How to Become a Business Development Manager in Footwear

October 25, 2021 by Charlie Kane

Career Profile, Salary, & Job Outlook —

What does a Business Development Manager do?

Footwear Business Development Manager or Brand Energy Developer manages the conversion of an existing sneaker model into a customized new model. They primarily do this for partnerships, energy, or partnership launches. In addition, they propose material, component, and construction options to the Energy team. These new options must meet key aesthetic, feature, and product performance goals. Brand Energy Developers engage in all phases of the product development process. This role ensures the overall completion of projects, including its mass-production capability, testing, and analysis. All of their projects must meet design intent as well as performance, costing, and sustainability goals.

How much does a Business Development Manager make?

According to Comparably, Footwear Business Development Managers make a national average of $84,000 or $40.38 an hour in 2021. In general, entry-level footwear business development associates make around $67,200 annually, with senior-level business development managers making $130,410 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

Footwear Business Development Managers push a sneaker company forward through how it builds and manages relationships, partnerships, and talent. The collaborations they form allow sales to ripple from the energy sneaker but onto their legacy and inline sneakers.

What is the job outlook for a Business Development Manager?

By 2022, there is a projected volume growth of 4.0% in the footwear market. During the 2018-2028 decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected job growth in the fashion design industry (including Footwear Development Managers) to grow one percent. (www.bls.gov).

How to kick-off your career:

Begin to build relationships with other creatives, or those who work in your favorite companies.
Understand the sneaker production process.
Download the Ultimate Sneaker Career Guide to learn more about your career path.
Take Parsons’ Sneaker Essentials online course featuring Complex and other industry experts.

Learn about business development managers in footwear

Learn from:
Gregg Woodcock
Sneaker Essentials contributor, FIT Faculty

Designer Credits: Mossimo, FILA, FUBU, Phat Farm, Diane von Furstenberg, and Diddy’s footwear operation

Related Careers:

How To Become A Women’s Footwear Designer

October 25, 2021 by Charlie Kane

Career Profile, Salary, & Job Outlook —

What does a Women’s Footwear Designer do?

Women’s Footwear Designers build innovative sneaker designs that advance the product aesthetic and performance for women’s consumer markets. They follow the execution of all product details including construction, form, color, materials, style, fit, and performance. Usually working with a team, Women’s Footwear Designers develop sneaker designs with regard to cost/value requirements, manufacturability, sustainability, merchandising, and aesthetic finish. In addition, as women’s sneakers become part of regular assortment planning, many companies are looking for footwear designers who can cater to the women’s consumer bucket.

How much does this type of footwear designer make?

According to Glassdoor, Footwear Designers make a national average of $74,414 annually or $35.78 an hour in 2021. Entry-level footwear designers make around $46,000 annually, with senior-level footwear designers making $112,000 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

In general, there has been an increase in women taking on leadership and director roles within sneaker companies. Therefore, there’s a progression in possibilities for women’s sneakers are projected from the progression made for women’s sneakers and extended sizing.

What is the job outlook for a Women’s Footwear Designer?

By 2022, there is a projected volume growth of 4.0% in the footwear market. Moreover, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the fashion design industry (including Women’s Footwear Designers) is projected to grow one percent during the 2018-2028 decade (www.bls.gov).

How to kick-off your career:

Learn about the sneaker production process.
Create a moodboard of your favorite womens sneakers.
Research sneaker designers that you admire.
Download the Ultimate Sneaker Career Guide to plan your career path.
Explore the Sneaker Essentials online course to begin your sneaker design journey.

Learn from:
Gregg Woodcock
Sneaker Essentials contributor, FIT Faculty

Designer Credits: Mossimo, FILA, FUBU, Phat Farm, Diane von Furstenberg, and Diddy’s footwear operation

Related Careers:

Footwear Buyer, Sneakers

October 25, 2021 by Charlie Kane

What does a Footwear Buyer do?

Footwear Buyers are responsible for the sales forecasting and buying for sneakers for men, women, or kid’s categories. Moreover, they have the responsibility of generating a seasonal merchandise plan and assortment strategy to maximize opportunities. Their aim consists of growing the business for a company, boutique, or e-commerce brand. Footwear buyers analyze sales on a daily/weekly basis, propose action plans, if necessary. They also identify growth opportunities whether in their assortment or visual merchandising.

How much does a Footwear Buyer make?

According to Glassdoor, Footwear Social Media Managers make a national average of $59,978 or $28.84 an hour in 2021. Assistant footwear buyers make around $51,876 annually, with senior-level footwear buyers making $95,000 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

Footwear Buyers create compelling and timely sneaker and footwear assortments that meet or exceed the sales volume and profits for their category. In general, this role is responsible for the success of the footwear category by using their trend and business intuition to direct the assortment of footwear to meet the sneaker consumer.

What is the job outlook for a Footwear Buyer?

Related Careers:

MADE: How Kenneth Anand made a career in sneaker law

October 25, 2021 by Charlie Kane

PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE’S SUCH THING AS HAVING IT “MADE.” THIS SERIES TAKES US TO THE GRIND, PERSISTENCE, AND DEDICATION IT TAKES TO PREPARE FOR THE RIGHT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

Not all career pathways are the same. What we see as overnight success on social media are archived years of preparation before meeting that opportunity. There are no shortcuts to studying, obtaining a law degree, or passing the bar. Each year of experience counts in building a career in law. Kenneth Anand took a traditional pathway in practicing law and dedicated years to a law firm. Then, he used his experience to understand sneakers and fashion. This led to creating a law firm representing creatives and designers who drive those industries.

Fifteen years were under Kenneth’s belt before being aligned with an opportunity to be the General Counsel for Yeezy, Kanye West’s clothing and sneaker line. He created his own lane, year by year, which led him to a dream opportunity. Today, he is a lawyer, author, consultant, and business owner of streetwear brands like JustDon and 424 Fairfax. To celebrate the launch of the newest module in Sneaker Essentials featuring contributors Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein, Kenneth speaks with Yellowbrick about the different milestones he experienced in his career and how they led to creating Sneaker Law.

Sneaker culture is all about being your true self. And so we wanted to create something that embodied what that was about in education.

As a novice…

Having a strong interest in sneakers as a kid, it was a wrap when Kenneth discovered Jordans. Turned sneakerhead at only seven years old, he dreamt about wearing coveted sneakers and building his collection. It wasn’t until several years later when his parents gifted him his first pair of Jordans. He was hooked from then on. Over the years, Kenneth was a sneaker collector and always looked towards a career in sneaker law. He took the necessary steps and a traditional pathway, graduating from Brooklyn Law school and practicing employment law.

As an expert…

Day-by-day, Kenneth put on a suit and stepped into the courtroom arguing cases in state and federal courts. After years of pursuing employment law, Kenneth started his law firm and developed clients in the creative space. He began to represent sneaker designers and brands, offering cost-effective representation across the employment, IP and entertainment fields. Then, Kenneth realized how much more time he wanted to devote to supporting streetwear, fashion, and sneaker brands through law.

Kenneth Anand, co-creator of Sneaker Law — Kenneth Anand is a Sneaker Essentials contributor for Module 7, Sneaker Law. Source: Miami School of Law

The opportunity…

In 2017, Kanye West’s sneaker and fashion line, Yeezy, offered Kenneth a General Counsel role. And for two and a half years, he dedicated himself as their head lawyer. This role turned into Head of Business Development, in which he spearheaded developing new and existing lines of business. When speaking about his time at Yeezy, Kenneth recalls, “as somebody that grew up loving sneakers and hip hop and fashion, this was the perfect storm job for me. It was probably the most hyped I’ve ever been in my career.” While it took 15 years for Kenneth to work hard, arguing court cases routinely, it prepared him for Yeezy.

As somebody that grew up loving sneakers and hip hop and fashion, this was the perfect storm job for me. It was probably the most hyped I’ve ever been in my career.

As notorious as the opportunity and time at Yeezy, Kenneth didn’t stop there. He returned to school to get his Executive MBA in Business. This helped him expand his knowledge, and support his next step in his career before Sneaker Law. After leaving Yeezy, Kenneth co-founded 3 8 0 Group, a fashion licensing company specializing in manufacturing and distributing premium apparel, footwear, and accessories. 3 8 0 group currently owns the licenses to leading streetwear brands such as JustDon, 424 Fairfax, MSFTSrep, and Bel-Air Athletics. Kenneth is also an advisor and consultant to many sneaker companies answering questions around the sneaker business and law.

The creation of Sneaker Law…

When Kenneth met Jared Goldstein, a legal intern for Complex who contributed articles around sneaker law, they began to think of ways to collaborate. As a result, they started the four-year-long process of writing Sneaker Law. A textbook that explains the facets of the sneaker business, Sneaker Law is the first book of its kind. It was important for Kenneth to create something that embodied the culture. Sneaker Law is a book for people to learn and understand the sneaker business. “I felt like [Jared and me] didn’t fit in [law school]. Sneaker culture is all about being your true self. And so we wanted to create something that embodied what that was about in education.”

Sneaker Law inspires courses around the subject matter in colleges and universities. University of Miami Law School, Georgia State, Parsons, and Rutgers use Sneaker Law as an official reading requirement. With FIT and Complex, Yellowbrick has added a new module into our Sneaker Essentials course, Sneaker Law. This module covers the sneaker business, intellectual property, and considerations when making a sneaker deal. Check out our Sneaker Essentials course to get a comprehensive overview of the sneaker industry and sneaker business.

Want to explore becoming a sneaker lawyer or other careers within the sneaker industry and how to get started? Explore our Ultimate Sneaker Career Guide.

MADE: How Jared Goldstein made a career in sneaker law

October 25, 2021 by Charlie Kane

PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE’S SUCH THING AS HAVING IT “MADE.” THIS SERIES TAKES US TO THE GRIND, PERSISTENCE, AND DEDICATION IT TAKES TO PREPARE FOR DREAM OPPORTUNITIES.

When thinking about attending law school, you usually wouldn’t correlate sneakers with it. But Jared Goldstein always had a vision for meshing his passion and love for sneakers. He paired this alongside his interest and intellectual curiosity for the law. Jared found a way to make his dream come true with relentless passion and application. Once a sneakerhead and reseller, Jared is now a lawyer and co-author of Sneaker Law — the first textbook made to teach the sneaker business.

Before Sneaker Law, Jared put in years towards school. He deepened his knowledge of sneakers and the law. Then, he applied himself with a viable internship at Complex before landing the right opportunity. To celebrate the launch of the newest module in Sneaker Essentials featuring contributors Jared Goldstein and Kenneth Anand, Jared speaks with Yellowbrick about the different milestones he experienced in his career and how they led to creating Sneaker Law.

To that date, nobody has ever written about the lack of legal protection for sneaker designs. So, with extreme passion, Jared wrote over 40 pages of explicit legal content around sneaker designs.
JARED GOLDSTEIN

As a novice…

Jared instantly saw himself as a sneakerhead when he heard Nelly’s 2002 hit, Air Force Ones. To explore his newfound obsession, Jared read Complex’s now-defunct print magazine, specifically articles by Joe La Puma.

He knew at eight years old that he wanted to fuse his passion for sneakers and the law but didn’t exactly know the pathway to do so. The usual track was to work in-house for a sneaker company or a law firm that represented a sneaker brand — both limited with opportunities taking years and even sometimes a lifetime to achieve. Millennials and Gen Z expect rapid progression in their careers.

According to research by PWC, millennials hold particular characteristics such as “ambition and desire to keep learning and move quickly upwards. . . as well as their willingness to move on quickly if their expectations are not being met.” In addition, like with Gen Z today, creative achievers want to feel their work is worthwhile and that their efforts are recognized — and fast.

During law school, Jared researched and discovered law reviews, scholarly journals, or periodicals that focus on various legal issues. One of the requirements to become a law review member is to make a note (or a thesis) that is unique and has never been written before. After submitting your note, it’s judged before a panel to determine if it will be published in the journal.

Jared saw this as an opportunity for his career in sneaker law. To that date, nobody has ever written about the lack of legal protection for sneaker designs. So, with extreme passion, Jared wrote over 40 pages of explicit legal content around sneaker designs. Proud of his work, Jared submitted his note. However, the panel rejected it. Upset, he went back to the drawing board to figure out his next steps.

As an expert…

Just a short time after his rejection with the law review, Jared landed an internship at Complex as a legal intern. After years of reading Joe La Puma’s articles and following his career, he couldn’t believe that he was in the same office as him. Landing this dream internship was a pivotal moment. With a stroke of inspiration, he came up with an idea. He would use the opportunity at Complex as an avenue to get his law review note out to the world. Jared pinpointed the missing gap in the sneaker industry. He knew his 40-pages of legal content was valuable information for the sneaker industry.

While fulfilling his duties as a legal intern, Jared pitched his idea to Complex Sneakers Editor, Matthew Welty. Matthew loved the idea and proposed a new challenge for Jared — turning 30,000 words of legal language into 1,000 words for sneaker aficionados alike. After a couple of all-nighters, Jared completed a 1,000-word piece, “Here’s What Happens When a Brand Gets Sued for Ripping Off a Sneaker Design.” After that, he wrote a couple of more articles for Complex about legal areas around shoe design and sneakers.

Jared Goldstein. Sneaker Essentials conributor — Jared Goldstein joins Sneaker Essentials as a contributor to Module 7, Sneaker Law.

Sneaker Law opportunity…

Sneakerheads and industry professionals consume your work when published in a massive media platform like Complex. And Kenneth Anand (previously General Counsel for Yeezy Apparel) was one of them. At the time, Kenneth was a partner for a law firm and reached out to Jared to meet him. They met at an Au Bon Pain, where they talked for hours and hours at length about sneakers. Jared couldn’t believe that he had met someone with similar interests who also practices law. He became inspired by Kenneth and wanted a career like his — to rock sneakers to work and practice law that he’s passionate about.

They began thinking of ways to collaborate, including writing law articles around the subject matter of sneakers and the law. Instead, they found an opportunity to write a book together about the many facets of the sneaker industry. On the side of building their law careers, they worked together for four years on what would become Sneaker Law.

But the opportunity doesn’t stop there. Adopted as an official textbook for colleges for University of Miami Law School, Georgia State, Parsons, and Rutgers, Sneaker Law inspires sneaker law courses. Kenneth Anand and Jared Goldstein have also been invited to lecture at Harvard. They continue developing their retail strategy to get Sneaker Law into the hands of sneakerheads, creatives, entrepreneurs, and law professionals. With FIT and Complex, Yellowbrick has added a new module into our Sneaker Essentials course, Sneaker Law. This module covers sneaker business, company structures, intellectual property, and understanding sneaker deals. Check out our Sneaker Essentials course to get a comprehensive overview of the sneaker industry and sneaker business.

Interested in careers like corporate sneaker lawyer and how to get started? Explore our Ultimate Sneaker Career Guide.

Men’s Footwear Designer

October 29, 2021 by Charlie Kane

What does a Men’s Footwear Designer do?

Men’s Footwear Designers create innovative, unique footwear styles and colorways that reflect a sneaker brand’s aesthetic. Furthermore, they bring innovation and move the business forward in a trend-relevant manner. They take into consideration aesthetics, comfort, support, safety, practicality, and durability to create the most functional and appealing sneaker. Men’s Footwear Designers design layouts, models, and depictions of what will eventually emerge within the men’s sneaker market. Usually working primarily with a team, a Men’s Footwear Designer is responsible for concept creation using CAD, design research and trends, presenting collections, comprehensive design rendering, and assessing new technologies in materials and textile processing.

How much does a Men’s Footwear Designer make?

According to Glassdoor, Footwear Designers make a national average of $74,414 annually or $35.78 an hour in 2021. In addition, entry-level footwear designers make around $46,000 annually, with senior-level footwear designers making $112,000 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

Though footwear is popular among both men and women, it is the former gender that is driving the market growth. Making Men’s Footwear Designers an important asset to the sneaker industry. Moreover, Men’s Footwear Designers determine what the men’s consumer markets will wear on their feet, innovate sneaker technology, and impact sneaker trends.

What is the job outlook for a Men’s Footwear Designer?

The Footwear market is expected to show a volume growth of 4.0% in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the fashion design industry (including Men’s Footwear Designers) is projected to grow one percent during the 2018-2028 decade (www.bls.gov).

Learn from:
Gregg Woodcock
Sneaker Essentials contributor, FIT Faculty

Designer Credits: Mossimo, FILA, FUBU, Phat Farm, Diane von Furstenberg, and Diddy’s footwear operation

Related Careers:

CAD Engineer, Footwear

November 1, 2021 by Charlie Kane

What does a Footwear CAD Engineer do?

Footwear CAD Engineers utilize 3D digital modeling skills to contribute to the creation of accurate 3D footwear models. In addition, they prepare technical specs to send to a factory with all details filled out for the factory to design. Through their renders, they help reduce physical prototypes and samples. In addition, this sneaker job reduces calendar timelines to help a footwear company become more sustainable by enabling new business processes.

How much does this career make?

According to Glassdoor, Footwear Designers make a national average of $74,414 annually or $35.78 an hour in 2021. According to Comparably, Footwear 3D CAD Engineers make a national average of $82,575 annually or $39.70 an hour in 2021. Entry-level CAD designers make around $49,920 annually, with senior-level positions making $167,100 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

The biggest impact of this career is to provide the 3D modeling and development of new and existing designs for sneakers. They help begin the sneaker product process and planning.

What is the job outlook for a Footwear CAD Engineer?

The Footwear market is expected to show a volume growth of 4.0% in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the fashion design industry (including CAD Engineers, Footwear) is projected to grow one percent during the 2018-2028 decade (www.bls.gov).

Learn from:
Den Ly
Sneaker Essentials contributor, DKNY

CAD Footwear Assistant Designer

Related Careers:

Color Designer, Footwear

November 1, 2021 by Charlie Kane

What does a Color Designer do?

Footwear Color Designers focus their creativity, sense of style, and storytelling to provide the best color solutions. They also lead seasonal color directions to meet the needs of a sneaker consumer. They are passionate about elevating the consumer experience through design and execution of color. Their goal is to deliver a premium, recognizable, and consumer relevant point of view. Footwear Color Designers will focus on both the art, science, color theory and materials innovation across multi-season calendars throughout the design, development, and manufacturing process.

How much does this career make?

According to Comparably, Footwear Color Designers make a national average of $58,104 annually or $27.93 an hour in 2021. Moreover, entry-level footwear color designers make around $49,479 annually, with senior-level footwear color designers making $72,369 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

Color Designers look to the future greatly. They are in pursuit of ideas and color stories to further elevate a sneaker brand’s story for the consumer experience. In addition, color designers elevate a sneaker model by relating or pushing footwear trends.

What is the job outlook for a Color Designer?

The Footwear market is expected to show a volume growth of 4.0% in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the fashion design industry (including Color Designers, Footwear) is projected to grow one percent during the 2018-2028 decade (www.bls.gov).

Frank Zambrelli, Color Designer FIT Faculty

Learn from:
Frank Zambrelli
Sneaker Essentials contributor, FIT Faculty

Designer Credits: Chanel, Calvin Klein, Coach

Related Careers:

Creative Director, Footwear

November 1, 2021 by Charlie Kane

What does a Footwear Creative Director do?

Footwear Creative Directors shape and steer sneakers through leading advanced design solutions and direction to the look of a brand’s ethos. In general, they seamlessly work cross-functionally with design teams to influence and develop current and future initiatives. They do this according to market trends and overall design direction to ensure consistency across sneakers lines. Furthermore, they steer and drive the conceptualization process by researching functional, product concepts and outlining areas of innovation.

How much does this career make?

According to Comparably, Footwear Creative Directors make an average of $133,333 annually or $64.10 an hour in 2021. Nationally, junior creative directors make around $65,000 annually, with senior-level creative directors making $180,00 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

Footwear Creative Directors are at the forefront of design trends and innovation, as well as their application. They are key in functional relationships across a brand’s leadership team, design team, and innovation teams through inspiring and motivating teams to pursue cutting edge ideas that are innovating and original in the market.

What is the job outlook for a Creative Director in Footwear?

The Footwear market is expected to show a volume growth of 4.0% in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the fashion design industry (including Creative Directors, Footwear) is projected to grow one percent during the 2018-2028 decade (www.bls.gov).

Learn from:
Jon Tang
Sneaker Essentials contributor, Fronteer

Founder & Creative Director, Fronteer
Senior Designer, Collaborations & Special Projects, K-Swiss

Related Careers:

Footwear Design Engineer

November 1, 2021 by Charlie Kane

What does a Design Engineer do?

Footwear Design Engineers continuously seek opportunities to innovate, problem-solve and make better footwear products. They create both in-line and innovation-based samples. Within the sneaker design hierarchy, these designers sit between design, development, and engineering. Although they play an intermediate role, they carry concept creation, design & development, and work with 3D software and programs.

How much does this career make?

According to Comparably, Footwear Design Engineers make a national average of $108,000 annually or $51.92 an hour in 2021. In general, entry-level footwear design engineers make around $86,400 annually, with senior-level footwear designers making $129,600 a year.

What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?

Footwear Design Engineers support the development of new technologies for sneaker design by bringing footwear concepts to life. Their role in prototyping a sneaker design gives the possibilities and understanding of the mass production process into the hands of sneaker consumers.

What is the job outlook for a Design Engineer?

The Footwear market is expected to show a volume growth of 4.0% in 2022. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the fashion design industry (including Innovation/Designer Engineers, Footwear) is projected to grow one percent during the 2018-2028 decade (www.bls.gov).