Last Wednesday evening, celebrities, designers, influencers, power players and sports elite, joined forces in New York City for our annual Achievement Awards, recognizing the best and brightest new stars of the year, as well as icons who have shaped the industry for decades.
Fergie welcomed the crowd by belting out a few words, Kanye West captivated the audience with his acceptance speech and Robert Greenberg of Skechers took a trip down memory lane when he took to the stage as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Other guests included Alexa Chung, Justin O’Shea, Sam and Libby Edelman, Gianvito Rossi and Edgardo Osorio of Aquazzura. Between the speeches, award winner introductions and general banter on the red carpet, there was no shortage of notable quotes. Below are the top 12 heard throughout the evening.
Kanye West
Shoe Of The Year Award Winner For Adidas Yeezy Boost
Watch on FN
“I want to fucking draw shoes, and it doesn’t matter if someone thinks that I’m supposed to be doing something that’s more important. [Adidas] gave me the opportunity, especially this first run, to make ’em however I want to make ’em. They didn’t say, “You got to make the logo four times bigger than the shoe.'”
Justin O’Shea, Mytheresa.com
Retailer Of The Year Award Winner
“Normally, I’d take total credit, but I don’t think that’s appropriate since the president of Neiman Marcus [Josh Schulman] is sitting with me.”
Phillip Lim
Presenting to Alexa Chung
“I was thinking with everything that Alexa does and the person she is, she’s so real and authentic, so I’m just going to give you my simple truth: Alexa, you are the shit. You inspire me to the moon and back and I’m so grateful for our friendship.”
Alexa Chung
Style Influencer Of The Year Award Winner
“I’ve never won an accolade in New York before, not that I’m winning them constantly everywhere else but thank you very, very much from the bottom of my sole.”
Edgardo Osorio, Aquazzura
Designer Of The Year Award Winner
“I felt so humbled walking on Madison Avenue looking for the location for our first American flagship, and I really couldn’t believe it. I was living my dream, I feel like I’m living the American dream.”
Prabal Gurung
Icon Award For Social Impact Winner
“I want to end with a thought that my mom always said, ‘A life lived for yourself is not a life well-lived.”
Bel Powley
Presenting to Prabal Gurung
“I really admire Prabal’s dedication to his foundation and to help underprivileged children and the people of Nepal. He’s dedicated his full heart to the people of Nepal. He continues to endorse empowerment for the nation’s young girls, who will soon grow up into great women ready to take on the world,”
Fergie
Opening The Awards
“I’ve very proud to have been a part of this industry since 2009 when I began a wonderful partnership with my footwear family at Caleres, led by it’s bad ass chairwoman Diane Sullivan.”
Aurora James
Vivian Infantino Emerging Talent Winner
“I’m taking this award back to Africa. [Everyone there] taught me everything I know about shoes.”
Sugar Ray Leonard
Presenting to Robert Greenberg
“Robert is a fighter and faced the toughest opposition in the world and beat them.”
Robert Greenberg, Skechers
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
“When I started L.A. Gear, I found a sneaker with a rubber toe that I kind of liked. I made it up in 10 colors and that was it. We went to the Chicago shoe show and rented a T-bird convertible and covered the car from end to another. I thought when this style runs out, I’m going to close and take the money.”
Kevin Plank, Under Armour
Brand Of The Year Award Winner
“We’re exactly 10 years in footwear. We’re also 10 years as a public company. We celebrated that this past November. In that time, we’re up to 30 percent top line and equally are up 30 percent on the bottom line. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of our team for, something that’s been a long time coming.”
Pharrell Williams, Bee Line x Timberland
Collaboration Of The Year Award Winner
“With the help of bionic yarn we were able to recycle 6 plastic bottles to create each boot. All of which makes this truly fulfilling to receive a nod for this collaboration.”
For all the best red carpet action from the 2015 FN Achievement Awards, click through the gallery below:
Want More?
Kanye West At The FNAA: Sneaking Into McQueen Show & More Inspiring Fashion Moments
Celebrities, Designers & Sports Stars Share Their Favorite Songs To Sing In The Shower
Bel Powley & Prabal Gurung Sound Off During FN Achievement Awards
Fashion Industry & Fans React To Kanye’s Big Shoe Of The Year Win
