Designer Patrick Cox to Give Keynote Speech at 2025 Cordwainers Footwear Awards
Fashion and footwear designer Patrick Cox and shoe legend Datuk Professor Jimmy Choo OBE will help celebrate the latest edition of the Cordwainers Footwear Awards next month.
According to the event organizers, Cox will deliver this year's keynote address at the ceremony, slated to take place on June 12 at Saddlers' Hall in London.
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Choo, an honorary liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers and a graduate of Cordwainers College, will receive this year's Sue Saunders Award for Excellence, awarded by nomination to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the footwear trade. The late Saunders was Choo's tutor, event organizers said.
As well as the main design award, additional categories include the Sneaker/Athleisure Award, which recognizes the innovative design work in this area; and the Sustainability Award, which asks students to think about the environmental impact of their design solutions.
The 2025 awards will also introduce the inaugural Craft of Shoemaking Award, sponsored by bespoke shoemakers Carréducker. The winner of this award will receive a package of specialist training at Carréducker comprising a two-day bespoke pattern-making course, and a three-day closing techniques course with pattern-making specialist Fiona Campbell, and a 12-day handsewn shoemaking course.
This year, 15 finalists will compete to win the coveted Cordwainers Footwear Awards Trophy. Also new for 2025 is an additional prize — the Stuart Weitzman MA Award — which recognizes the designs of MA students.
The design awards offer students significant cash prizes and the opportunity to earn industry recognition for their work. Finalists also gain mentoring experience from top names in the British footwear industry with the opportunity to network with market leaders.
Monetary prizes this year include 3,000 pounds for first place, 2,000 pounds for second place and 1,500 pounds for the Sustainable Development Award, Sneaker/Athleisure Award, and the Stuart Weitzman MA Award winners. A commendation prize will also be available for 500 pounds.
The main judging panel this year includes Kristina Blahnik, chief executive officer of Manolo Blahnik; designer Sophia Webster; Brian Kutsch, co-owner and creative director of Locol Design; and Darren McKoy, formerly global creative director of Dr. Martens.
Jonathan Church, co-director of Cheaney's and master of the Cordwainers for 2024 and 2025, said in a statement that it has been a 'privilege' to witness the growth of the Cordwainers Footwear Awards.
'This country is a market leader in footwear design and manufacture in an industry worth over 730 million pounds in the U.K. alone,' Church said. 'The Cordwainers were founded to support footwear and that commitment to excellence and talent continues. We should celebrate the heritage craft of footwear design and manufacture in the U.K.'
Over the last decade the company has given over 1 million pounds to support footwear education and the British footwear industry, providing scholarships, bursaries, and prizes to students on footwear and leather goods courses.
The Cordwainers Footwear Awards are open to student designers across the U.K. on both MA and BA courses. Entries this year were received from Central Saint Martins, De Montfort University, Jimmy Choo Academy, London College of Fashion, Northampton University and the Royal College of Art.
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