Pusha T to Present Pharrell With Footwear News Shoe of the Year Award
Pharrell Williams is set to receive the prestigious Shoe of the Year award at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards (FNAAs) for his innovative collaboration with Adidas on the Virginia Adistar Jellyfish. This recognition celebrates not just the shoe itself, but the cultural and community-driven narrative that Pharrell emphasizes as integral to his work. In a recent interview, Pharrell expressed his deep connection to Virginia, stating, “When we create under the Virginia umbrella with Adidas, we’re talking about roots, culture, and identity.” His collaboration aims to redefine movement and freedom in footwear design, inviting wearers to explore beyond conventional expectations. This ethos of pushing boundaries resonates throughout Pharrell’s career and is reflected in the design of the Adistar Jellyfish, which he describes as an invitation to “go a little further.”
Adding to the excitement, the award will be presented by fellow Virginia Beach native and longtime collaborator Pusha T, underscoring the significance of their shared heritage. Pharrell and Pusha T have been influential figures in the music and fashion industries since they first met in the early ’90s, and their commitment to promoting Virginia Beach as a cultural hub has been a consistent theme throughout their careers. Pharrell remarked on the need for Virginia Beach to continue evolving as a destination for creativity and collaboration, stating, “There’s so much more to come.” This year marks a high point for both artists, as they are also nominated for Grammy Awards for their work on the Clipse album *Let God Sort Em Out*, which includes a nomination for Album of the Year.
The 2025 FNAAs ceremony, taking place on December 3 at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York City, promises to be a significant event, honoring not just Pharrell but also fashion luminaries like Tommy Hilfiger, who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Coco Gauff, named Style Influencer of the Year. Other notable recognitions include Jordan Brand for Brand of the Year and New Balance x Miu Miu for Collaboration of the Year. As the event approaches, the anticipation builds not only for Pharrell’s moment in the spotlight but also for the celebration of innovation and creativity within the footwear industry.
Last month, it was
announced
that
Pharrell
would be awarded Shoe of the Year at the 2025
Footwear News Achievement Awards (FNAAs)
for his Virginia Adistar Jellyfish collaboration with
Adidas
. Now
Billboard
can exclusively announce that the award will be presented by none other than fellow Virginia Beach native and frequent collaborator
Pusha T
.
“Virginia is my home. It’s the origin,” Pharrell told
Footwear News
in their brand-new FNAAs issue (see the cover below). “So, when we create under the Virginia umbrella with Adidas we’re talking about roots, culture and identity —not just the shoe, but the ecosystem around it: the story, the place, the community.”
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He added: “The Adistar Jellyfish was never about playing it safe. It was about expanding the idea of what movement could look like. I see it as freedom. There’s expectation, but really there’s an invitation to go a little further, to explore a little beyond.”
Pharrell and Pusha T met in the early ’90s and have always repped Virginia Beach throughout their stellar careers, so it only makes sense that Pharrell would be presented this award by another hometown hero. “Virginia Beach is already a cultural destination – where community comes together, where artists collaborate and new ideas are born – but there’s so much more to come,” he told
Footwear News
.
He concluded: “‘Go bigger’ was a mindset. If we’re going to do it, let’s really do it.”
This will cap an excellent year for Pharrell and Push, as they’re each nominated at the 2026 Grammys for their work on the Clipse album
Let God Sort Em Out
— including the top prize of album of the year — plus Pharrell snagged a best music film nod for the LEGO biopic
Piece by Piece
.
The 2025 FNAAs will take place Wednesday (Dec. 3) at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York City.
The event will also honor Tommy Hilfiger with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Coco Gauff as Style Influencer of the Year, and Ronnie Fieg as Person of the Year. Other honorees include Jordan Brand (Brand of the Year), New Balance x Miu Miu (Collaboration of the Year), and Nordstrom (Retailer of the Year).
See the new cover below:
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering Celeb & Ent news.
