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The big night is almost here! FN today revealed more of its honorees for the FN Achievement Awards (FNAAs), the industry\u2019s most-anticipated event of the year.<\/p>\n
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The 38th annual awards ceremony will be held Dec. 4 in New York. As previously announced, designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Kenneth Cole will be recognized<\/a> with the Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor that has been bestowed on designers and executives including Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Sam and Libby Edelman, Bruce Nordstrom and Vince Camuto.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In addition, FN will also highlight the year\u2019s many other success stories, including brands and companies that outshone all the others with winning strategies, plus the creators and entrepreneurs who dazzled with their unique visions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStraddling the line between an exclusive, industry insider event and a starry showcase for the shoe-loving celebrity world, the Footwear News Achievement Awards has a long and storied history of documenting the powerful intersection of sports, fashion and pop culture,\u201d said Michael Atmore, editorial director of Footwear News and chief brand officer of Fairchild Media Group. \u201cThe 2024 class of winners reflects incredible innovation, design prowess and business acumen. We are honored to reward the leaders, the brands and the emerging talents that have shaped the year in shoes and celebrate the powerful and inspiring stories behind their achievements.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each year, the FNAAs \u2014 often called the \u201cShoe Oscars\u201d \u2014 celebrate footwear\u2019s influential style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Below is a list of the 2024 award recipients. Stay tuned for more FNAA winners, which will be announced in the coming days.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more than four decades, Kenneth Cole has been committed to fashion with a mission. Using his eponymous brand\u2019s powerful platform, he has tirelessly championed numerous social justice movements, including HIV\/AIDS awareness, gun control, climate change and, most recently, ending mental health stigmas<\/a>. His early efforts created a model that others have since followed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n New Balance couldn\u2019t miss in 2024. Both its heritage and collaboration sneakers topped every must-have list, it scored major Olympic moments with partners like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas, and now, thanks to a new WNBA deal<\/a>, New Balance will take a key role in one of the hottest sports leagues in America.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since rejoining Adidas in early 2023 as its chief executive officer, Bj\u00f8rn Gulden has helped steer the German athletic giant through a remarkable turnaround<\/a>. An inventory cleanup and new hyperlocal strategy helped improve financials faster than anyone expected. And when its \u201cterrace shoes\u201d exploded in popularity, the company was ready to capitalize on the demand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBigger is better\u201d seems to be the approach for U.K.-based retail company JD Sports. In addition to opening 85 new stores in the first half of this year, it completed its acquisition<\/a> of American chain Hibbett in July, which added 1,179 stores to the total portfolio and made North America its largest geographic market. As it works to transition Finish Line stores to JD Sports locations, the company is poised to grow its U.S. mindshare even further.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In an era when many independent shoe designers are facing significant challenges and have scaled back, Aquazzura founder and creative director Edgardo Osorio is forging ahead. His 12-year-old brand continues to drive growth with retail expansion<\/a> in key markets. And Aquazzura has become a red-carpet mainstay, with everyone from Beyonc\u00e9 and Meghan Markle to Angelina Jolie wearing the brand this year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Swiss athletic brand continues its strong standing in the ultra-competitive running market, growing global sales 24 percent in the first half of this year to 1.08 billion Swiss francs (or $1.24 billion at current exchange). And its already red-hot fashion cred got an additional boost this year from its collaboration with Loewe and a new partnership with actress and style influencer Zendaya<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n During a time when many independent designers have closed or scaled back their businesses, Larroud\u00e9 has defied the odds, racking up $30 million in sales in 2023, less than three years since its launch in 2020. Chief creative officer Marina Larroud\u00e9 and her husband, chief executive officer Ricardo Larroud\u00e9, honed a successful strategy built around buzzy collaborations, product freshness and a faster DTC model<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The company will be honored for its multi-faceted philanthropic efforts, most notably the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk, which has made an incredible impact<\/a> on the lives of children with special needs and the broader public education sector over the past 16 years. In addition, Skechers has been a huge supporter of animal welfare, donating millions through the Bobs brand to help shelter pets. And, of course, there\u2019s no bigger supporter of the Manhattan Beach community than Skechers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n She already built a billion-dollar brand from the ground up. Now Spanx founder Sara Blakely is disrupting the footwear industry with her Sneex brand. The buzzed-about launch in August certainly got people talking. And the shoes gained a place<\/a> on the coveted Oprah\u2019s Favorite Things holiday list (likely with help from super fan Gayle King). Blakely\u2019s patented design features a sneaker-stiletto hybrid (cheekily called hy-heels) that\u2019s made in Spain and features a 78mm heel. The goal of the design is to address major pain points in a traditional high heel. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n At just 22 years old, French designer Phil\u00e9o Landowski has quickly established a reputation<\/a> as a go-to creative voice in footwear, collaborating with Comme des Gar\u00e7ons, Salomon, Adidas and many others. Additionally, his namesake unisex brand has grown over 10 seasons, now distributed in 14 countries with close to 40 doors, including Kith and Dover Street Market. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tacey Powers joined Nordstrom in 1981, starting on the sales floor and working her way up to the executive level, where she now serves as executive vice president and general merchandise manager for shoes. In addition to overseeing the retailer\u2019s stores in the U.S., she also has been committed to mentorship<\/a> and giving back to the industry as a board member for Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Footwear Retailers and Distributors of America. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2004, Susan Itzkowitz partnered with Marc Fisher to launch a new shoe venture, which has grown into a powerful player<\/a> in the fashion footwear business, encompassing 14 brands, including licensed collections for Calvin Klein, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Hunter and others. And as a longtime board member for Two Ten Footwear Foundation, she has spearheaded efforts to increase representation and opportunities for women in the industry. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nLifetime Achievement Award: Kenneth Cole<\/h2>\n
Company of the Year: New Balance<\/h2>\n
Person of the Year: Bj\u00f8rn Gulden<\/h2>\n
Retailer of the Year: JD Sports<\/h2>\n
Designer of the Year: Edgardo Osorio<\/h2>\n
Brand of the Year: On<\/h2>\n
Brand of the Year: Larroud\u00e9<\/h2>\n
Icon Award for Social Impact: Skechers <\/h2>\n
Launch of the Year: Sneex<\/h2>\n
Emerging Talent Award: Phil\u00e9o Landowski<\/h2>\n
Hall of Fame: Tacey Powers<\/h2>\n
Hall of Fame: Susan Itzkowitz<\/h2>\n
Hall of Fame: Dave Powers<\/h2>\n