Well, let me tell ya ’bout them FN Achievement Awards, or whatever they call ’em, the “Shoe Oscars.” Sounds fancy, huh? Been goin’ on for 38 years, they say. Thirty-eight years! That’s a long time, even longer than it takes to grow a good ol’ pumpkin patch.
They give out these awards to all sorts of shoe people. You know, the ones makin’ them fancy high heels and them clunky boots. Big shots, they are. They call ’em “style stars,” “best brand stories,” and “industry veterans.” Sounds like a whole lotta hooey to me, but hey, if it makes ’em happy.
This year, some big names like Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom, and Vibram, they helped pay for the whole shebang. Guess they sell a lotta shoes, huh? Got money to burn, I reckon.
They say this shindig is a big deal in the shoe world. Like, the biggest deal. They hand out awards to the “most influential figures.” Influential? I guess that means they tell folks what kind of shoes to wear. Lord knows I ain’t listenin’ to them. My old work boots do me just fine.
- Style Icons: Them fancy folks who wear the crazy shoes, I guess. Like them movie stars and such.
- Brand Innovators: The ones comin’ up with new ways to make shoes, or so they say. Probably just makin’ ’em more expensive.
- Philanthropists: Now, these folks, they do some good, I hear. Givin’ back to the community and all that. That’s somethin’ I can get behind.
One year, some lady named Donna Karan, she gave an award to a fella named Kenneth Cole. A “Lifetime Achievement Award” they called it. Means he’s been makin’ shoes for a long, long time. Probably older than my prize-winning rooster, Henrietta.
They keep it a secret who wins ’til the last minute. Makes it excitin’, I suppose. Like waitin’ for the corn to ripen. One year, some folks named Sam and Libby Edelman won somethin’. And that Adidas Samba shoe, that won too. Never heard of it, myself, but folks seemed real happy ’bout it. And some fella named Gherardo Felloni, he won somethin’ for a shoe called Roger Vivier. Sounds French, don’t it? Too fancy for my taste.
They say a whole bunch of important people have won these awards over the years. An “impressive list,” they call it. I bet half of ’em couldn’t tell a hoe from a rake, but that’s just me grumblin’. They probably work hard at their shoe-makin’, same as I work hard at my farmin’. To each their own, I say.
So, that’s the lowdown on them FN Achievement Awards. The “Shoe Oscars,” they call it. A big to-do for the shoe people. Makes me wonder what kinda awards they give out for growin’ the best tomatoes, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.
Seems like a big deal for them shoe folks, celebrating their hard work and all. I reckon it’s important to them, just like harvest time is important to me.
In the end, it’s all about findin’ somethin’ you’re good at and workin’ hard at it, whether you’re makin’ fancy shoes or growin’ prize-winnin’ pumpkins.
Tags: [FN Achievement Awards, Shoe Oscars, Footwear Industry, Style Icons, Brand Innovators, Philanthropists, Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom, Vibram, Donna Karan, Kenneth Cole, Sam and Libby Edelman, Adidas Samba, Roger Vivier, Gherardo Felloni]
