Ronnie Fieg

Ronnie Fieg is the New York-based sneaker and streetwear designer behind the retailer Kith.

Opening its first stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn in 2011, Kith stocks leading brands like Puma, Adidas, New Balance and Timberland in minimalist spaces, attracting sneaker fans globally. Fieg’s own collaborations with the likes of Asics and Nike are also sold through Kith — having partnered with over 50 brands, he’s considered one of the most prolific sneaker designers and collaborators.

In 2012, Kith’s in-house apparel line was launched and, in 2016, Kith held its first show at New York Fashion Week. In the same year, it expanded retail locations across the US, launched a new space at luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman and completed a $2 million renovation of the Brooklyn store.

Starting his career as a 13-year-old stock assistant in his second cousin David Z’s footwear store, Fieg moved up the ranks to become head buyer with the retailer by age 25. After introducing a number of athletic brands into the store, in 2006, Fieg was approached by Asics to collaborate on a redesign of a shoe from their archive, which was released the following year.

The success of the partnership was partly fuelled by the Gel Lyte III trainer landing on the cover of the Wall Street Journal, after Fieg unknowingly sold a pair to a writer from the publication. In 2016, he celebrated his 50th design collaboration with the brand.

The commercial success of Kith hasn’t changed Fieg’s vision to grow his empire organically, with his loyal customer base. “As I get older, the product is changing a bit, my tastes are changing and I feel like the kid who was with me from the beginning is still with me now,” he told BoF in 2015. “Every year we’re growing exponentially. I want my guy to feel like he’s growing with me.”

In early April 2019, Kith opened its first store outside the US in London — a 700 square-foot space in Selfridges's recently-opened Designer Street Room.