Edmundo Castillo, a true master craftsman and industry visionary, began his career in 1989, working with industry icons Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren before launching his namesake collection in 1999. His aim, he said, was “to make beautiful, high-quality shoes that women not only wanted to wear, but collect.” And indeed, his sensual and sophisticated designs soon attracted the attention of collectors and celebrities. In 2001, CFDA honored Castillo with the Perry Ellis Award for Best Emerging Accessories Designer. In 2004, he was nominated for a CFDA Best Accessories Designer award. That same year, he was named creative director of renowned Italian brand Sergio Rossi. During this time, Castillo also collaborated with designers such as Narciso Rodriguez, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vera Wang for their runway presentations.
Castillo also collaborated with brands such as Castañer, Tods, Oscar de la Renta, Via Spiga, and Aquatalia. In September of 2013, Vanidades magazine awarded Castillo the Icon of Style award for accessories, and in January of 2014, he received the Rising Star Award for accessories from Fashion Group International.
In 2018, the Tapestry Group asked Castillo to join them as senior vice president and international head of product design for Stuart Weitzman. He quickly transformed the brand, making it more modern and relevant. Castillo insists on continuing to evolve while remaining true to his signature aesthetic: “Designing shouldn’t be about looking back. To me, it’s about moving forward.”
