Vida Shoes International has acquired Donald Pliner, including the premium footwear brand’s intellectual property and related assets. The transaction closed on July 20, 2026, and financial terms were not disclosed.
Donald Pliner, founded in 1989, is known for women’s and men’s footwear that combines distinctive design, comfort and premium craftsmanship. The brand is distributed through department stores, specialty retailers, digital partners and direct-to-consumer channels.
Vida plans to preserve Donald Pliner’s identity and existing product assortment while investing in product development, innovative materials, construction methods, digital commerce and customer engagement. The company also intends to maintain the brand’s current retail relationships and selectively broaden distribution without weakening its premium positioning.
The acquisition expands Vida’s portfolio of owned and licensed footwear brands. Its existing owned brands include Jambu, JBU, J Sport, Aquatalia, Andre Assous and Munro, while its licensed portfolio includes BCBG, Bruno Magli, Kenneth Cole, Stride Rite, Carter’s and several children’s footwear brands.
KEY QUOTES:
“For more than 52 years, Vida has specialized in developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing footwear. Donald Pliner is an iconic brand with tremendous heritage, strong consumer recognition and significant growth potential.”
“Its premium positioning and loyal customer base align perfectly with our expertise and long-term vision. We believe Donald Pliner has all the ingredients necessary to become an even stronger force in the fashion-comfort marketplace.”
Solomon Dabah, President of Vida Shoes International
“We have tremendous respect for the Donald Pliner team and everything they have accomplished rebuilding the brand. Our goal is to provide additional resources, infrastructure and expertise that will accelerate growth while remaining true to the brand’s DNA.”
“We look forward to working closely together and building on the strong foundation already in place.”
Gabriel Safdeye, Senior Vice President of Vida Shoes International
“Having led Donald Pliner for the past six years, I have seen firsthand the strength of this brand, the talent of this team, and the loyalty of our customers. We worked hard to rebuild and elevate what Donald Pliner stands for, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished together.”
“I want to especially recognize Jonathan Guez, whose leadership of our e-commerce division meaningfully strengthened the brand’s digital presence and consumer reach. Seeing the brand join Vida’s portfolio is tremendously exciting. Vida’s proven record in the footwear industry, deep expertise and exceptional team make them the ideal home for the future of Donald Pliner. I look forward to their continued success.”
Griffin Guez, CEO of Donald Pliner
“This acquisition would not have been possible without the incredible people of Vida. Every division across our company has contributed to the strength of our business through hard work, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
“Our talented associates and leadership team have built the foundation that allows us to continue investing in exceptional brands and growing our portfolio. I want to sincerely thank every member of the Vida family for helping make this exciting new chapter possible.”
Solomon Dabah, President of Vida Shoes International
