Vida Shoes International Acquires Premium Brand Donald Pliner

The acquisition integrates Donald Pliner’s established intellectual property and brand assets into Vida’s existing lineup, which already includes names like Aquatalia and Andre Assous. Solomon Dabah, President of Vida Shoes International, emphasized that the brand’s heritage and loyal customer base align with the company’s strategic goal of balancing owned and licensed labels. While Vida intends to maintain the brand’s existing retail relationships with department stores and specialty shops, the company will shift focus toward enhanced product development, innovative materials, and digital commerce expansion.

Gabriel Safdeye, Senior Vice President at Vida, noted that the transition aims to provide the infrastructure necessary to scale the brand while preserving its distinct design DNA. Griffin Guez, who served as CEO of Donald Pliner for the past six years, expressed confidence in the new ownership, citing Vida’s operational track record as the ideal environment for the brand’s next chapter. The transition team plans to sustain the current product assortment while gradually increasing consumer engagement through targeted marketing and expanded digital reach.