Cheetah Stories Names Mark Schwartz as Creative Director A New Chapter for Ethical Couture
- Luxe magazine Switzerland
- 57 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Cheetah Stories Names Mark Schwartz as Creative Director A New Chapter for Ethical Couture
Minusio, Switzerland September 9, 2025 Cheetah Stories, the Swiss-born luxury footwear house redefining ethical couture, has announced the appointment of Mark Schwartz as its new Creative Director.
Schwartz’s name is etched into the history of fashion. A protégé of Roger Vivier, the inventor of the stiletto, and a long-time creative collaborator of Andy Warhol, he has spent decades shaping collections for the world’s most prestigious maisons Chanel, Hermès, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Balenciaga, and Charles Jourdan among them. His creations have illuminated the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York, and graced the feet of icons from Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Madonna to Julia Roberts, Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Hillary Clinton.
Now, he steps into a new era with Cheetah Stories, a brand that proves luxury and conscience can walk side by side.
“I’ve designed for the best in the world,” Schwartz reflects. “But I was searching for something that would ignite my creative spark again. With Cheetah Stories, I found not just a brand, but a movement one that places artistry, individuality, and ethics at its core.”
Founded in 2023 by Fiorella Erni and Martin Markovic, later joined by Valeria Blandina and Calvin Kroehne, Cheetah Stories has built its reputation on vegan high heels crafted in Italy, merging meticulous craftsmanship with sustainable innovation. Every element from leather alternatives to packaging is cruelty-free, ethically sourced, and uncompromising in luxury.
For Erni, this appointment is nothing short of transformative:
“Welcoming Mark Schwartz is a milestone,” says the CEO and founder. “He embodies the vision we stand for: that high heels can be powerful, refined, unapologetically bold and 100% ethical.”
Schwartz’s debut collection for the house is already underway. With more than 120 original sketches created in just a few months, the upcoming line promises to redefine luxury footwear: sensual yet sustainable, timeless yet radical.
But beyond fashion, it signals a cultural shift.
“This isn’t just about shoes,” Schwartz insists. “It’s about making a statement. About standing tall in your truth. About showing that the future of couture is ethical, sustainable, and fiercely individual.”
About Mark Schwartz
For more than 30 years, Mark Schwartz has been among the most influential figures in footwear design. Mentored by Roger Vivier and inspired by Andy Warhol, he has shaped collections for the likes of Chanel, Hermès, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Balenciaga, and Charles Jourdan. His celebrity clientele spans Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Madonna, Julia Roberts, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey, and Jennifer Lopez. Renowned not only for his footwear but also his artwork, Schwartz continues to bridge couture and fine art with a distinctive creative vision.
About Cheetah Stories
Founded in Switzerland in 2023 by Fiorella Erni and Martin Markovic, later joined by Valeria Blandina and Calvin Kroehne, Cheetah Stories is redefining luxury footwear through an ethical, vegan, and unapologetically bold approach. Each design, crafted in Italy, unites artisanal savoir-faire with innovation, proving that cruelty-free couture can rival the world’s most prestigious houses. The brand’s mission: to create high heels that embody individuality, elegance, and strength without compromise.
Press Contact
Calvin Kroehne
Cheetah Stories SA
calvin@cheetah-stories.com | +41 79 959 83 11
