Footwear News held its annual Achievement Awards ceremony last night (November 28, 2017) in Manhattan, an event sponsored by the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY), Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), Zappos Luxury and Ruffino Wine. The ceremony was attended by footwear industry influentials and award recipients, who were announced prior to the event.
Once again, the athletic category came up big with the Shoe of the Year award going to Off-White designer Virgil Alboh for his shoe designed in collaboration with Jordan. Footwear News added the Shoe of the Year award in 2014 and every year since it has gone to an athletic brand (2014, Adidas Stan Smith, 2015, Adidas Yeezy and 2016, Puma by Fenty creeper).
Kith founder and designer Ronnie Fieg, who took home 2016’s Retailer of the Year award, was honored this year with the Collaborator of the Year award.
Awards along with honorees and presenters were as follows:
Shoe of the Year: Virgil Abloh on behalf of the Air Jordan 1 x Off-White, presented by Heron Preston
Style Influencer of the Year: Hailey Baldwin, presented by Tabitha Simmons
Launch of the Year: Alexa Chung presented by Derek Blasberg (Vanity Fair)
Manolo Blahnik Lifetime Achievement Award: Stan Smith presented by Mark King
Collaborator of the Year: Ronnie Fieg on behalf of Kith, presented by Tommy Hilfiger
Person of the Year: Victor Luis, presented by Chloë Grace Moretz
Designer of the Year: Gianvito Rossi. presented by Julia Restoin Roitfeld
Vivian Infantino Emerging Talent Award: Mary Alice Malone and Roy Luwolt on behalf of Malone Souliers, presented by Jill Kargman (Author)
Icon Award for Social Impact: Diane Sullivan, presented by Libby Edelman and Carla Hendra
Launch of the Year: Gilda Ambrosio and Giorgia Tordini on behalf of Attico, presented by Roopal Patel
Brand of the Year: David Kahan on behalf of Birkenstock, presented by Tarek Hassan
Company of the Year: Steve Madden on behalf of Steve Madden, presented by Caroline Vreeland
Marketer of the Year: Adam Petrick on behalf of Puma, presented by Walt Frazier and Skylar Diggins
Hall of Fame inductees: Liz Rodbell, president of Lord & Taylor, presented by Nina Garcia and Rick Ausick, president of Famous Footwear, presented by Rick Graham.
Check all the images below. Visit footwearnews.com for more info on the event.
