Nine West files for bankruptcy, won’t sell shoes anymore

Nine West Holdings, known for its ubiquitous footwear, filed for bankruptcy Friday and said it would sell its struggling shoe business, having missed the athletic shoe trend.

The New York-based company said it would focus instead on its jewelry and clothing lines, which include Anne Klein, Kaspar Group and One Jeanswear Group.

The retailer has faced a number of challenges in recent years, including slumping demand for ballet flats, sandals and high heels as consumers spend more of their money on athletic shoes and sneakers. Analysts said the decline of shopping malls and department stores — many of which sell Nine West products — also exacerbated its demise.

“This is a brand that has really struggled to differentiate itself,” said Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst for market research firm Forrester. “The only bright spot in the footwear industry has been athletic wear, and that’s not what Nine West sells.”

Nine West, which is owned by private equity firm Sycamore Capital, owes more than $1 billion to as many as 50,000 creditors, according to court documents filed in U.S Bankruptcy Court in New York.

The company said it is in talks to sell its Nine West and Bandolino shoe and handbag businesses to Authentic Brands Group, which oversees a range of brands including Neil Lane, Frye, Aeropostale and Juicy Couture.

“This is the right step to address our two divergent business profiles,” Ralph Schipani, chief executive of Nine West Holdings, said in a statement.