The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here! The Global Footwear Awards 2025 winners have officially been announced, and this year’s edition brings together some of the most exciting, thoughtful, and forward-looking footwear designs we’ve seen to date.
With over 150 submissions from 35 countries, the 2025 awards capture a global industry in motion, one that is experimenting boldly, designing responsibly, and pushing footwear far beyond its traditional boundaries. From biocircular sneaker systems and material innovation to culturally rooted craftsmanship and high-performance concepts, this year’s winners prove that creativity and sustainability are no longer separate conversations, but part of the same design language.
Biocircular Sneaker Brand- Fade 101 Solk Ag @Solk Ag
At the top of this year’s honours, Swiss brand SOLK by David Solk was named Footwear Brand of the Year, recognised for building an entire sneaker system around biocircularity and closed-loop thinking. In independent design, Kaibahan by Joanah Lee Villanueva stood out for translating Filipino heritage, regional materials, and traditional craftsmanship into a contemporary footwear expression that feels both deeply personal and globally relevant. Meanwhile, Closed Loop Footwear by Dominik Scherrer, developed at FH JOANNEUM Industrial Design, emerged as one of the most conceptually rigorous projects of the year, redefining what circular, modular footwear can look like in practice.
Prickly Pear Plant Based Cowgirl Boots by Desert Bloom. @Deb Wilson
Beyond the main titles, the Global Footwear Awards 2025 recognised a diverse group of brands, independent designers, and studios across Fashion Sneakers, Sports Performance, Sustainability, and Special Awards. In Fashion Sneakers, Cole Haan was awarded for multiple projects, including Womens GrandPrø Court SkyWeave™ Sneakers and Mens ØriginalGrand Cityspectre Cap Toe Oxfords, while RIZR received recognition for The ROZE Boot in Women’s Fashion. SELENA SELENA FOOTWEAR was awarded for The Florist Heel, and SSSOLE was recognised for Universum in the Sneakers category. In Sports Performance, ASICS stood out with awards for NOVABLAST™ 4 CGI Tech Films and NOVABLAST™ 5 – Bursting with Bounce, while PUMA received a Sports Performance award for Aqua – Puma. Shoes For Crews was recognised for ACE ARROW™ 6 Inch 4SG™ in Winter Athletic Sports, and Step Zero AG received a Sustainability award for Terracoa – Biodegradable Outsole Material. Sustainability categories highlighted innovation in materials and circular systems, with awards going to YUMA by Victor Stroph in 3D Print Footwear, Prickly Pear Plant Based Cowgirl Boots by Kristen Decker in Natural Material and Vegan Footwear, and Tulip: Designed to Decompose by Zoe Mocklar in Biodegradable Footwear. Social Impact and Artistic Footwear categories recognised projects such as Yaar – The Farmer Shoe by Nakul Lathkar and VOID by Flo Group.
Closed Loop Footwear by Dominik Scherrer @Dominik Scherrer
Reflecting on this year’s winners, Astrid Hébert, Co-Founder of the Global Footwear Awards, shared: “What makes this year’s winners so special is that they didn’t choose between creativity and responsibility. They proved you can be bold, expressive, and experimental, while still being deeply thoughtful about materials, production, and impact.”
Winning projects will be showcased on the Global Footwear Awards Winners Platform, offering long-term visibility, industry recognition, and opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and professional growth. The complete list of winners and jury members is available at globalfootwearawards.com.