It was a full circle, and emotional, moment for the couple as A$AP Rocky accepted the Collaboration of the Year Award with Puma — eight years after Rihanna stood on the FNAA stage to accept the Shoe of the Year award for her Puma Fenty Creeper.

Rihanna couldn’t have been a more supportive cheerleader during Rocky’s big night. She proudly brought his FN cover on stage when he asked the entire Puma team to join him for his big moment. And a few minutes earlier, she captured Rocky’s remarks on her cell phone from the audience. After the event wrapped, Rihanna and Rocky greeted the crowd, posing with Icon honoree Martha Stewart, Lifetime Achievement Award winner Kenneth Cole and many others.

Perhaps the night’s best photos came during the couple’s turn in FN’s portrait studio. Check out all the action from the big night at Footwearnews.com

On Dec. 4, Tacey Powers will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 38th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is an article from the magazine’s Dec. 2 print issue looking back at her many contributions to Nordstrom and the footwear industry.

Tacey Powers vividly recalls a defining moment during her first few weeks working on the sales floor at Nordstrom’s Cerritos, Calif., store.

It was the early 1980s, and the ambitious young college student was organizing Members Only jackets when the retailing family’s third-generation leaders approached her.

“Mr. Jim, Mr. Bruce and Mr. John walked up to me. They said they hadn’t met me and were excited to have me at Nordstrom. These men had a lot of stores and employees … and they took the time to stop and introduce themselves. It meant something. I thought, ‘OK, that’s it.’”

Powers, who had originally planned to sell computers at IBM, realized that Nordstrom was the place for her. “Once I got into the company, the culture quickly aligned with my personal values. I never looked back,” she said.

Within six months, Powers was an assistant department manager. After a year, she was promoted again, to manager of Point of View, a women’s apparel department.

At age 23, she took on the role of coat buyer. “They would hand you a corporate credit card and you would be off to New York to select product. The fact that I didn’t make any horrific mistakes is amazing,” Powers quipped. “I’m still thankful to this day because it was the coldest winter on record in Southern California. I got very lucky.”

More than four decades later, Powers still considers herself lucky. A beloved member of the close-knit Nordstrom team, she has put her stamp on nearly every part of the business — including all major merchandise categories, from women’s to kids to men’s, Nordstrom.com and Nordstrom Rack. “No decade has been the same, no five years has been the same. We’re a company that’s always evolving,” she said. 

Now as executive vice president and general merchandise manager for shoes, she is powering the business that has always been the heart and soul of the retailer. 

“Throughout Tacey’s career, she has been a tenacious advocate for our customers and a terrific partner to our vendors in the growth of our business,” said Jamie Nordstrom, chief merchandising officer of Nordstrom. “Relationships matter in this industry, and Tacey has been a model of integrity, curiosity and collaboration for so many of us.”

With the support of her mentors at Nordstrom, Powers first made the leap into footwear in 2006, when [former shoe exec] Jack Minuk gave her “the scariest promotion” to DMM of women’s shoes for the West Coast. “Everybody who works in the shoe division at Nordstrom grows up on the shoe floor. I said they would never accept me as a shoe dog. He said, ‘See you on Monday.’ It was such a responsibility. I took this assignment very seriously.”

Powers quickly learned the intricacies of the footwear business — and she was hooked. “I love that this is an industry with people who truly care about each other. They compete, but they come together on so many important subjects.  There’s a real mutual respect,” she said. “In the other arenas I worked in, that wasn’t my experience.”

Powers’ unwavering focus on partnership has been key for both the retailer and its vendor community. Some favorite memories include being on the floor with the late shoe legend Vince Camuto during personal appearances. “You would have thought we had Kim Kardashian at the store,” she said. “We would learn so much on those Saturdays.”

Powers has been instrumental in building power brands such as Ugg and Birkenstock, while cultivating new categories such as running.

This year, the executive and her team unveiled the “Make Room for Shoes” campaign, a yearlong celebration of the retailer’s passion and commitment for the category. The program featured special initiatives with FN’s two brands of the year, On and Larroudé, among other major names, such as Caleres-owned Sam Edelman.

“Tacey is an outstanding merchant who somehow keeps getting better,” said Jay Schmidt, president and CEO of Caleres. “[Our companies] share many of the same values, and our brands have flourished under her leadership. She stands as a great example of how to win in the business long term by building trust with amazing integrity.”

For Powers, winning also means staying curious and embracing disruption in an ever-changing retail climate. One burning issue that’s top of mind right now? AI. “It’s going to have a tremendous impact on the ways we work in our own companies, and how we use it to make us more efficient,” she said. It is also critical to understand how AI can be used to enhance the “art” side of retailing,” Powers noted. 

The executive regularly shares her words of wisdom with rising industry leaders through her work with Two Ten and its WIFI group. “I love the way Two Ten has evolved to be helpful across so many facets,” said the executive, who noted the uniqueness of the group’s mission: shoe people helping shoe people.

Shoes That Fit is another organization that Powers and Nordstrom continue to champion. The group tackles one of the most visible signs of poverty in America by giving children in need new athletic shoes. “I go to these shoe drops where I’m sizing kids at two or three sizes above the shoes they have on,” said Powers, who is a Shoes That Fit board member. While Nordstrom has partnered with one athletic company each year on footwear donations, the retailer now has a goal of bringing more brands on board for the cause.

Giving back has always been at the core of Nordstrom’s mission, and Powers feels fortunate to work for a family that has instilled a sense of purpose.

“Some parts of our company — and how we treat each other — have bled into my personal life and made me a better person,” she said.

For 38 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 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.

On Dec. 4, Martha Stewart will be honored with the Icon Award the 38th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is a cover story from the magazine’s Dec. 2 print issue about the trailblazer’s incredible year.

When FN went in-depth with Martha Stewart for a June 2023 cover story, the entrepreneur opened up about her aversion to an oft-overused label — legend.

“Legends are dead. I would much rather be an icon,” Stewart said emphatically. 

Few people embody the word as perfectly as Stewart, the original influencer who has an inherent talent for reinventing herself again and again.  

Now, as she prepares to accept the Icon Award at the 2024 FN Achievement Awards, Stewart ponders her own definition of the term. “To me, an icon is a living person who has accomplished something extraordinary during their lifetime,” the octogenarian said. “My icons are adventurous, take risks and are forward thinking.”

Stewart is describing herself: After all, it was just 18 months ago that she made history as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s oldest cover model, a moment that was hard to top. But in 2024, the image maker again proved she’s unstoppable, from her starring role at the Paris Olympics with Snoop Dogg (her bestie and fellow Skechers ambassador) to the launch of her 100th book (“Martha: The Cookbook”). And recently, her viral “Netflix” documentary has had just about everyone buzzing. 

In today’s social media era, when fame has never been more fleeting, Stewart understands how to keep fans highly engaged — and much of her power lies in her ability to look ahead.

For example, as some people are still discovering her film, Stewart — who was openly critical about certain aspects of it — is already talking about “Martha 2.” “There’s still more to tell,” she said last month during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

The story she’s told so far — the incredible rise, the dramatic fall and the illustrious comeback — has certainly surprised and delighted viewers, especially ambitious young women who are looking for a role model during a turbulent time.  

“Watching the Martha Stewart documentary and she is just a delightful bad ass bit** [who] gets shit done,” wrote one Threads user.

Said another: “This Martha Stewart documentary was IT! I had tears in my eyes knowing how the world can be cruel to successful women. She has lived so many lives, what an ICON!”

The attention around the documentary — which has personal new revelations about Stewart’s childhood and marriage, as well as her time in prison — has helped drive demand for “Martha: The Cookbook.” It was released in November, more than four decades after Stewart’s first book, “Entertaining.” 

“What I think people like about my books are the recipes, photographs and stories that are evocative, personal and inclusive. Creating an ambiance and environment that speaks to the food is very important for the visuals,” she said. 

In this digital age where online recipes are ubiquitous, Stewart is immensely proud of the fact that her cookbooks remain a mainstay in American kitchens — and continue to influence chefs everywhere.

“I went to a big Christmas party last year and noticed a huge mound of butter,” she recalled. “I quietly laughed to myself as the ‘butter mound’ was featured in ‘Entertaining.’ Talk about timeless.” 

She Never Stops Surprising

“You can always work a little bit harder and maybe get to your goal a little bit faster. I work 24/7,” Stewart said at FN’s June 2023 “Women Who Rock” event. 

That’s not much of an exaggeration: In the span of a frenetic few days last month, she held court at the Louis Vuitton store opening in New York, traveled to Charleston, S.C., to celebrate her new book in front of a crowd of 1,200 people, sat down for an on-stage iHeartRadio interview, toasted a friend’s book launch at The Carlyle and appeared on “The Today Show” to serve up her brioche stuffing-filled roasted pumpkin. (The travel lover later revealed she was skipping Thanksgiving turkey this year and taking her grandchildren to Rome during the holiday instead.) 

While she’s been spending much of her time promoting the book and documentary, Stewart also continues her other pursuits, including a burgeoning partnership with Skechers. The entrepreneur has visited the company’s Manhattan Beach, Calif., headquarters several times, furthering her education about the business of footwear. 

“I really admire that Skechers is a family company with Robert Greenberg, the patriarch, his son Michael and many other family members. Everyone there is considered family. I like them because they are innovators,” she said. “Designing a line of comfortable and useful footwear with Skechers has been a challenge and pleasure.”

Michael Greenberg lauded Stewart for fully committing to everything she does.

“Martha isn’t just wicked smart and creative — she’s incredibly funny and fearless as a person. A true icon on every level,” said Greenberg. Looking ahead, the partners are planning to expand Stewart’s Skechers collection internationally.

“She is truly unstoppable. Her ambition knows no bounds, matched only by her pursuit of perfection,” Greenberg said.

Strong business partners have been crucial to Stewart’s recent success — especially Marquee Brands, which in 2019 acquired the Martha Stewart nameplate from Sequential Brands Group.

Together with Marquee, Stewart is working on her next projects, including a collection of gardening tools. Her empire already spans beauty, bedding, crafts, fashion, food and beverage, restaurants, home décor, kitchen, office, pet and wellness. Up next: a retail project in Dubai.

“Martha doesn’t just set the standard — she redefines it, inspiring all generations to strive for excellence in every aspect of life,” said Heath Golden, chief executive officer of Marquee Brands. “She is the very definition of an icon: timeless, innovative and ever-evolving.”

As Stewart herself likes to say, “When you’re through changing, you’re through.” 

Now, with 2025 coming into focus, Stewart knows many people, women especially, are wrestling with the future. Despite the uncertainty ahead, Stewart is encouraging everyone to step it up, confidentially and with purpose. “Be positive. Don’t be afraid of anything. Go for it,” she said. 

Martha Stewart will never stop going for it.

For 38 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 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.

As 2025 comes into focus, Italian design specialist Industria del Design is setting its sights on major expansion in the U.S. market.

The company, which focuses on innovative design and development out of its Padova, Italy headquarters, has a 30-year history in the shoe industry. It employs a team of 70 people dedicated to its brand partnerships.

“We work like an in-house design team and partner closely with the creative directors of the brands,” said Massimo Giussani, chief design officer, who previously worked for brands such as Fratelli Rossetti and Nina Ricci, among others.

Industria del Design has worked with dozens of diverse names — from luxury to mass market — during the last three decades. Its partners have included Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, Bally, Clarks, Kate Spade, Nine West and many others.

Now the company — led by CEO Francesco Pilli — aims to team up with more American brands who are looking for design and development expertise. “We have a deep knowledge of the American market and we want to be important there again. We want to build a strong office there,” said Micaela Sporeni, global sales and marketing director.

Part of the company’s services include an in-depth market analysis for each of its brands. “Before we start a collection, we do a very specific study about the market and the brands. We can advise our customers on their strengths, where they can go and where the opportunities are,” Sporeni said.

Sustainability is a major part of the company’s focus — with an emphasis on recycled materials, sustainable energy and eco-friendly research and development.

This year, the the company opened a Materials Research and Development Laboratory at its headquarters, developed in collaboration with Weev. The space offers a dedicated environment for experimentation, storage, analysis, and materials research. “We are always studying new technologies for footwear,” Sporeni said.

To support the next generation of footwear talent, the company also operates an academy to give aspiring designers the ability to learn and work alongside the in-house team. In the past few years, the company has brought 12 students on board full time, according to Giussani. “This is very important to us,” he said.

She’s the ultimate icon.

Capping off another incredible year of major achievements, Martha Stewart will receive the Icon Award at the FN Achievement Awards on Dec. 4.

In 2024, the image maker once again proved she’s unstoppable, from her starring role with Snoop Dogg at the Paris Olympics to the launch of her 100th book to her viral “Netflix” documentary.

Above all, the image maker understands that her ability to continually evolve is one of her most powerful attributes. “I was brought up to do what I want to do when I want to do it as well as I can do it,” said the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, in an FN interview last year. “Something I always say is to be curious and keep learning something new every day.”

Millions of fans have been hanging on Stewart’s recommendations since 1982, when she shot to fame with her first how-to book, “Entertaining.” Her 100th title, “Martha: The Cookbook,” which released this month, is a collection of classics, and Stewart has been working tirelessly to promote the project.

Stewart also has been expanding her partnership with Skechers. In October, she appeared on QVC to promote her new collection with the brand and regularly models the kicks on Instagram.

At the FNAAs next month, Stewart will join a powerful roster of 2024 honorees at the red carpet gala and awards ceremony.

Each year, the FNAAs — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — celebrate footwear’s influential style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans.

For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Samantha Rumsky at srumsky@fairchildfashion.com.

For media interested in covering the FNAAs in person on Dec. 4 in New York, please send a request to FNAArequest@ow-ny.com.

The industry rallied for this year’s Shoes for a Cure fundraiser, coming together to raise more than $700,000 for breast cancer research.

More than 350 volunteers from 53 companies pitched in at the five-day shoe sale, held last month at Chelsea Market. All told, more than 5,000 pairs of shoes were sold, and the event brought in more than $320,000. In addition, a number of big donations brought the total raised to over $700,0000; last year, the event raised more than $600,000.

“We had a really strong year. It was so much more impactful and engaging compared with last year because we knew how to do it logistically,” said Sandi Mines, president of the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation (FFCF). She added that corporate teams from across the industry were out in full force, giving the event a major boost. “It was really cool to see companies come together to do something great.”

In addition, an intimate cocktail party at L’Avenue at Saks, held the evening before the sale kicked off, helped build buzz around the cause. Emily Rockefeller hosted the event, and Katie Couric also spoke to the crowd of top supporters.

The 2024 Shoes for a Cure grant recipient is Dr Lisa Newman, a New York doctor who has spent her entire career researching the cure for breast cancer. Newman has also been focusing on ways to close the gap in breast cancer treatment for women of color.

Outside of the New York effort, Shoes for a Cure launched a Miami event in partnership with the Miami Design District.

Proceeds from the one-day charity shopping activation and private cocktail event were directed to Braman Family Cancer Institute at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Taylor Swift made a case for fall ’24’s hottest color trend during a night out with friends in New York on Friday.

For dinner with Zoë Kravitz and Jerrod Carmichael, the star wore a Vivienne Westwood striped corset dress with a paint-effect top and Aquazzura velvet mule sandals in the season’s trending hue — burgundy. She topped off the look with a black leather Westwood bag.

The songstress clearly seems on board with the burgundy wave sweeping across fashion this season. In September, she stepped out in thigh-high Giuseppe Zanotti burgundy boots to cheer on Travis Kelce at the Chiefs game.

It’s not surprising she picked Aquazzura for her latest outing. Swift has worn the brand for a number of big events through the years, including her 34th birthday last December, when she stepped out in sky-high bejeweled platform sandals.

The brand, launched by creative director Edgardo Osorio in 2012, has benefited from a number of big celeb moments during the past few months.

Beyoncé has chosen Aquazzura twice recently — and just a few days ago, the star wore Aquazzura nude sandals in her “Bodyguard” video on Instagram when she recreated a memorable Pamela Anderson look. In October, the songstress held court at a Kamala Harris rally in ankle-strap Aquazzura pumps.

Also this week, Angelina Jolie wore Aquazzura platform sandals to a screening in Los Angeles.

Donald Trump won a second term for president on Wednesday morning. A few hours later, Steve Madden had put a plan in motion to move a large portion of its production out of China — and quickly.

It’s well known that one of Trump’s biggest campaign promises was to slap tariffs on shoes and other Chinese imports — a move that would translate into significant price increases. In a study released this week, the National Retail Federation warned U.S. consumers could pay between $6.4 billion to $10.7 billion more for footwear a year with proposed tariffs.

Ed Rosenfeld, chief executive officer of the New York-based company, told analysts on a conference call Thursday that Madden — which reported solid third-quarter earnings — had been preparing for a “potential scenario in which we would have to move goods out of China more quickly.”

Of course, footwear and retail executives are well aware of the impact tariffs can have on their bottom lines. The issue was a major storyline during Trump’s first term.

Overall, about two-thirds of Madden’s business is derived from imports. And about 70 percent of those imports are sourced from China. That means just about half of Madden’s business is currently subject to tariffs — if Trump ultimately decides to put them in place.

Rosenfeld said the company has been working hard to develop production capabilities in Cambodia, Vietnam, Mexico and Brazil.

The company’s goal: To reduce the percentage of goods produced in China by 40 to 45 percent. “If we’re able to achieve that, a year from today we would be looking at just over a quarter of the business subject to tariffs,” Rosenfeld said.

One thing is clear: The industry wants to avoid the tariffs altogether.

“The supporters of the president-elect are very concerned about their pocketbooks,” FDRA president and chief executive officer Matt Priest said this week. “Encouraging the administration not to add taxes on goods for American people is probably a really good place to start if you want to ensure that the prices stay low.”

— With contributions from Shoshy Ciment