The rise of Saucony has fueled impressive growth at Wolverine Worldwide in 2025.
Shoes are once again at the center of the fashion conversation, and this year’s FN Achievement Awards honorees are leading the industry’s resurgence.
The much-anticipated FNAAs, often known as the “Shoe Oscars,” return on Dec. 3 in an all-new venue, Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York. The red carpet and awards ceremony celebrates footwear’s influential style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans.
The 39th annual event will recognize designer and philanthropist Tommy Hilfiger with the Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor that has previously been bestowed on designers and executives including Kenneth Cole, Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Bruce Nordstrom and more.
In addition, FN will also highlight the year’s other big success stories, including the visionaries, brands and designers that have shaped the industry during a year of change.
Below is a list of the 2025 award recipients to date. More honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.
Few people have defined fashion and culture like Mr. Hilfiger. This year, the indefatigable founder and principal designer of his eponymous brand marks 40 years in the business at a time when his reimagined vision for preppy is resonating with both his loyal fans and a new crop of Gen Z consumers. In 2025, the brand architect — known for his inclusive mission and ability to build communities — teamed up with everyone from Sofia Richie Grainge to Stray Kids and Jisoo for various campaigns. And as fascination with F1 reaches a fever pitch, the brand engineered a major moment as the sponsor of “F1: The Movie,” became the official apparel outfitter of the new Cadillac Formula 1 Team and unveiled “The Hilfiger Racing Club” with supermodel Claudia Schiffer and actor Nicholas Hoult. The designer’s tie-up with the U.S. SailGP Team is another example of Hilfiger’s modern approach to the intersection between fashion and sport.
Person of the Year: Ronnie Fieg
He’s unstoppable. In 2025, Ronnie Fieg, the founder, chief executive officer and creative director of Kith, topped himself yet again. Fieg made a bold move into the hospitality area with the reveal of Kith Ivy — a new padel and wellness private member’s club in Manhattan’s West Village, complete with the East Coast’s first Erewhon. The Kith kingdom expanded with high-profile debuts in Chicago and Osaka, Japan. At home in New York, Fieg reopened his New York flagship and staged a much-buzzed-about runway show in the height of summer.
Company of the Year: Wolverine Worldwide
During an intense and challenging period for the industry, it’s no easy feat to transform a company. Wolverine — led by president and CEO Chris Hufnagel — has reemerged as a formidable player, thanks to a new, more-focused brand-building model that is paying off, most notably at Saucony, where sales increased 40 percent in the second quarter; and at Merrell, which saw sales rise 10.7 percent during the same time.
Retailer of the Year: Nordstrom
It’s been a game-changing year for Nordstrom and its visionary family leaders. Erik and Pete Nordstrom and their cousin Jamie, along with El Puerto de Liverpool, finalized their $6.25 billion, all-cash acquisition of the department store chain in May. As a new chapter unfolds, Nordstrom is emphasizing its footwear roots with the “Make Room for Shoes” initiative, first announced last year. It’s come to life through monthly partnerships with top brands, including Adidas, On, Tory Burch, Sperry, Ugg, Birkenstock and more. Shoes have also been a major focus inside Nordstrom’s Corner Shop space in New York, with New Balance and Nike Running both popping up in 2025.
Designer of the Year: Nina Christen
She’s the designer behind some of the most-talked-about luxury shoes of the past few years. After creating hit designs for Loewe, Bottega Veneta and The Row, Nina Christen struck out on her own this year and has quickly garnered a strong following for her namesake brand, which emphasizes upscale materials, sculptural designs and fit with its custom footbed. This month, the designer revealed a flagship store opening in Paris, set for next year. But that’s not all: As the design director of shoes at Dior, Christen worked with the house creative director on a dazzling debut at Paris Fashion Week last month, with the out-of-the-box footwear stealing the show.
Brand of the Year: Jordan Brand
From a surprise drone show over the East River in New York to its “Board of Greatness” event in Greece hosted by Michael Jordan himself to countless initiatives around the 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan 1, Jordan Brand has dominated the conversation again this year. Plus, major releases with Nigel Sylvester, Union and Awake were among the hottest sneakers of the year.
Style Influencer of the Year: Coco Gauff
From teen phenom to two-time Grand Slam champion, Coco Gauff has given American tennis a serious bounce. Along the way, the 21-year-old has become a budding style star, with longtime partner New Balance right by her side. After starring as the face of New Balance x Miu Miu, this year’s FNAA Collaboration of the Year, Gauff struck another deal with Miu Miu as one of its U.S. beauty faces. Poised, authentic and inspirational, Gauff is also a guiding light for young women.
Launch of the Year: Favorite Daughter
As season 2 of Erin and Sara Foster’s “Nobody Wants This” takes over the small screen once again this week, everybody is tuned in to the sister act. With their keen eye for both content and fashion, the Fosters teamed up with Centric Brands to build their contemporary fashion label Favorite Daughter. Now they’re out to conquer the shoe world through a new partnership with Caleres. The just-launched collection of boots, pumps, loafers, flats and sneakers is already stocked at Nordstrom, Shopbop, Anthropologie, Moda Operandi and Browns in Canada.
Emerging Talent Award: Jurgita Dileviciute and Denitsa Bumbarova
At a time when young shoe labels are struggling to make a mark, Jurgita Dileviciute and Denitsa Bumbarova have defied the odds. The co-founders and creative directors of Jude, which launched in 2024, have found a strong formula for success — and their modern, feminine designs topped many buyers’ must-have lists during fashion month. Dileviciute, who has a foundation in luxury furniture design, and Bumbarova, the former creative director of By Far, have also found fans in big names like Nicole Kidman and Tracee Ellis Ross, among others.
Collaboration of the Year: New Balance x Miu Miu
It’s the perfect match. Miu Miu x New Balance, led by two of the fashion industry’s most storied families, took their partnership to new heights this year, revealing a collaboration that consumers couldn’t get enough of. Three new Miu Miu x New Balance 530 SL styles, released last month, quickly sold out, despite their $1,220 price tag. With their razor-thin soles and multiple shoelace options, the new metallic and muted suede options are at the center of the slim sneaker trend. And who better to front the tie-up than Coco Gauff, FN’s Style Influencer of the Year.
Miu Miu x New Balance sneakers have been a sellout hit.
Hall of Fame: Michael Greenberg
Skechers’ go-private deal — the biggest buyout in shoe history — was undoubtedly the deal of the year, and co-founder and president Michael Greenberg was at the center of it all, alongside his legendary father, Robert. Under their leadership, the company has grown into one of the biggest footwear success stories of all time. The younger Greenberg’s ambitious business strategy and equally strong focus on philanthropy and giving back continues to set him apart.
Hall of Fame: Laura O’Brien
With passion, grit and determination, Laura O’Brien has built The Atlanta Shoe Market into the country’s largest footwear trade show, featuring more than 1,800 lines on display and drawing retail buyers from across the U.S. and abroad. She’s been at it for more than four decades, becoming one of the industry’s most trusted advisors, known for her honesty and empathy. O’Brien has also steered the organization with a firm hand through its most turbulent moments, including the pandemic, which, coincidentally became a big turning point in its growth trajectory. Now, as its venue undergoes a major renovation, the trade show is set to enter a new era.
Laura Conwell-O’Brien
Courtesy of TASM/Robin Bish
Hall of Fame: Massimo and Sabrina Bonini
When designers get serious about growing their shoe businesses, they often turn to power couple Massimo and Sabrina Bonini. The masterminds behind Milan-based Massimo Bonini — working along with their children Giorgia and Filippo — have built the company into a go-to product development and distribution partner for many of the industry’s top luxury brands, including Amina Muaddi, Missoni, Fear of God, Mugler and No. 21, among many others. After 10 years in the U.S., the Boninis recently relocated their Madison Avenue showroom to a new space. Their latest venture is the relaunch of Herbert Levine, the iconic New York shoe brand.
Sabrina and Massimo Bonini
For ticket requests and more information about the 2025 FNAAs, email advertising director Samantha Rumsky at srumsky@fairchildfashion.com.