Roger Vivier‘s creative director, Gherardo Felloni, reflected on the multi-faceted roles of design while accepting his Designer of The Year trophy at the 2023 Footwear News Achievement Awards.
“To be here tonight, it’s really it’s a real special moment because sometimes our job, we are creative — but at the same time, we have to think about business,” Felloni said onstage at the ceremony in New York City. “We have to think about timing. You have to think so many things and you work you work you work you work and you didn’t realize that your job is beautiful.”
Felloni also took a moment during his speech to reflect on his career in shoe design — as well as the high achievement, which is his first-ever award for design.
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“I’m so honored to be here — and actually, it’s my first award, so I’m so excited. Thank you to everyone to be here tonight,” Felloni said. “It’s my father that encouraged me to do this business, to do this job…because I was, I love to be an architect, I love to be a singer, so basically I didn’t care about shoes. That’s why I said it’s a real family business, and shoes is family…for me, it’s it’s always been like this since I was a child.”
During the occasion, Felloni was presented with his trophy by actress Lea Michele, who shared the creativity of his Vivier designs.
“His ability to transform classic designs with a whimsical theatrical flair truly sets him apart in the fashion world,” Michele shared onstage before giving Felloni his award. “Among so many talented designers, Gherardo manages to stand out with ease. His creations range from elaborate art-like pieces that dazzle on red carpets to timeless, everyday items that effortlessly fit into our daily lives.”
For 37 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2023 event is supported by sponsors Authentic Brands Group, Birdies, Caleres, Crocs, FDRA, Nordstrom, Saucony and Vibram.
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.
