Christopher Ciccone, who left a distinctive mark on various creative industries and the footwear business, died at the age of 62 after a battle with cancer, according to a statement from his representative to Variety. Known for his artistic diversity and being Madonna’s brother — serving as her backup dancer, stylist and artistic director — Ciccone carved his own niche, culminating in a career spotlighted by his unique approach to design.
Ciccone’s ventures ranged from directing artistic concert tours, interior design, painting and designing furniture. He also authored a New York Times bestselling-memoir “Life with My Sister Madonna.” Amidst these accomplishments, his journey in the footwear industry included a debut of The Ciccone Collection on Sept. 14, 2012 at London Fashion Week. “Obviously, there will be a number of people wondering what the hell I am doing [designing] shoes,” Ciccone told FN in a 2012 interview ahead of London Fashion Week. “It’s a lot of pressure. Madonna will always be my sister.”
The collection, produced by Slovakia-based Novesta, featured rubber shoes and canvas sneakers, which he said was inspired by one of his wingtip shoes. “I started thinking about using different materials to create classic styles,” he told FN. “Fashion has been a part of my world since Madonna started on stage. I did my best to imprint my artistic visions, the way I paint and design furniture.”
His approach embedded fashion with function — a testament to his belief in accessibility. “I was dead set against creating something that cost $500 a pair,” he said. “I won’t even spend that much on a pair of shoes. It’s definitely a mid-level brand that is not out of reach for most people.”
He added that he had plans to expand it into a full lifestyle label, including accessories and home goods. “I purposely chose the name The Ciccone Collection so as not to pigeonhole it into just footwear,” he said. “This is bigger than that and there is a lot more to come.”
