Deer Stags, the nearly 100-year-old men’s and boys’ footwear company, is starting a new chapter by joining the Jack Schwartz Shoes portfolio of brands.
Together, the two multi-generational, family-owned footwear businesses with deep roots in New York, are now joined as one team with Jack Schwartz Shoes president and chief executive officer David Schwartz “excited for what’s next.”
“We’re proud to bring Deer Stags into the fold—an exciting addition that strengthens both our capabilities and our shared ambition,” Schwartz said in a statement. ““We’re excited to work closely with the Muskat family. Rick has been a friend for years, and what’s always stood out is how aligned we are in how we think—about product, partners, and building brands, businesses, and legacies that last.”
The CEO added that the new partnership creates “real opportunity to learn from each other, operate more efficiently, and grow meaningfully while staying true to who we are.”
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“Over time, through countless conversations as friends navigating everything from COVID to supply chain disruption to tariffs, it became clear that our companies share not only similar values, but complementary strengths,” Schwartz added. “When the opportunity presented itself, there was an undeniable fit. By combining our resources with the Muskat family’s deep experience and brand foundation, we see a clear path to building on what Deer Stags has already achieved—and helping write an incredible next chapter.”
According to Jack Schwartz Shoes, it will leverage its 90 years of manufacturing and operational experience to support Deer Stags as it approaches its centennial milestone. Together, the companies see a “meaningful opportunity to elevate the brand—expanding its reach, sharpening its voice, and building on its legacy for the next generation of consumers.”
Founded in 1929 and carried forward by the Muskat family for decades, Deer Stags has remained family-owned, earning its place in the U.S. market through a consistent focus on comfort, reliability, and value.
Today, the brand continues to evolve through proprietary comfort innovations, including its Supro technology platform, while maintaining strong, long-standing partnerships with leading national retailers and digital marketplaces.
“We are a family business—built on relationships, resilience, and a drive to adapt,” Rick Muskat said. “The past few years have tested our industry in ways we’ve never seen, particularly with tariffs placing significant pressure on both costs and cash flow, while pulling focus away from the core work of building product and serving our customers.”
Muskat added that the Deer Stags team saw “tremendous opportunity” to evolve the business with this deal.
“In Jack Schwartz Shoes, we found a team that shares our values and understands what makes Deer Stags special,” Muskat said. “This gives us the strength and scale to navigate today’s challenges while staying true to who we are — our people, our relationships, and our roots as a family business—and to create new opportunities for our teams, our customers, and the next generation of our families. I couldn’t be more excited about where we go from here.”
Jack Schwartz Shoes also owns and operates Lugz and British Knights, along with licensed footwear for Lee and Ben Sherman.
