“Right now, with [the COVID-19 crisis], I don’t have time to figure out if the economy is going to come back. Lots of people sit around and speculate about what the move is. I’ve made many moves while everyone was still speculating.” — Aurora James, founder of Brother Vellies and The 15 Percent Pledge
“[My New Balance collaboration] was a temperature test for me to see how the audience responds to product that I make. And the results were good.” — Salehe Bembury, VP of sneakers and men’s footwear at Versace (pictured in his New Balance 2002R)
“The Nike Dunk is deserving of Shoe of the Year because it truly is a canvas. It exists in a space where it can take on multiple identities, but still remain a Dunk at its core.” — Off-White founder Virgil Abloh, who delivered several colorways this year of the Rubber Dunk (pictured).
“I’ll see something on the runway, want it, flip it around. It depends on my mood. I’ll tell my stylist, ‘I want to be more thotty’ and we get them thotty looks. If I want to be chic, we get the chic looks. If I want to wear a thong with a skinny-ass tube top, then we do that. It’s what we feeling.” — Cardi B on her style inspiration
Deckers Brands had a stellar 2020, thanks to Ugg and Teva, which both saw sales gains in an incredibly challenging year. But the biggest growth surge came from Hoka One One (pictured). “This brand is just getting started,” said Wendy Yang, president of Deckers Brands’ performance lifestyle group.
Rihanna knows the value of a well-executed collaboration. For her Fenty brand, that meant linking up with footwear’s hottest luxury women’s designer, Amina Muaddi, to develop footwear. And in fashion as in music, everything Rihanna touches turns to gold.
“I’m from the projects and made a way for myself. Now, I’m trying to kick the door open so kids still in the projects understand how to make a way for themselves.” — James Whitner, founder of The Whitaker Group
Love them or hate them, Crocs are more popular than ever. Sales soared this year for the brand, in part thanks to high-profile collaborations with Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny and KFC. And its releases with Post Malone (pictured) continue to boost the buzz.
“When I do decide to leave [the industry] completely, I want to understand, ‘Did I do the job I set out to do — create a more diverse industry than I got into?’ Thirty years later, it’s gotten better, but there’s a longer way to go.” — D’Wayne Edwards, founder of Pensole Design Academy
“I am a designer that does luxury but there’s a message behind the shoes that I make. The most important thing is being human, being kind and being good. We tend to forget this in fashion. This year I was able to figure that out.” — Beirut-based designer Andrea Wazen
How does Birkenstock still resonate in the modern digital era? Longtime collaborator Rick Owens explained: “A selfie generation might be oversaturated with conventional glamour and searching for more modest and holistic values. Birkenstock represents that.”
“What I’m most proud of is Foot Locker’s positioning around our current purpose statement of inspiring and empowering youth culture.” — Foot Locker Inc. chairman, CEO and president Dick Johnson
New Balance broke barriers this year with fresh silhouettes like the 327. It also crossed new terrain with its unbeatable repertoire of collaborations, including a statement look from Joe Freshgoods (pictured) and a hit style with FN’s Designer of the Year, Salehe Bembury.
“I started Piferi with the idea of creating a product with a purpose. It’s not just about shoes, but more about what they stand for.” — Alfredo Piferi, founder of Piferi, a luxury vegan footwear label.
Among its many sustainability initiatives, Timberland has planted more than 10 million trees and vowed to plant 50 million more by 2025. Tracy Smith, VP and GM of Timberland North America, told FN: “A greener future is a better future … and we all have a role to play in making that a reality.”
A true pioneer, designer Sergio Rossi crafted some of the most iconic footwear styles of the 20th century. And he helped turn his hometown of San Mauro Pascoli into a capital of Italian luxury women’s footwear, before his death in April 2020 at the age of 84.
