STEVE MADDEN

There are a lot of people who get support from a thriving business.

What inspires me is what I see people wearing on the streets of the world from New York to London and beyond. I get my ideas and inspiration from pounding the pavement all over the world. Today, fashion is dictated by individual style. To me, the fashion of the future is anything that a young guy or girl feels good wearing as long as it's put together in the right way.

You have to be a little contrite to get redemption.

People are afraid because I'm candid. They're always worried I'm going to get into trouble.

I don't fret much about the natural life spans of shoe companies. If stores don't do the right things, they cease to exist, and that doesn't trouble me at all.

You need to define yourself in the marketplace.

My strengths as a businessman lie in the design and sale of women's shoes, and I have never been comfortable with complicated or technical legal or business documents.

So much of design is context.

I could design an $800 shoe line; it's easy. You use the best materials and you can make beautiful shoes. It's easier than making great shoes for $90.

Growing is an important part of the business, but more important than that is to get better.

My strengths as a businessman lie in the design and sale of women's shoes, and I have never been comfortable with complicated or technical legal or business documents.

I'd like to work with Damien Hirst.

You have to be a little contrite to get redemption.

There are a lot of people who get support from a thriving business.

I am guilty of stupidity, arrogance, and greed.

I'm a New York story.

Growing is an important part of the business, but more important than that is to get better.

I've been making shoes my whole life.

So much of design is context.

You need to define yourself in the marketplace.

I could design an $800 shoe line; it's easy. You use the best materials and you can make beautiful shoes. It's easier than making great shoes for $90.

I don't fret much about the natural life spans of shoe companies. If stores don't do the right things, they cease to exist, and that doesn't trouble me at all.

People are afraid because I'm candid. They're always worried I'm going to get into trouble.

What inspires me is what I see people wearing on the streets of the world from New York to London and beyond. I get my ideas and inspiration from pounding the pavement all over the world. Today, fashion is dictated by individual style. To me, the fashion of the future is anything that a young guy or girl feels good wearing as long as it's put together in the right way.