NEWS
Celebrating the next generation of footwear talent: the Cordwainers Footwear
Awards Winners 2021
The Cordwainers Footwear Awards 2021 announcement was streamed live on 10 June, when head judge Katie Greenyer revealed this year’s winners.
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or the awards, digital portfolios were submitted by students from the three footwear universities of De Montfort University, the University of Northampton and London College of Fashion at University of the Arts, London. The judging panel this year, was made up of footwear industry leaders, including Michael Atmore, Charlotte Olympia Dellal, Beatrix Ong MBE, Joachim Sedelmeier and Katie Greenyer. The judges remain committed in their support of the awards, which open up important opportunities, allowing the students to connect with the industry and have their work recognised. In her live streamed speech, Katie Greenyer explained how delightful the judging process was. She explained, “We had the enviable task of escaping our day jobs and entering into the minds of these passionate, extremely talented footwear designers. It’s a real credit to University of the Arts, De Montfort, Northampton, and the staff, who I know all work incredibly hard to drive, nurture and direct the students in incredibly challenging times, to become the best crop of footwear designers globally.” Katie then went on to thank the students for supplying such though provoking content, and The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers for the competition, before announcing the winners. The 2021 Cordwainers Footwear Awards
winners are: 1st Prize - Jihee Ahn, De Montfort University 2nd Prize: Kamile Peleckyte, London College of Fashion 3rd Prize: Reuben Crabbe, London College of Fashion Sustainability Award: Louise Pietrzyk, London College of Fashion Commendation: Maartje den Boer, De Montfort University Winner Jihee Ahn was thrilled about winning, saying “It is an honour to be a winner of this award and I will never forget the moment my name was called! Due to the pandemic, it has been an unusual environment to design in, however winning this award has made me very proud of my designs!”
The Cordwainers Footwear Awards were established in 2014 to support the future of the shoe industry by celebrating and encouraging young footwear talent. Previous winners, including Helen Kirkum, Meta Cunder and Ganor Dominic, are making their mark in the industry, having used their prize money to fund further education in footwear design, or start their own footwear design businesses. The Master of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, Peter Lamble, expressed his delight that the awards have been able to continue. “Last year the Cordwainers Footwear Awards were one of the few not to be cancelled and the first to move into the digital space in response to COVID 19. After a more than challenging year, the 2021 Awards are just as important. I am proud that they are once again going ahead digitally. They embody the Company’s core purpose, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to supporting both the footwear industry and student footwear designers. We have an excellent panel of judges from the footwear industry, with a wealth of experience and talent. Led by Cordwainer Liveryman Katie Greenyer, they will be assessing this year’s digital portfolios from the three footwear universities (De Montfort University, the University of Northampton and London College of Fashion at University of the Arts, London). They have the unenviable task of assessing the entries for prizes totalling £12,000, and which this year include a new award for sustainability.” “The ambition of the Cordwainers Footwear
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“There has never been a more important time to support new ideas and new talent.”
JOACHIM SEDELMEIER, HEAD OF DESIGN, SHOES, AT PAUL SMITH
Awards is to ensure that we give footwear designers the platform to showcase their work to industry experts. The students have had to be even more resourceful than ever with university workshops closed and virtual learning. I’m always totally blown away with the enthusiasm, talent, professionalism and most importantly originality of the work. I’m so excited that we are able to continue to nurture, nourish and support footwear design through these unique times.”
Katie Greenyer, Creative Director, Pentland Brands commented. “There has never been a more important time to support new ideas and new talent. “It is so important to support future talent particularly in these challenging times.” Joachim Sedelmeier, Head of Design, Shoes, at Paul Smith.
As Senior Editor of Footwear Today Magazine, I would like to congratulate all the winners who put forward portfolios for this prestigious Award during the pandemic. I would also commend the University of the Arts, De Montfort, Northampton, the London College of Fashion and the Worshipful Company Of Cordwainers who worked so hard to make this happen. It was an outstanding achievement, particularly in these unprecedented times. Well done to you all!
JUNE/JULY 2021 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • 5
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