New Balance, 991, Studio DSRPT Remix - Milton L Cato

Announcing the Winning Selection of “Reimagining Iconic Shoe Designs” Contest in Honor of GFA 5th Anniversary.

With exploration angles including customization through technology, sustainable innovation, artistic collaborations, performance enhancement, and cultural influences, the Global Footwear Awards aimed to showcase exceptional talents within the global design community. The contest encouraged diverse contributions from established companies, independent designers, students, and emerging talents alike.

The Global Footwear Awards (GFA) announced the winners of its special contest, “Reimagining Iconic Shoe Designs,” held in celebration of the awards’ 5th anniversary. This unique initiative invited both professional designers and students to showcase their innovative approaches to footwear, blending creativity, technology, and contemporary trends.

Under the theme “Reimagining Iconic Shoe Designs,” the contest aimed to rediscover traditional footwear by transforming classic designs into modern fashion statements. With exploration angles, including customization through technology, sustainable innovation, artistic collaborations, performance enhancement, and cultural influences, the GFA sought to highlight the remarkable talents within the global design community. The contest encouraged a diverse range of contributions from established companies, independent designers, students, and emerging talents alike.

From top left: Winners – Brands: New Balance, 991, Studio DSRPT Remix – Milton L Cato | Birkenstock, Boston Studio DSRPT Remix – Milton L Cato | Clarks, Wallabee: Studio DSRPT Remix – Milton L Cato. Winners – Independent Designer: Crocboutin – Will (chin Wei) Huang | Skate or Die – Isabelle Ragnarsson . Winners – Student: Techstride Modular Oxford – Wei Shan Chou | Practicality Combined: The Clog-Sneaker – Ann Sofie Terp Raun, Aster Eches.

Astrid Hebert, Program Director of the Global Footwear Awards, expressed the organization’s mission: “Our goal with this contest was to do something different to celebrate innovation in footwear design. The insightful feedback and comments from our esteemed jury recognize the creativity of our winners and also provide valuable perspectives on where they stand within the industry. It’s gratifying to see such enthusiasm and acknowledgement from professionals who are highly regarded in the field.”

After a careful selection process by a panel of esteemed GFA Awards Jury members, the winning designs have been unveiled. In the Brands category, New Balance’s 991, Studio DSRPT Remix, captivated the jury with its thoughtful reimagining of a classic silhouette. Milton L Cato‘s design retains the shoe’s iconic style while incorporating modern elements that resonate with today’s fashion landscape. Jury member Havva Mustafa, a London-based designer and founder of HAVVA, praised the layering of the design, noting its depth and dimension while highlighting the potential for sustainable materials to elevate the concept further. Another standout in the Brands category was the Birkenstock, Boston Studio DSRPT Remix, also designed by Milton L Cato. Mary Norton, a professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design, commended the well-developed concept, emphasizing the intriguing, sportier version of the classic sandal. Clarks’ Wallabee, Studio DSRPT Remix, rounded out the winners in this category, with jury member Marta Andreassi describing it as the most compelling initiative that transformed an everyday product into something sophisticated and technical.

In the Independent Designer category, Will (Chin Wei) Huang’s Crocboutin design won acclaim for its fabulous combination of iconic high-fashion styling and everyday comfort, as noted by Ann Williams, Design Director at Schwilliamz Creative Consultants. Isabelle Ragnarsson’s Skate or Die, which utilized recycled skateboards for shoe outsoles, impressed Caroline de Baere, a footwear and fashion industry expert, with its commitment to sustainability and unique aesthetic.

The Student category also showcased remarkable talent, with Wei Shan Chou from Shih Chien University Taipei winning with the Techstride Modular Oxford. Arshiya Kapoor, Head of the Fashion Discipline at MIT Institute of Design, highlighted the innovative blend of classic Oxford style and athletic footwear through 3D printing, praising its versatility and practicality. Ann Sofie Terp Raun and Aster Eches from the Eka Estonian Academy of Art and Royal Danish Academy presented their Practicality Combined: The Clog-Sneaker, which Robbie Fuller, Creative Director of Footwear for Anta Sports, lauded for its refreshing sense of “newness” and alignment with bold shapes.

While the success of the “Reimagining Iconic Shoe Designs” contest is celebrated, all designers are invited to submit their entries for the regular Global Footwear Awards, which remains open for submissions until November 3rd, 2024. This is an opportunity for designers to showcase their innovative designs and gain recognition in the footwear industry. For more information on the winners and to view the jury’s feedback, please visit the Global Footwear Awards website at globalfootwearawards.com.