02 Jun Libby Edelman to Co-Chair Two Ten Footwear Foundation’s Women in Footwear Industry (WIFI) Group
Two Ten Footwear Foundation, the footwear industry’s national charitable organization, today announced that Libby Edelman, senior vice president, Sam Edelman Division, Brown Shoe Company, is joining Two Ten’s Women in Footwear Industry (WIFI) as co-chair. Edelman will be joining National WIFI Committee co-chair Carol Baiocchi, senior VP and DMM, Footwear, Kohl’s Department Stores and succeeding Brown Shoe Company CEO, president and chairman Diane Sullivan, who has served as a national co-chair since 2008.
Libby Edelman is a fashion leader with an unparalleled eye for trends and more than three decades of experience. Libby, along with her husband and life-long business partner, Sam, founded their eponymous brand, Sam & Libby, in 1987. The company grew from $3 to $88 million in sales in just four years. In 2004, the couple launched the Sam Edelman brand after recognizing a void in the marketplace for fashion forward footwear at an attainable price point. In 2010, Brown Shoe announced its acquisition of Edelman Shoe, Inc. The two companies continue to grow together, with Brown Shoe most recently purchasing the Sam & Libby brand and putting it back under the leadership of the Edelmans.
“Since it was established six years ago, WIFI has helped hundreds of young professional women to remain engaged with the industry and to help them build a foundation for a long-term career in footwear,” Edelman said. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to mentor and support so many talented women.”
“It has been rewarding to work with all the amazing women who are dedicated to supporting our industry through WIFI,” says Diane Sullivan. “I have no doubt that Libby will be a tremendous asset to WIFI and, along with Carol, will bring new energy and expertise to help inspire, support, mentor and educate women in the footwear industry.” Sullivan, the vice-chair of the Two Ten Board of Directors, will remain on the Overseers Board of WIFI.
Prior to launching her namesake brand, Libby Edelman’s innate style was born working as a fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar and Seventeen and on the client side as Public Relations Director for Calvin Klein.
About WIFI
Founded in 2008, Two Ten’s WIFI is a community group focused on inspiring, supporting, mentoring and educating women of all ages. WIFI unites the footwear industry’s emerging young professionals with established women leaders by offering relevant programming to a wide variety of interests. Current WIFI chapters are located in Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Milwaukee, WI; St. Louis, MO; Columbus, OH; New York, NY; and Boston, MA. The Annual WIFI Summit will be held from 6:30 to 8pm on June 4th at H.H. Brown, 1441 Broadway in New York City. This year’s summit will offer a panel discussion on social and digital marketing, featuring Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Minkoff, Danielle and Jodie Snyder, Dannijo and Alison Koplar Wyatt, Refinery 29. To register for this exciting event, visit www.twoten.org .