Marion Parke, who debuted her namesake shoe brand for spring 2016, is winding down her business after 10 years.
In a statement sent to FN, Parke said that this chapter “has been a dream marked by incredible friendships, partnerships and countless beautiful shoes worn by incredible women.”
“I’m so proud of my team and of the many collaborators that supported us over the past ten years,” Parke stated. “I’m also truly humbled that so many women trusted us and welcomed the brand into their wardrobes. It’s a bittersweet moment, and also time to turn the page.”
The move comes as the landscape for independent shoe designers remains challenging, from wholesale turmoil to higher production costs. Still, the timing is somewhat unexpected given that the brand’s representative recently disclosed to FN that returning customers placed 26 percent more orders and drove a 40 percent increase in total sales in 2025 compared to the prior year, while owned channels continued to strengthen as the brand deepened relationships with existing customers.
That momentum also seemingly carried into 2026, with net sales surging 80 percent year-to-date, powered by gains across the business, the representative said.
FN has reached out for further comment as to why Parke has made the move.
As the company winds down, it’s offering 25 percent off all orders on its website and will continue to honor its 14-day return policy on all online orders placed through May 21. For orders placed between May 22 and June 14, Parke said she will offer exchanges only. No refunds will be given. All orders placed after June 15 will be final. No exchanges or refunds will be accepted. All gift cards and site credits must be redeemed by June 30.
Soon after launching her line in 2016, Parke made noise in the industry as a former podiatric surgeon creating comfortable, luxury Italian shoes for women. Her patented technology caught the attention of retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale’s.
“I have a passion for luxurious fashion. [So my line is] a marriage of those two things: orthotic design and high fashion,” Parke told FN in August 2015 ahead of her collection’s debut. “It’s something that is lacking and that women are looking for.”
Parke set off for Italy to produce her first collection. There, she was able to craft features such as arch supports, a medical-grade foam and contoured insoles that add a high level of comfort.
“Sourcing from the best tanneries in Italy was a goal of mine, and I’m very excited to work with them,” she said at the time, adding that the transition was a learning curve. “They’ll say to me, ‘Marion, because you’re a doctor, you think the strap should go here, but let me explain why it should go here.’ The two worlds collide [in terms of] what we think is functional and what is beautiful.”
