Heather Williams began her career as a footwear designer in New York City after graduating from Rhode Island School of Design in 2001. She spent several years working for large American Fashion Houses eventually landing senior design roles with Calvin Klein, and later, Donna Karan. After several successful years, a move to Europe was her next step and a goal she had set for herself when she started her career in design.
In early 2008, Heather relocated to Milan, Italy to continue to develop her creative skills as they applied to footwear and handbag manufacturing. She embraced the Italian artisans’ methods and gained invaluable, in-depth knowledge. It was during this time in Milan that she became inspired to launch her first solo venture, H Williams.
For the Fall 2009 launch, the brand was immediately recognized as a innovative newcomer and brand to watch. The unique styling, which was inspired by the architecture of Heather’s two home cities: New York and Milan, became a favorite of editors, stylists, and celebrities. Dolce and Gabbana endorsed the brand, featuring H Williams footwear in their flagship accessories store in Milan. In 2012, after several successful seasons, the challenging economy required the brand to take a strategic pause to restructure. It re-launched in the fall of 2014 with a new pricing structure that addressed the contemporary and luxury markets. The line also expanded into new categories to include casual and fashion-athletic styling in addition to the signature dress styles. Several limited-edition pieces of H Williams can be found at the permanent collection of the International Shoe Museum of Italy in Vigevano. Heather now lives in New York, but will always consider Milan a second home and returns there regularly.