NEWS
Cordwainers Footwear Awards 2026 winners announced
T
he annual Cordwainers Footwear Awards took place earlier this month in central London where a packed
audience, including leading names in footwear and fashion, saw 34 finalists compete for the top prizes in Craft of Shoemaking and Footwear Design. Footwear legend, Manolo Blahnik CBE,
was awarded the Sue Saunders Award for Excellence in acknowledgment of his dedicated commitment to creativity and craftsmanship. Collecting the award Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik, said the award was a “remarkable honour”. New for 2026 was the ‘Emerging Sole’ award named in memory of the late Daniel Charkow, a
young Canadian footwear designer who trained at the London College of Fashion (LCF). For this year, the 13th Awards ceremony, first
prize in the design category and winner of the Cordwainers Footwear Trophy was Ukrainian student Yevheniia Mizevych of LCF whose submission drew on her family’s heritage – with pit ponies and coal mine conveyor belts part of her unique design inspiration. Winner of the Craft of Shoemaking Award for
2026 (CoSA) was Matthew Gill, graduate of the Cordwainers Footwear BA course at LCF, whose first-placed wool and leather boots explored the idea of shoes as objects of skills, failures, affordances and tactile engagement. Second place went to full-time engineer Damon Ma with his metallic green, storm-welted monkey boots, and third place went to luxury leather artist, Ross Edwin Bell, with a pair of riding boots with a complex handsewn construction. Katie Greenyer, Chair of the
design judging panel, said: “Student design awards should always push boundaries. They’re about more than commercial potential – they’re a platform for bold ideas, experimentation and creative expression. The catwalk is where those ideas truly come alive.” The 2026 awards brought
together footwear names, makers, designers and influencers from across the industry including Patrick Cox; Caroline Groves; Kinky Boots shoemaker Thomas Rowe and ‘King of Trainers’, Franklin Boateng, alongside other leading designers and makers including Clarks, Cheaney and Paul Smith. Mr Andrew Peal, Master of the Cordwainers,
praised the finalists for heeding the call “to be bold; be creative”. Footwear design and manufacture is worth over £700 million in the UK alone and Mr Peal said the Cordwainers would continue to “encourage and celebrate the talent that is a keystone of the British shoe industry”.
Sperry accelerates its European expansion S
perry is accelerating its European expansion strategy with a renewed focus on the Benelux and DACH
markets, building on the momentum of its recent return to the UK and Ireland. As demand continues to rise for premium
smart-casual footwear across Europe, the Authentic Brands Group-owned label is positioning itself for long-term regional growth through a coordinated retail and distribution strategy. Central to the expansion is a new
partnership with Dubois, which will oversee the brand’s rollout across mainland Europe. Working closely with UK footwear specialist Gardiner Bros following its recent acquisition of the Belgian distributor, the collaboration combines strong local market expertise with an established track record in brand development and wholesale growth.
The move signals a significant investment
in Europe for Sperry, with the company aiming to strengthen its presence in key fashion and lifestyle territories while capitalising on growing consumer demand for relaxed, versatile styling. Founded in 1935, Sperry holds the title of the original boat shoe creator, yet this European rollout transcends mere nostalgia to reconnect with a modern, fashion-forward demographic. The brand’s strategy balances premium executions of the Authentic Original with directional silhouettes and seasonal colourways that align with contemporary street-style trends. By leveraging high-profile partnerships and its signature craftsmanship, Sperry maintains sharp brand relevance within today’s competitive footwear landscape.
“Sperry is blending nine decades of heritage with a progressive, fashion-led lens,” said Dubois Founder, Jean-Jacques Vankeerberghen. “Our
goal is to position the brand not just as a staple of the past, but as a definitive player in the modern European wardrobe.” For European retailers, the relaunch offers a
turnkey opportunity to lead a trending category with the brand that defined it. The combined expertise of Gardiner Bros and Dubois provides a rare mix of global brand equity and hands-on, localised wholesale support.
4 • FOOTWEAR & FASHION TODAY • JUNE 2026
DOWNLOAD THE FOOTWEAR & FASHION TODAY APP NOW
SPONSORED BY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
