Legendary shoe designer Vince Camuto dies; co-founded Nine West Group

Vince Camuto, a legendary women's footwear designer, has died. He was 78.

Camuto died Wednesday at his home in Greenwich, Connecticut, said Matthew Murphy, director of the Fred D. Knapp & Son Funeral Home in Greenwich, which is handling the arrangements. Camuto had been reportedly battling cancer.

The designer is best known for co-founding the shoe company Nine West Group in 1978. He served as creative director there for two decades and was named CEO in 1993. Nine West was sold in 1999 to Jones Apparel Group.

In 2001, Camuto founded the Camuto Group, which owns his namesake footwear line. It also licensed products for Tory Burch, BCBG and others.