9 African-American Shoe Designers You Should Know

Shane and Shawn Ward

Many twins spend a lifetime trying to foster an identity separate from their siblings. That may never have been the goal for Shane and Shawn Ward, but as one spent his days designing for Adidas, and the other traded stocks on Wall Street, it would have been an easy inference to make.  Today their attitude toward independence is best represented by the name of their company, Shane&Shawn.  Crafting shoes for men and women using materials and principles that mimic the shock absorption and support that make sneakers so comfortable, their designs have won over the likes of Diddy, Jamie Foxx and the Black Eyed Peas.  When the recession descended their business suffered a swift drop in sales.  Rather than give up they got lean.  Scaling back staff, outsourcing manufacturing and closing their Manhattan boutique has allowed the brothers to focus on online sales and thereby keep their feet the market.