GREAT NEWS ABOUT GREAT SHOES, GREAT BRANDS, AND GREAT PEOPLE.
LET’S GET COMFORTABLE
Forbes Magazine named Schwilliamz designed footwear the top pick overall in its ranking of the Best Slippers For Plantar Fasciitis To Ease Foot Pain. Featuring Kuru’s patented Kurusole tech, the Kuru Draft 2 “doesn’t just alleviate plantar fasciitis—it’s also thoughtfully built with breathable fabric to keep your feet cool and comfortable” and requires “no awkward break-in period, so you can slip them on straight out of the box and feel like they’ve been molded just for your feet.”
CAPS OFF
Three cheers for Ann on graduating from T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined executive-level training for small businesses! “Sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this research-based, executive-level program combines business fundamentals with the innovative tools and competitive strategies needed to deliver immediate results. This intensive program gives ambitious small business owners a challenging opportunity to accelerate their growth through training led by business experts, strategize with professional coaches, and develop connections with like-minded peers.”
PLAY IN THE PUDDLES
Excited to share that Ann was recently featured in Self Magazine. In the article “10 Best Rain Boots to Keep Your Feet Dry and Comfy,” Ann offers insights on what makes an ideal rain boot and how functionality can meet style.
“When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles.”
CELEBRATING 21
Here's to over two decades of making strides in footwear design, strategy, and subject matter expertise!
We’re grateful to our incredible clients, partners, and collaborators—your trust and support have fueled our journey every step of the way. Thank you for being a part of our story.
Looking forward to the next chapter of collaboration, creativity, and continued success!
WHAT SAY YOU?
Ann was recently profiled by the Global Footwear Awards, for which she serves as a juror. She and her fellow jury members “will be evaluating bold, sustainable, and innovative designs at the 2024 Global Footwear Awards, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise from across the footwear industry to recognize and celebrate innovation.”
To learn more, walk this way.
COURAGE IN PINK SHOES
In its recent article about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hey Rhody profiled client Lisa Carlin and her brand Poppies With Purpose, one of two women-owned brands “on a mission to energize others with style and comfort.”
Read more here.
BRIDGING THE POND
We’re pleased to announce our official membership in the British Footwear Association, a leading industry organization founded in 1898.
This marks a significant milestone for us, and we’re excited to collaborate with fellow footwear industry leaders and contribute our expertise to this great community.
One of our key focuses will be assisting UK footwear businesses looking to expand or establish their operations in the US.
Cheers to new opportunities and successful ventures across the Atlantic!
“…the best slippers she’s ever owned.”
Wonderful to see Luvons in the top spot of Elle Decor’s “30 Best Gifts for the Hostess with the Mostest”!
“Crafted from performance silk and an oh-so-soft faux shearling lining,” the article proclaims, “these might become the best slippers she’s ever owned.”
It’s always thrilling to see hard work and creative collaboration recognized, especially by a publication as prestigious as Elle Decor.
Honored to share our shoe design expertise with CNN Underscored
For its recent article The Best Slip-on Shoes for Comfort and Exercise, According to Experts, CNN Underscored turned to Ann for her expertise and commentary. Among other factors, Ann emphasized the critical importance of proper fit, and how to determine your correct shoe size, when choosing “a slip-on, or any footwear for that matter,” Hint: there’s more to it than just whether your toes have enough wiggle room.
“Spread positivity with each step”
Super exciting to see Schwilliamz designed Limitless Slides featured on The Today Show: “Spread positivity with each step you take with these Limitless Slides. No matter if you wear them to the beach or while running errands, the slides have an array of insert options that you can switch around according to your mood.”
Check it out here.
“An absolute must-have for spring and summer”
In a profile entitled “What We're Loving for Spring: Essentials to Elevate Your Wardrobe” OK! Magazine touted Schwilliamz designed Limitless Slides as “first-of-its-kind, with a patented interchangeability system that allows wearers to insert various affirmations they embody or are seeking to embody. Limitless Slides combine style, unparalleled comfort, and positive affirmations, making them an absolute must-have for spring and summer.”
10 PERFECT NEW ENGLAND GIFTS FOR MOM
Nearly two years after being featured in Design Museum Magazine, it’s great to see our client Poppies with Purpose still making headlines.
Poppies received top billing on the NewEngland.com (Yankee Magazine) list of 10 Perfect New England Gifts for Mom. “There’s more than meets the eye to these eye-catching flats,” the author writes. “Poppies is a shoe brand on a mission to uplift women whose lives have been touched by cancer and to raise funds to support female cancer researchers.”
A pair of Poppies “will boost her spirits every time she slips them on.”
GLOBAL FOOTWEAR AWARDS 2023 - WINNER
Schwilliamz is honored to receive a pair of 2023 Global Footwear Awards for our work in the Fashion Sneakers and Sandals categories. Acknowledging ground-breaking footwear designs with the highest global recognition, the GFAs honor the best in the footwear industry, addressing creativity, innovation, sustainability, and social impact. The GFA Jury Panel consists of leading professionals from across the globe and from different disciplines within the footwear industry, including major publications, retailers, institutions, and influencers. GFA offers recognition in all categories from Fashion to Sports, and at every stage of development, from design to manufacturing and technology.
THE 15 BEST WATERPROOF BOOTS THAT’LL KEEP YOUR FEET DRY
InStyle Magazine · Jan 4, 2024
For its in-depth article about waterproof footwear, InStyle tapped “a team of footwear design, style, and outdoor experts for further insights: Ann Williams and Dean Schwartz, the creative consultant duo behind footwear design, product, and business strategy firm Schwilliamz Creative Consultants.”
20 YEARS ALREADY?
2 decades.
20 years.
80 seasons.
Countless footwear designs.
Millions of shoes.
Ceaseless creativity and collaboration.
And boundless gratitude to our clients, colleagues, friends and supporters as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary. We couldn't have reached this incredible milestone without you.
A TIMELESS FOOTWEAR CLASSIC REIMAGINED
Schwilliamz is pleased to be a part of the relaunch of Tuccia di Capri, the iconic Italian sandal brand with a rich history dating back to 1952. Miami Living Magazine writes that the Tuccia di Capri collection is “infused with a fresh and stylish take on tradition, once again ready to captivate fashion enthusiasts and wanderers alike. Today, the brand encompasses a collection that respects its heritage while embracing modern sensibilities.”
Next season’s collection is currently in the design phase.
Read the full Miami Living Magazine article here.
A SHOE DESIGNER DESIGNS A SHOE FOR A SHOE FREE HOME…
Exciting, but not surprising, to see that our client Luvons: “Luxe Footwear for Your Home” surpassed its funding goals on Kickstarter in 1 day and was selected as a "Project We Love". 7x7 San Francisco declares “the debut style from new SF brand Luvons checks all the boxes: effortless and elegant, luxurious, comfy and machine washable.”
The next Luvons collection is now being designed and developed, so keep an eye out.
Luvons website
Read the 7x7 San Francisco Magazine feature
Luvons Kickstarter
DESIGNING FOOTWEAR FOR A CAUSE: ONE COLORFUL STEP AT A TIME
We’ve always believed that emotion and purpose are at the heart and soul of great design.
Every so often, a design project perfectly aligns creative passion and technical skills with a deeper sense of meaning, and we realize that what drives us isn’t just professional attainment and commercial success, but also the understanding that somehow, on some scale small or large, what we do makes a difference in people’s lives.
Such was the case several months into lock-down when we were contacted by Lisa Carlin. Networking led Lisa to us, via a footwear industry leader with whom we’ve worked consistently over the years. We were immediately taken by Lisa’s positivity and upbeat personality, and we were genuinely intrigued by her concept of pairing footwear with her inspirational personal story and pledge to support others with similar experiences.
