Designer

Javier Santana is a Latin-American fashion designer.  Born in Dominican Republic and residing between New York City and Hong Kong, Javier combines his passion for cultural diversification and his hand for modern design into stylish, avant-garde footwear.  For over 30 years, Javier has been involved in the footwear industry from owning 8 retail stores in New York to becoming design director of Robert Wayne.   Realizing the need for quality product at affordable luxury price points, Javier founded JVR Group over 13 years ago, as a design, development and sourcing company headquartered in Guangzhou, China.  As Javier became more established and well known, brands such as Opening Ceremony, Elaine Turner, Cynthia Rowley, Nanette Lepore, United Nude, Derek Lam, DVF, 7 For All Mankind, Bill Blass, Joseph Abboud, Bunker, Bacco Bucci and Globe Footwear turned to him to help transition their design, development and manufacturing needs from Europe and South America to China.  Simultaneously, Javier partnered with Joan Hansen & Company, the oldest licensing brand management firm in the world, to develop a global branded footwear business and became the licensee for several well known brands including Greg Norman, Sondra Roberts, Tracy Reese and Steve Harvey.     

 

As founder and creative director of JAVI footwear, Javier lives at the nexus of fashion, retail and emerging technologies.  A European sensibility pervades his design, which finds its inspiration in New York Soho street culture; edgy fashion forward athletics with attitude.