Etu evans biography award

1969–

Shoe and accessory designer, interior design consultant, philanthropist

Referred to as the "Prince of Luxe," Etu Evans has made a name for himself as a tastemaker to celebrities. He built his company, Etu Evans, LLC, into an international footwear, accessory, and interior design company that creates luxury items and one-of-a-kind footwear for the rich and famous. The company also designs under several private labels and operates an on-site luxury spa.

Once considered learning disabled, Evans took the cards he was dealt and turned them into a winning hand with determination and hard work. He has been honored by many organizations for his entrepreneurial and philanthropic work, including Crain's Magazine, The National Urban League, Burger King, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Having achieved his own success, Evans' turned to philanthropy in order to help families and young people mired in unfortunate circumstances. To this end Evans has led the Solesville Foundation, a non-profit organization that shows others how to better their lives and provides shoes and aid to many.

Etu Evans was born on February 2, 1969, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and spent much of his youth in the company of his aunts and cousins in Queens, New York. His early years were a challenge, as Evans had been labeled by the school system as learning disabled. Evans considered himself fortunate, however, because his family would not allow him to be limited by labels. His mother Rosa, an educator, inspired her son to excel both academically and creatively. She also showed Evans how to be responsible and earn the things he wanted. It paid off. At the age of six, Evans started his own flower-arranging business. By the time he was 13, Evans had expanded into interior design with considerable success. Although Rosa continued to worry about her son's future, Evans continued to prove that he was well equipped to succeed. "I was unconventional and a progressive th

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

60 listed: 46 articles, 7 proceedings, 5 meeting abstracts & 2 theses;
As of October 2024;   Science Citation Index: Total # of citations: 1796, h-index: 23
Google Scholars: Total # of citations: 2709, h-index: 25; i10-index: 34

Journal Articles (Indexed by SCI)

(1969- )  Evans was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina.  Although he was considered learning disabled, Evans worked hard and graduated with a bachelors degree from S.C. State University; a masters degree from Columbia University and an associates degree from he Fashion Institute of Technology.

Evans was fascinated with his grandmother's stylish shoes, jewelry, and hats. He would fix up her old jewelry and do all sorts of things with them, thus the beginnings of an up and coming designer.  While studying shoe design at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, he launched a shoe line that became a custom-design business. Evans’ one-of-a-kind offerings soon began attracting celebrities including Tyra Banks and Halle Berry. His boots began selling for more than $2,500 a pair. Evans is known for dramatic designs, such as his cockatoo boot inspired by the exotic bird, and pumps that tie up with faux barbed wire that wind up the leg and past the knee.

Evans founded the Solesville Foundation, which collects, repairs, and redistributes new and used shoes.