STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE U.S. PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding revenue and earnings guidance, plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, and intentions. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as: “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “should,” “anticipate,” “project,” “predict,” “plan,” “intend,” or “estimate,” and similar expressions, or the negative of these expressions. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they represent our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding anticipated events and trends affecting our business, and industry based on information available as of the time such statements are made. We caution investors that such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy, and some of which may be outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. As such, investors should not rely upon them. Important risk factors include:

•our ability to accurately anticipate fashion trends and promptly respond to consumer demand;

•our ability to compete effectively in a highly competitive market;

•our ability to adapt to our business model to rapid changes in the retail industry;

•our dependence on the hiring and retention of key personnel;

•our ability to successfully implement growth strategies and integrate acquired businesses;

•changes in trade policies, additional tariffs on product imported to the United States, retaliatory trade actions taken by other countries, and resulting trade wars;

•supply chain disruptions to product delivery systems and logistics, and our ability to properly manage inventory;

•geopolitical tensions in the regions in which we operate and any related challenging macroeconomic conditions globally that may materially adversely affect our customers, vendors, and partners, and the duration and extent to which these factors may impact our future business and operations, results of operations, and financial condition;

•our reliance on independent manufacturers to produce and deliver products in a timely manner or to meet our quality standards if we experience a supply chain disruption and we are unable to secure an alternative source of raw materials or end products;

•our dependence on one or more of our significant customers;

•quarterly fluctuations of our financial results;

•extreme or unseasonable weather conditions in locations where we or our customers and suppliers are located;

•fluctuation of our stock price if our operating results are inconsistent with our forecasts or those of analysts who follow us;

•our exposure to risks related to integrating the operations, systems, processes, reporting, supply chains, and personnel of Kurt Geiger into our business;

•our exposure to risks associated with increased indebtedness used to finance the acquisition of Kurt Geiger, including related debt service requirements;

•our ability to manage risks associated with substantial goodwill and intangible assets recorded from the acquisition of Kurt Geiger, which could subsequently become impaired upon adverse changes to the business environment in which we operate;

•disruption of our information technology systems or e-commerce platforms;

•cybersecurity risks and costs of defending against, mitigating, and responding to data security threats and breaches impacting the Company;

•our ability to effectively implement artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies across our operations, and the risks that such technologies may not perform as expected, may be subject to regulatory constraints, or may increase operational, legal, or cybersecurity risks;

•litigation or other legal proceedings could divert management resources and result in costs;

•legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks that may affect our operations in international markets;

•exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations;

•our ability to adequately protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights;

•changes in economic conditions;

•additional tax liabilities resulting from audits by various taxing authorities;

•changes in U.S. and foreign tax laws that could have an adverse effect on our financial results;

•the actions of our licensees and diminished brand integrity;

•failure of our manufacturers, the manufacturers used by our licensees, or our licensees themselves to use acceptable labor practices or to otherwise comply with local laws and other standards;

•our ability to maintain effective internal control over our financial reporting; and

•other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

These risks and uncertainties, along with the risk factors discussed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, should be considered in evaluating any forward-looking statements contained in this report. We do not undertake, and disclaim, any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, including without limitation, any guidance regarding revenue or earnings, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

PART I

ACCESS TO COMPANY REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION

Steven Madden, Ltd. (collectively, with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” "we," "our," or "us," as applicable) was incorporated in New York on July 9, 1990, completed its initial public offering in December 1993, and subsequently reincorporated under the same name in Delaware in November 1998.

We file Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other reports and information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These reports, any amendments to such reports, and our proxy statements for our stockholders' meetings are available free of charge on the "Investor Relations" section of our website, https://www.stevemadden.com/, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. We will provide paper copies of such filings free of charge upon request. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding us, which is available at http://www.sec.gov.

We are not including the information contained on any of our platforms discussed in this report as part of, or incorporating them by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.