The Global Footwear Awards (GFA) is thrilled to unveil the distinguished jury members who will be presiding over its highly anticipated fourth edition. The GFA, an esteemed platform celebrating outstanding achievements in footwear design, is now open for submissions from talented designers worldwide.

Since its inception, the GFA has attracted designers from over 50 countries, with each edition surpassing the previous one in terms of creativity, innovation, and global participation. Winners of the Awards have not only received prestigious accolades but have also enjoyed significant industry recognition, featuring prominently in renowned publications and forging partnerships with leading brands.

The 2023 grand jury comprises experts hailing from diverse backgrounds, including fashion, design, media, and art. These distinguished individuals bring their exceptional insights and extensive experience to the selection process, guaranteeing that the winning designs represent the pinnacle of footwear design excellence.

Among the esteemed jury panel are renowned personalities such as Felipe Fiallo, Founder & Creative Director of Felipe Fiallo S.R.L.S, who, after working for Ferragamo and creating concepts for Stella McCartney and Adidas Maker Lab, is now focused on luxury sneakers and footwear. Jury member Sissi Johnson, an MBA professor and Founder of SelfSells, has had her work featured by Forbes, CNN, The New York Times, Vogue, and the V&A Museum. Sean Williams, a well-respected NYC-based sneaker lover for over 37 years, serves as a sneaker industry consultant to brands worldwide and is a co-founder of the SOLEcial Studies sneaker industry education program. Jazerai Allen-Lord is a multi-hyphenate creative with deep roots in sneaker and streetwear culture. The agency she founded, True to Size, has worked extensively with notable brands such as New Balance, Nike, Reebok, Jordan Brand, and many others, focusing on women’s-focused storytelling. Richard Kuchinsky, Founder and Owner of The Directive Collective, a full-service footwear design consultancy, brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the industry, driving the creative design and development process for global brands with a sharp focus on design DNA and strategy.

Joining these luminaries are Robbie Fuller, Creative Director at Anta Group, James Lee Thompson, the innovative strategist from On Running, Oronzo De Matteis, the visionary behind OROORO BRAND LUXURY, Ann Williams, Co-Founder and Footwear Design Director at Schwilliamz Creative Consultants, and Mary Norton, the Luxury Accessories Design Director/Specialist at Savannah College of Art. This star-studded jury panel, consisting of industry giants, ensures that the Global Footwear Awards 2023 will be an exceptional showcase of innovation and creativity. Discover the full list of esteemed jury members, including other prominent names, on the GFA website.

The GFA invites designers from around the world to submit their most remarkable work, embracing the opportunity to be recognized alongside industry luminaries. With an illustrious jury panel, the fourth edition of the GFA promises to set new benchmarks for creativity and innovation in footwear design.

For more information about the Global Footwear Awards and the submission process, please visit globalfootwearawards.com.

Noriyuki Misawa: Create shoes as works of art

A pair of good shoes should also be a walkable work of art. How to better integrate technology and art in the process of designing and manufacturing shoes is considered to be a problem that the entire footwear industry has been exploring and thinking about. Recently, Linker  by Red Boots Awards, the Chinese partner of the Global Footwear Awards interviewed Noriyuki Misawa, a Japanese handmade shoe maker/artist, to launch an in-depth dialogue on technology and art, creation and inheritance of shoemaking concepts and professional experience.

Noriyuki Misawa, a shoemaking master/artist. 2022, he was honored with Global Footwear Awards, best overall Winner, and many more. 2015, he received the award of 33rd Japan Leather Craft Exhibition from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 2010, Misawa won German International Shoemaker Skills Contest, Gold Medal and Honorary Prize;

“Shoes are not only walking equipment, but also a work of art.”

From a college student selling shoes in shoe stores 22 years ago to an apprentice studying shoe making technology in Vienna, Austria, Noriyuki Misawa spent ten years learning and accumulating on the way of handmade shoes. His experience of studying, working and living everywhere not only brought him a new perspective on the art of footwear, but also brought him a broader understanding of “tradition” and “fashion”. “Taking the west as the skeleton, and the east as the soul” – based on the traditional shoemaking techniques and “classic aesthetics”, the implicit restraint of oriental art is used to balance the aesthetic feeling of shoes to seek a new design thinking and convey his own ideas and attitudes towards art and modern life. This is the understanding of shoe aesthetics by Noriyuki Misawa and his exclusive “Misawa expression way”.

In Noriyuki Misawa’s heart, shoes are the carrier of his understanding of art. He believes that “shoes are not only walking equipment, but also a work of art or handicraft“, which is fully reflected in his work “Foot’s nest”, the winner of the Global Footwear Awards and many more. In Tokyo, where the virus was spreading, when people had to be blocked at home, Noriyuki Misawa felt a mission of “what must be done” by producers and artists. After a long time of thinking, inspired by the ant nest he studied in his childhood, he changed the design idea of “from shoes to feet” into “filling and making the space outside the feet from the inside to the outside”, and created a “non-wearable, non-walking” “shoe”. It was this work that made Noriyuki Misawa known to Linker.

Work description: This art work perfectly combines the artistic aesthetics and the environmental protection concept of “no glue, no sewing, limited materials, easy disassembly or maintenance, easy recycling”. Taking local materials from nature, and the supernatural “shoe art” was created through nature.

A pair of shoes that cannot be worn cannot be accepted by everyone. In the process of work, Noriyuki Misawa is also often troubled by the difference between the customer’s aesthetic and his own design concept, but he believed that although professionals are committed to contacting and thinking about shoes every day, it cannot be the reason for them to judge that their aesthetics of shoes are necessarily higher than those of customers. “It is important to play their professional role and confidently convey their aesthetics and ideas to customers, but they should not be overconfident. It is also important to flexibly accept the views of customers and find a balance between the views of both parties. ” He added, for example, that sometimes he would try to accept the requirements of an aggressive or opinionated customer, and he often found that the customer’s insistence would indeed bring unexpected good results. From this point of view, he did “constantly learn a lot from customers.”

“Artistry”+”Practicability”

Artists often need to enter a state of “mindfulness” of “turning away from the world” when creating, which makes the creators have to experience the inevitable feeling of loneliness most of the time. For  Noriyuki Misawa, hand-made shoes create a space for him to deviate from the industry and crowd to some extent, which not only gives a creator more opportunities to insist on himself, observe and think independently, but also makes him have to endure loneliness and temptation. “I do feel very lonely because the relationships around me have been cut off,” Noriyuki Misawa said. In fact, I sometimes feel like I’m getting sick because I’m so bothered by this kind of isolation.” However, the “satisfaction of designing my own shoes from scratch” can give me another kind of indescribable satisfaction.”

Noriyuki Misawa has given its own understanding of the relationship between “art” and “industry”. He acknowledged that the “pursuit of excellence” of art and the “pursuit of efficiency” of the industry are sometimes contradictory, but many excellent works of art can not only meet the requirements of efficiency but also show some artistry in the mass production of shoes in the industry: “In any case, the truly excellent shoes are both artistic and practical, both of which are indispensable.”

“Thinking in the state of feeling nature to enter the state of mindfulness“

Every artist has a strategy to get rid of the bottleneck period of creation. Borges once said: “My mind will always run out of ideas, but I will pretend to be okay.”  Noriyuki Misawa faced the practice of drying up: leave yourself to nature. “A few years ago, I would read books related to design art and try to find some information and inspiration to make me create new works. However, I have changed my original practice and am more inclined to think in the state of feeling nature and find inspiration by putting myself in an unconscious state.”

In the process of seeking inspiration, Noriyuki Misawa realized that he always tended to create works related to the earth unconsciously. In 2011, Miyagi Prefecture, Noriyuki Misawa’s hometown, a huge earthquake broke out, which took countless lives. It brought a profound impact on Noriyuki Misawa’s life and works. He often recalled the ground, faults, seismic zones and other causes of the earth’s violent movement, and more than once reflected these in his works. His representative work “Foot’s nest” was also inspired by nature.

“Pain is the source of art. If I give up, I will no longer be myself.”

Freud said: “Instinct repression forms the basis of all the most valuable wealth in human civilization.”  Noriyuki Misawa was incomparably convinced that “pain is the source of art“. Noriyuki Misawa believed that the desire and inspiration for writing essentially reflect the lack of life at all times. Although Misawa said in a somewhat “pessimistic” tone that “we have no choice but to continue suffering,” he still gets himself into pain in an almost masochistic, impatient way. “Why is it so painful every day? Because every day I think it would be better if I didn’t try, but not trying might make me more painful. The reason why I didn’t give up when it was very difficult is because if I gave up, I would become more painful! I would no longer be myself. Undoubtedly, it gives me this feeling! I will be very satisfied and happy if I can make works that satisfy me. That feeling is wonderful. Only with this idea can I continue to create.

This is the voice of almost all creators at all times and in all countries – they get a moment of joy and sweetness from the long and boring pain, and find the meaning and evidence of their own existence, just like the state described by Yan Geling: “At this time, I have lived to the fullest.”

“The time that made me happy was really short. After a while, the painful day began again.”  Noriyuki Misawa said with a smile, “I must immediately create new things to experience the pain again.”

A new painful creative cycle has begun again, and it is also bound to be the brewing of another happy moment.

“What I have to do to cross a field is my work.”

Noriyuki Misawa said that his goal or the theme of his work is always to “create a brand-new shoe of his own style that others could not make”. Constant innovation requires him to constantly step into new fields to learn and achieve knowledge integration. “cross a field” is something that must be done, because this is my job. It is very difficult to make new and interesting designs if I am confined to my own field. If I have the opportunity to have good ideas and integrate them, I will do it, and I am also very interested in the unknown.”

Therefore, the works presented by Noriyuki Misawa not only realize the integration of aesthetic tastes of the East and the West, but also break through the boundary of shoe design. Whether the shoes are specially customized for Hollywood actors and celebrities, Japanese AKB48 art team, or New York tap dance artists, German Berlin pianists, Noriyuki Misawa has always been striving to explore the integration of multiple artistic elements of the innovative display form.

Recently, Noriyuki Misawa reached a project cooperation with Astro Boy to try to break down the boundaries between art and technology and create futuristic footwear art that is both artistic and technological.  Noriyuki Misawa said the design of outstanding innovative products relies on new technology: “Good design can only be made on the basis of new technology. Making new materials with technology is the most important theme. ” Recently, Noriyuki Misawa has used waste tires as the material and extended the life of old things in this innovative way, exploring the lasting harmony between green shoemaking art and technology.

In March this year, Noriyuki Misawa held a personal theme exhibition in Singapore. The so-called cross a field, for him, is just his relentless pursuit of the next proud work.

“Making people want to make handmade shoes is what I want to achieve.”

All works of art in any era require integrity, harmony and beauty in form, as well as exquisite and sophisticated artistic skills and unique techniques. For a long time, handicraft art and visual art have shown obvious differences in inheritance. Many technologies related to handicrafts, including some intangible cultural heritage technologies such as Chinese drama, are faced with the problem of how to spread and inherit.  Noriyuki Misawa has been deeply aware of these problems, and started the inheritance of footwear art and design education five years ago. From Japan to Singapore, from young people to middle-aged scholars, Noriyuki Misawa has always been committed to expanding the “circle of friends” of the Institute of Handmade Shoes. “In fact, handcraft faces certain difficulties, but even in the face of different cultural backgrounds, I still want to try to change my teaching attitude and teach young people in a more patient and flexible way. I want to let young people know that handmade shoes are worth inheriting. I hope that through my efforts people will want to make handmade shoes. This is what I want to achieve.” Noriyuki Misawa said.

At present, Noriyuki Misawa has a new dream: to travel to developing countries to combine his handmade shoe making skills with unique local materials to create unique pieces of footwear art, and to pass on the craftsmanship by teaching it to local young people and children.

“Every day I will think about what I can bring to China after I come to China.”

At present, China’s footwear manufacturing industry is in the window period of transformation from “manufacturing” to “creation”. China’s innovative design is still in the development stage, and there is a large demand for talents at all ends of the industry. The grand scale, the vast market, the rich resources and the brilliant prospect make Noriyuki Misawa full of expectations for the trip to China. Come to China at the right time, and cooperate with experts and young people who are committed to China’s footwear industry and shoemaking industry to carry out further communication and exchange to explore possible cooperation opportunities in the future. “In my impression, China has an industrial scale that Japan cannot match. Most of the shoes in the world are produced in China. In my opinion, new changes may take place in the future. China’s Shoe Industry Association is based on a huge scale, and new changes will occur… What changes will happen if I come to China? I look forward to carrying out some innovation.”

From animal leather shoes to wooden shoes, cloth shoes, leather shoes, sneakers and various popular new material shoes, each pair of shoes can be used as a symbol of the times and culture, a witness of history, and one of the products of technological progress. Taking shoes as a piece of art to create is Noriyuki Misawa’s attitude towards shoe making and life——Focus and broad, serious and modest, and go all out on things you love. This is not only the expectation of a pair of high-quality shoes for its designer but also the expectation of an industry for its manufacturer.

(Text | Jinglan Xu,  Sufang Cao)

Read his previous GFA interview. 

video by linker.

Global Footwear Awards (GFA) Category winner Dempsey Pauwels discusses his Vision for the  VOLT Collection.

Dempsey Pauwels is a multi-talented professional with a passion for both design and Law & Economics. Born in 1998 in Ghent, Pauwels began his journey by studying Business Management. In the meantime, during his final year, he decided to pursue his passion for shoes and enrolled in a four-year course at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium for footwear design.

Pauwels excelled in their studies and graduated as a skilled shoe designer. In parallel, he continued his education by pursuing a master’s degree in Law. The two fields complemented each other, with Pauwels specializing in Fashion Law to further their expertise in the fashion industry.

In their penultimate year of Law school, Pauwels successfully completed his shoe design degree. He went on to further refine their techniques and deepen their knowledge of shoe design by studying for an additional two specialization years at the academy. During this time, he also decided to start his own footwear brand for men, together with Marlou and Evelien, called L’EDGE.

After completing his Law degree, Pauwels fully committed himself to his shoe design brand and took on the role of both designer and managing partner. The combination of his skills in design and law made him an asset to the brand, as he is able to navigate the legal and economical complexities of the fashion industry while creating unique and high-quality shoe designs.

Dempsey Pauwels is an accomplished shoe designer and legal expert. The brand L’EDGE has gained a reputation for its innovative and stylish designs, and Pauwels has become a well-respected figure in the fashion industry. This is thanks to the credibility built up by winning design competitions and famous people wearing the shoes. With his combined knowledge of design and law, he continues to make significant contributions to the world of fashion and beyond.

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How did you come up with the vision for the VOLT Collection? How did cable management and nightclub interiors come together as sources of inspiration?

As a defence against covid isolation, I chose nightclub interiors as my colour inspiration. Neon lights and vibrant colours take centre stage. This in combination with cable management which represent the order source of inspiration

Is there a philosophy, a vision, or a special process that influences how you approach design? Would you say that you apply it to your life as well?

I always choose as a source of inspiration a method that ensures efficiency and order. They give me peace of mind and originate in my basic law studies.

What kind of feedback have you received and how do you deal with it?

The feedback was constructive and forward-looking. I will continue to follow my own path and take the feedback with me.

What did you find most challenging while working on the collection and what did you enjoy the most?

The hardest part of the collection was measuring the lines in the correct way, drawing them out and translating them from 2d to 3d and then assembling the shoe so that all the lines came out perfectly. The most fun part of making the collection is playing with colour and seeing all the colours come together into a whole.

Which designers do you admire the most? Do you take inspiration from their work when diving into a new project?

I admire safa sahin as a designer, what he is doing with balmain’s sneakers and his designs are really in the future.

What does winning the GFA Award mean to you in terms of validation and recognition of your work in the footwear design industry?

It indicates that we are walking the right path and will continue to work hard in this way.

Are you currently working on something new that you can tell us about?

All my designs currently go directly to my men’s shoe brand L’EDGE. I am currently building this brand further.

How do you want people to feel when wearing your designs?

I want to convey the feeling of exclusivity and statement. There is still so much possible in the niche of men’s shoes. I want to make them feel like they are wearing something that has not yet been seen.

Do you find sustainable design important when developing your pieces?

I try to take it into account as much as possible.

How do you see your work evolving in the future, and what new sources of inspiration do you hope to explore?

I hope that my work evokes through the shoe brand L’EDGE. that we can scale this brand and make it better known to the public in order to send more designs into the market. New sources of inspiration will always link with subjects that I find aesthetically pleasing and provide peace of mind and efficiency.

What advice would you offer to aspiring designers who dream of creating meaningful designs such as yours?

Be guided by your vision and not by what is going on at the moment. work towards where you want to get to and include everyone in your thoughts. sail the ship yourself.

Global Footwear Awards 2022 Category winner Catia Di Carlo discusses her vision for the AYUMA. Project.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional journey? How did the design come to have such an important role in your life?

I have always told myself I’ve been lucky to know from when I was 5 years old what I wanted: to be a Fashion Designer. Then after my study I shaped my career in Footwear.
My Mom shared her creativity with me and she made me grow flowing with that vibration. She taught me all she knows about tailoring, embroidery, crochet. My family has always supported me and I’m really thankful for it.
Design is expression, I would say is part of myself, something I need to do in several ways.
I’ve worked and lived abroad and I currently live in Italy working for a few brands as Design Director and Merchandising.

Is there a philosophy, a vision, or a special process that influences how you approach design? Would you say that you apply it to your life as well?

I could define myself eclectic. I’m attracted and inspired from whatever surrounds me… nature, travelling, art.
My process is quite full of adrenaline. Everyday is quite funny I know, but many many ideas pop out in my mind. Then some of them really gave me that fire I need and I can do it right away.
I could say I’m experienced and connected enough to Make it Happen. So for the creativity stage of the product I’m super enthusiastic and I don’t see any limits.
When it comes to Marketing and Sales it does become much harder for me and that’s the time where I kind of get demotivated and I let it go. As also in my personal life I like to do many different things and I do it with effort and enthusiasm. I know is not always the right choice.. cause after that I would start a new project again. So Yes, maybe this is the right Time to find someone that can support me on that part of the project that you need to have to call it business and get consistent.

How did you come up with the vision for the AYUMA Collection? How did you manage to join your experience in art itself while also focusing on sustainable production?

AYUMA is a brand I’ve created as a safe box for my creative projects.
During a trip to Tokyo I found out Ayuma means Dream – Desire and I thought it was the best way to call my own dream.
My vision of this latest project is a result of years of exploration through art and handcraft based on colors and images.
I wanted to mix the handwoven leather I have explored for a project of interior design presented for the first time in 2016. That project is called Woven life: pictures taken in Tibet and Patagonia of amazing people and nature and handwoven on leather to halve the percentage of colors leaving that beauty of the image when you step back from it. As in our life: sometimes we need to step back and have a bigger vision to see the actual beauty. Then I’ve mixed that project with colorful rubber eva bracelets I’ve developed.
I have worked as a Footwear Designer for 15 years and I’m still thinking of a business where there is so much waste. So I want to work thinking about sustaining the project producing with respect but mostly left over materials where possible.

What kind of feedback have you received and how do you deal with it?
I did receive nice feedback from people I know in the business, I got some interest in my profile too, so I have to say it has been definitively exciting and I thank you for it.
The project I presented is a concept that must be developed to become a capsule collection…
So I would say: stay tuned! It might be a great opportunity to start collaborations in the future.

What did you find most challenging while working on the collection and what did you enjoy the most?

I love to give shape to the construction and find the balance within colors and different materials.
I have always been attracted by colors and geometry.
Is challenging to create a product that is a mix of concepts, based on recovery materials and handcraft work.

Which designers do you admire the most? Do you take inspiration from their work when diving into a new project?

I got inspired from so many different artists and designers and I have to say it changes while travelling and discovering more thanks also to exhibitions around the world.
I could highlight Philippe Apeloig that impressed me years ago after a show where I’ve jumped in. His extraordinary evolution of graphics and color patterns has given me a great emotion since then.
Also Yves Saint Laurant and his impressive and exciting play of colors, the influence of geometry he got back in his early career was such an imprint in my mind.

What does winning the GFA Awards mean to you in terms of validation and recognition of your work in the footwear design industry?

I’m thankful to GFA for giving me the opportunity to show my vision and my name. I’m one of these professionals who has always worked “behind” creating what the market wants.
I did enjoy shaping my vision without business need or design request from the market.. not now.

Are you currently working on something new that you can tell us about?

I’m working on developing this concept for a capsule collection that can be spread across different heel heights and products.
Would be nice to find a way to showcase it later to the right stores.
Right now this slide has a strong approach to colors and volume. The target I’m referring to is quite aware of trend and not afraid to approach colors.
Surely I would like to play in a more soft way with colors in the collection development.
I’ve been travelling for a month across Papua and Bali right after the Award and I do feel the pure energy I want to work on it now.

How do you want people to feel when wearing your designs?

Ecstatic, Eclectic. Aware of art, aware of fashion but not a trend addicted through social media.
I would like AYUMA to be that woman that has been and loves traveling, she loves to be barefoot and comfy but she’re ready to pop a strong product with that personality when she wants.

Why is sustainable design so important to you personally?

Sustainability in my opinion in recent years became a word that many people in the fashion industry approach with and only Marketing focus.
I’m quite disappointed about it. Surely I would like to be as sustainable as possible but I want to do it consistently. I want to build designs that take into consideration all the supply chain.

What role do you think culture sustainability plays in the modern footwear industry?

The latest Mantra in Fashion is “make less, make better, give a longer life to products” . I would like to take these words seriously and make it happen taking in mind that some products are still quite seasonal but they must have a Story, that passion behind that makes them feel in some ways Unique.
Ayuma’s Motto is “Unique as YOU are” right because I hardly believe in it. I like those small impressions that skilled hands make.
The main concept in Ayuma is referring to CULTURE SUSTAINABILITY which means take that beauty of hand making. I want to give effort to my Italian background, the Country where I belong to and work with those ideas that can only be amazing if realized with maniacal patience, passion and care. On the big vision there is the idea to explore the same beauty across the word.
I’ve been travelling a lot in my life and I would love to build and explore that beauty across the word and the history of artisans.

How do you see your work evolving in the future, and what new sources of inspiration do you hope to explore?

Traveling is my main inspiration. I’m a travel addict, those people need to move, do things, go far and come back. I would call myself Dynamic and I would like to see my project like that too.
I love talking and getting personally woven with different cultures across the word. That was the base concept of my Art project where I do handwoven by hand.
So I do dream to make this traveling become part of it, find the economic support of someone who believes in evolution… cause I would like Ayuma to be in that way: I do change, the brand is doing it with me.

What advice would you offer to aspiring designers who dream of creating meaningful designs such as yours?

Somehow I believe that in the last years 3d art gave a great opportunity to all creative people like me. I would suggest not to stop in front of a screen but get hands on taking the advantage needed from these programs but learning how to actually do this amazing job of showing creativity.

Global Footwear Awards 2022 Category winner Marjolijn Van Agt discusses her vision for the SPLIT Collection.

Marjolijn completed her studies in Industrial Footwear Design at d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas (formerly SASK/Academy of Fine Arts Sint-Niklaas). In 2021, she founded Vanagtshoes, a handmade shoemaking business where she designs and creates shoes for a diverse range of customers.

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Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional journey? How did the design come to have such an important role in your life?

Ever since I was little I liked making things ‘pretty’. First I studied visual merchandise but missed the aspect of craftsmanship, especially working with my hands and creating things out of nothing. I’ve always loved shoes and I would go out and buy shoes that didn’t even fit just so I could display them in my home as artwork. So after I graduated from both industrial footwear design and the shoe design program at the Academy of Fine Arts Sint-Niklaas I started my own business in shoemaking.

Is there a philosophy, a vision, or a special process that influences how you approach design? Would you say that you apply it to your life as well?

Whilst designing I like to go with the flow because only then do new ideas come to me. It’s a good idea to have a design set on paper to start with, but I love that during the process of making, the materials get a life of their own, creating new shapes and styles. I try to apply this in my life as well but unfortunately ‘going with the flow’ isn’t always possible with a newborn baby.

How did you come up with the vision for the SPLIT Collection? Have you always wanted to incorporate the duality of femininity and edginess in your designs?

Absolutely! I’ve always been attracted to things that are edgy and unique. Dark but feminine. The SPLIT collection was designed with my personal style in mind. In school, I learned that whenever you design your ‘final design’ you can always take it one step further! That’s how I came up with the heel shape. You would think this is the easiest collection to design because it’s everything I love, but it’s not easy to stick to just one of the many creative ideas, create a coherent collection, and don’t deviate from this track of mind.

What kind of feedback have you received and how do you deal with it?

The people around me and my loved ones are always very supportive. Obviously, not everyone likes everything as much as I do and sometimes people don’t understand but that’s ok. Life would get very boring if we all liked the same stuff!

What did you find most challenging while working on the collection and what did you enjoy the most?

I’m impatient so molding and sanding five pairs of heels wasn’t the most fun. I had no idea how to make them since I had never done such complicated heels before and they all needed to look the same. I’ve learned so many new tricks for making these heels. The moment they were sanded, coloured, and covered in glitter I was very proud of myself.

Which designers do you admire the most? Do you take inspiration from their work when diving into a new project?

There are so many great (shoe) designers it’s hard to choose. Personally, I love the designs of Carolin Hulzhuber. Her shoes are equally beautiful and eccentric. Wearable pieces of art!

What does winning the GFA Awards mean to you in terms of validation and recognition of your work in the footwear design industry?

I’m very honoured the GFA jury chose my brand as Brand of the Year. It is wonderful to see that even though my brand is still small I get validation for the work I put into it so far.

Are you currently working on something new that you can tell us about?

Currently, I’m working on three pairs of shoes I drew when I was around 16 years old. I’ve always held onto the drawings but never had the time to bring them to life.

How do you want people to feel when wearing your designs?

Empowered, sexy, edgy. The right pair of shoes can make you feel confident and strong even if you’re in your PJ’s. I encourage people to be exactly who they are and express themselves.

Do you find sustainable design important when developing your pieces?

It’s always important to have the future in mind when creating anything but it is not something I’m actively working on when making shoes from scratch. On the other hand, my business is about creating timeless pieces, repurposing materials, and repairing goods so I guess that’s the sustainable part!

What led you to start your own handmade shoe-making business?

I like the way I can express myself creatively through my work. It calms my mind to work with my hands and create something out of nothing. It’s what I like doing most. Nowadays most fashion is fast fashion, it’s cheap and accessible. With my business, I would like to encourage people to create a timeless piece themselves or bring in their old (leather) goods and bring them back to life instead of buying new items.

How do you see your work evolving in the future, and what new sources of inspiration do you hope to explore?

I am nowhere near where I would like to be. I’m not a robot, I have flaws I need to work on like knowing when to start over instead of trying to fix something that I messed up. I try to get better with every pair of shoes I make. In the future, I would like to evolve in my craftmanship and expand my atelier. Hopefully, I’ll explore new materials and different ways to create my work.

What advice would you offer to aspiring designers who dream of creating meaningful designs such as yours?

Whenever you get stuck on your designs you need to unwind for a bit. Go outside to get some fresh air or dance to your favourite music. Whatever helps you to get your mind away from your work. When you get back you write down the first 10 things you can think of and merge those things into your designs. There are no wrong ideas! You’ll be surprised by the fresh designs you’ll get.

Zurich, Switzerland – The Three C Group (3C Group) has recently joined the World Design Organization (WDO)®, becoming a member of the globally recognized non-governmental organization that aims to promote and advance the discipline of industrial design and its power to enhance economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life.

Founded in 1957, WDO services over 185 member organizations around the world, engaging thousands of individual designers through our innovative programming and initiatives that champion ‘design for a better world’.

The 3C Awards represent today’s diversity and innovation in lighting design, furniture design, sports design, interior design, and architecture. Each brand is a symbol of design excellence around the world, showcasing the work of professional and emerging designers to more than 100 expert jury members.

The company has three programs dedicated to industrial design:

• LIT Design Awards created in 2017, recognize the efforts of talented international lighting product designers and lighting implementers. The program was envisioned to celebrate creativity and innovation in the fields of lighting products and applications.
• SIT Furniture Design Award celebrates and shares the remarkable work of furniture designers and those who use furniture in their projects. Creativity, innovative vision, and accessibility in the furniture design community deserve to be applauded and shared widely, across the world.
• FIT Sport Design Awards recognize the industry’s most innovative sports equipment and apparel from around the world. We are looking for groundbreaking sports innovations, sustainable products, performance-enhancing solutions that provide comfort for athletes or everyday players, and practices that have a positive environmental impact.
• GFA Global Footwear Awards acknowledges the best in the industry, addressing creativity, innovation, sustainability and social impact. The GFA’s ambition is to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers on all levels, from emerging designers to businesses and corporations. The award offers global visibility to designers, providing greater opportunities in the footwear business and beyond.

“The 3C Group programs aims to celebrate Innovative Design, People, and their passion for the industry, through our rigorous judging process, we recognize those that have gone above and beyond.” Said Astrid Hébert, co-founder of the Three C Group GmbH, “becoming a member of the World Design Organization (WDO) is corroborating our company vision and mission to promote the appreciation of design excellence through education, outreach, and grants.”

More information on www.3Cawards.com

3C Awards will be a leading organization curating, recognizing and supporting talented designers through awards, press, media exposure, events, and exhibitions organization.

The company’s key mission is to promote design through awarding great designs, exhibiting, developing designers and artist communities, providing networking opportunities, and advancing the appreciation of excellence in design through education, outreach, and grants.

Developed by Hossein Farmani and Astrid Hébert, 3C Awards is part of a larger organization Three C Group GmbH based in Switzerland and specialized in Awards, Marketing, Media, and Events. 3C Awards represent today’s diversity and innovation in Lighting Design, Furniture Design, Interior Design, and Architecture. Each brand is a symbol of design excellence around the world, showcasing Professional and Emerging designers’ work to over 100 expert jury members. 3C awards is part of Three C Group GmbH, a Swiss-registered company based in Grabenstrasse 15a, 6340 Baar, Switzerland. More information is available on: www.3Cawards.com

Under the company Three C Group GmbH, 3C Awards will play a key role to develop our footprint in Europe and support the growth of our programs:

• LIT Lighting Design Awards (LIT)
• SIT Furniture Design Award (SIT)
• LIV Hospitality Design Awards (LIV)
• BLT Built Design Awards (BLT)
• FIT Sport Design Awards (FIT)
• Global Footwear Awards (GFA)

Three C Group GmbH is a sister company to Farmani Group, founded by Hossein Farmani. Farmani Group is a leading organization curating and promoting photography, design, and architecture across the globe since 1985.

The Farmani Group is responsible for many successful awards around the globe. Farmani Group organizes the International Design Awards (IDA), Architecture Masterprize, DNA, Paris Design Awards, London International Creative Awards, Prix de la Photographie in Paris, and the Annual Lucie Awards for Photography, which has emerged as one of the world’s most prestigious awards.

If you would like more information in regards to the program and our company, please contact: astrid.hebert@threec.group

The Global Footwear Design Awards (GFA) is announcing winners for its 3rd edition, showcasing a variety of exceptional creative potential across 20+ categories in all levels: Brands, Independents, and Students. The GFA recognizes visionary design talent from around the world with an ambition to provide the highest recognition to footwear designers in all categories including sustainability and social impact.

The submissions closed at the end of January 2023, leaving the jury panel composed of 33 experienced designers, academics, retailers, and media representatives in the Footwear Design industry to select the winners in each category. The program received a record number of submissions from talented footwear designers, fashion enthusiasts and students from 35 countries, making the competition tougher than ever before.

The Global Footwear Design Awards 2023 winners are:

Brand of the Year: SPLIT designed by Marjolijn Van Agt, Netherland – Vanagtshoes

Independent Designer of the Year: AYUMA. designed by Catia Di Carlo, Italy

Emerging Designer of the Year: VOLT designed by Dempsey Pauwels, UK – Academy Of Fine Arts Sint-niklaas (sask)

Other winners receiving the “The Best Overall Design” included Timberland Timberloop™ Trekker by Chris Mcgrath, Global VP of Footwear at Timberland, AWAKENING by Ying Ou, a student of the University Of The Arts London, NIKE ISPA KIDS CONCEPT designed by Jianwei Sun, a student of the Artcenter College Of Design, BBLU – Printing The Future by Andrew Artajaya, a student of The Köln International School Of Design and many more.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the judges for their dedication and hard work in selecting the winners. They have been inspired by the level of innovation and design vision showcased by many young professionals and established brands:

“The Global Footwear Awards is a great competition for both young and aspiring designers to showcase their concepts and also for established brands to let their work compete against each other.” Timon Kuhlenkamp, On Running Footwear Designer.

“Apart from enjoying the variety in creativity, I was most happy to see that more and more designers start to think of footwear as an area to tackle socio-political issues and so plays a part in taking the discipline beyond only reproducing styles of fashion, and playing with technology, and engaging with real-life issues.” Eelko Moorer, LCF MA footwear course leader.

Congratulations to all the winners and their respective teams for their remarkable contributions to the design industry. The Global Footwear Design Awards will continue to provide a platform igniting creativity and showcasing the work of aspiring designers, professionals, and brands pushing the boundaries of Footwear design.

Here are the 2022 ‘Design of the Year’

VOLT

Dempsey Pauwels, UK – Academy Of Fine Arts Sint-niklaas (sask)
Emerging Designer of the Year

AYUMA.

Catia Di Carlo, Italy
Independent Designer of the Year

SPLIT

Marjolijn Van Agt, Netherland – Vanagtshoes
Brand of the Year

Here are the 2022 ‘Best Overall Designs’

Timberland Timberloop™ Trekker

Chris Mcgrath, Global Vp Of Footwear – Timberland
Best Overall – Sustainability

SPLIT

Marjolijn Van Agt – Vanagtshoes
Best Overall – Women’s Fashion

Gabriel Giordano

Gabriel Giordano
Best Overall – Sports Performance

VOLT 

Dempsey Pauwels – Academy of Fine Arts Sint-Niklaas (SASK)
Best Overall – Men’s Fashion

AWAKENING

Ying Ou – University Of The Arts London
Best Overall – Special Awards in Social Impact

NIKE ISPA KIDS CONCEPT

Jianwei Sun – Artcenter College Of Design
Best Overall – Kids

BBLU – Printing The Future

Andrew Artajaya –
Th Köln / Köln International School Of Design
Best Overall – Unisex Fashion

Royal Clash – part 1


Deborah Kiwi
Best Overall – Special Awards in Artistic Footwear

Wacky Pack: O-Snap

Ye Shen – Rhode Island School Of Design
Best Overall – Fashion Sneakers

View through the rest of the GFA 2022 winners 

Congratulations to all winners on their outstanding work!

“It’s been such an exciting journey seeing all the work this year. The level of creativity conjointly with innovation and sustainability made us realise why we do what we do. I hope that our platform encourages many more aspiring designers, professionals, and brands to continue pushing boundaries of design as we provide space and exposure for their creative visions to ignite.” Jennifer Cullera, GFA Managing Director. 

To learn more about GFA’s award structure and winner benefits, and more, click here. For any press inquiries, email. info@globalfootwearawards.