9 African-American Shoe Designers You Should Know

Tracy Reese

Knowing from an early age that she wanted to make pretty things, Tracy Reese took a straightforward path to a creative career.  Studies at Parsons School of Design and stints in Paris and New York fashion houses gave her the wherewithal to release an eponymous line of clothing in 1998, followed by a less formal collection, Plenty by Tracy.  Since then her designs have become fixtures on the runway and the racks of Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus,  Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.  The business has grown to include items for the home, accessories, and in 2005, shoes sold under the labels Plenty and Tiara.  In 2009 she paired up with Keds for a new take on cute and comfy, and one would be wise to expect her to keep kicking around fresh ideas on the footwear front.