, per the release. Future monthly releases will include styles for women and men, and the full line will be sold through Express stores and via its e-commerce site starting Tuesday.
“The process was very organic and the team at Express was wonderful and open to new ideas,” Atwood said in the release. “We were really focused on elevating the product and creating timeless shoes that people want to get resoled because they love them so much. We're going to give the customer something they haven't had yet."
Previously, Atwood was the head designer of accessories at Versace, where he began in 1996 as the first American designer to work for the luxury Italian fashion house. He later became creative director at Bally, where he worked from 2007 until 2009, when he left to focus exclusively on his eponymous line, which he launched in 2001.
“We wanted to create excitement around our shoe business, seeing as it is our largest demand-driving category in accessories,” Sara Tervo, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Express said in the release. “We knew Brian’s eye for design and industry credibility would elevate the offering and complement the seasonal product assortment.”
Meanwhile, the fashion apparel retailer is going through changes. Earlier in August, Express announced plans to cut 150 jobs by the end of the third quarter. In addition, the company saw the departure of Chief Operating Officer Matthew Moellering in May and Chief Merchandising Officer Malissa Akay in July.
Express and brand management firm WHP Global completed the acquisition of Bonobos from Walmart in May for $75 million.
