Shoe designer Vince Camuto dies, age 78

The legendary women's shoe designer has died, aged 78

American footwear designer Vince Camuto, died yesterday at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut, aged 78.

The legendary shoe designer famously founded the high street footwear retail brand Nine West before it was sold to the Jones Group in 1999 for $900 million.

Camuto founded his own label Vince Camuto in 2001 and also worked alongside Tory Burch on her footwear range.

Camuto's own name brand has 30 stores across the US, is sold in nearly all major US retailers and in another 62 countries globally.

He also launched the footwear brand of American singer Jessica Simpson, acting as her business mentor int the development of the now multi-million dollar brand.

A photo posted by Jessica Simpson (@jessicasimpson) on Jan 21, 2015 at 10:01pm PST

Simpson shared a picture on Instagram of herself alongside the designer and his wife with the quote:

"It is never about one person. It's the teams you put in place. Without the right people, you're nowhere" - Vince Camuto'

"Thank you, Vince, for the humble power that has taken me everywhere. You are my mentor, my family, the creator of all my dreams. I will forever walk in your shoes…you made them. #brokenheart."

Camuto is survived by his wife Louise and five children.