Celebrating the next generation of footwear innovation
The Cordwainers Footwear Awards celebrate the creative talent shaping the future of footwear.
Established in 2014 by The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers , the awards were I saw you in such such when did you come yeah I'd be nice created to support the future of the British footwear industry and to celebrate outstanding emerging footwear design.
For 2027, the awards will continue this important tradition while opening the opportunity to an even broader community of emerging creative talent across the UK. Footwear innovation increasingly sits at the intersection of design, technology, fashion, engineering, materials, sustainability and culture. We therefore welcome entries from footwear, fashion, product design, industrial design, architecture, engineering and other relevant creative disciplines where footwear innovation forms part of a student's creative practice.
Our aim is simple: to discover ambitious new ideas, celebrate creative journeys and connect the next generation of designers with the footwear industry.
THE CHALLENGE
Could you design the future of footwear?
We are looking for original footwear concepts that demonstrate creativity, innovation, sustainability and commercial thinking.
Your project should explore an idea that challenges, reimagines or develops footwear in an exciting and meaningful way.
Any type of footwear may be submitted, including:
- Womenswear
- Menswear
- Childrenswear
- Sports
- Outdoor
- Specialist footwear
Your project should demonstrate:
- Creative and original thinking
- Innovation and experimentation
- Strong research
- Thoughtful design development
- Commercial potential
- Technical understanding
- Consideration of materials and making
- Sustainable design principles
All submissions should reflect the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals , with sustainability considered as part of the overall design process.
We are interested in how you think as much as what you make.
HOW TO ENTER
- All entries will be submitted online through Arts Thread.
- Arts Thread provides a simple digital platform where you can present your project, tell your creative story and build a professional portfolio that can continue to showcase your work after the awards.
Already got an Arts Thread portfolio? To enter, simply log into your account , upload your work as a new project and choose Cordwainers Footwear Awards x Arts Thread from the dropdown options for Current Competitions.
New to Arts Thread? To enter, register to create an ARTS THREAD account and go to your email and click on the activation link sent to your email Inbox. Then log into your account, create your profile, upload your project and choose Cordwainers Footwear Awards x Arts Thread from the dropdown options for Current Competitions.
- Tell us your story
- As well as your final completed project, we'll also be assessing your concept and creative process.
- The entire journey from A to Z is just as exciting as the final outcome.
- We want to see the ideas, questions, experiments and discoveries that shaped your final design.
Your project can include a creative mix of:
- Research and inspiration
- Storyboards
- Sketches and illustrations
- Artwork and design development
- Photography
- Experiments
- Materials and colour development
- Digital renderings
- CAD
- Technical drawings and specifications
- Final footwear concepts
- Films embedded from YouTube or Vimeo
Be innovative in how you communicate your creative process.
Don't just show us the finished footwear design — show us the journey that got you there.
Your research, sketches, experiments, failures, discoveries and unexpected ideas can be just as important as the final outcome.
Introduce your work
Entrants must submit a maximum three-minute video presenting their work and ideas (it is not compulsory to be in the video yourself if you don’t wish to - you can talk over your designs) presenting -
- The focus of your footwear project
- Your research and inspiration
- Your creative thinking
- The passion and principles behind your concept
- The video should include images of your footwear designs.
THE FINAL 15
Following the submission deadline, the judging panel will review all eligible entries online through Arts Thread.
Each judge will receive secure access to the submissions, enabling projects to be assessed consistently and independently.
From the entries, 15 finalists will be selected.
Finalists will be asked to provide additional supporting material and physical work ahead of the final judging session.
The Final 15 and their tutors will be invited to attend the Cordwainers Footwear Awards ceremony in London which will be held at Plaisterers’ Hall on 10 June 2027.
AWARDS & PRIZES
Each prize winner will receive a personal mentoring session, alongside the following cash prizes:
- First Prize — £3,000
- Second Prize — £2,000
- Third Prize — £1,000
- Sustainability Prize — £1,500
- Stuart Weitzman Creativity Prize — £1,500
- Daniel Charkow Emerging Sole Award — £1,500
- Up to two Commendations — £500 each
- All finalists who are unplaced will receive £100.
- Entrants may be eligible for more than one award.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Sustainability Prize: The Sustainability Prize recognises a design that demonstrates genuine innovation in sustainability and a strong commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Entrants should demonstrate how sustainability has informed their thinking, materials, processes and overall design approach.
Stuart Weitzman Creativity Prize: The Stuart Weitzman Creativity Prize celebrates creative forward thinking and innovation, while considering the qualities of performance, comfort and style for which Stuart Weitzman is renowned.
Daniel Charkow Emerging Sole Award: The Daniel Charkow Emerging Sole Award celebrates a rising talent in footwear design and/or shoemaking who embodies the qualities that defined Daniel's work:
- Creative courage.
- Meticulous craftsmanship.
- Innovation.
- A deep respect for the art of shoemaking.
The award honours the legacy of Daniel Charkow, a young and visionary shoe designer and highly skilled shoemaker who graduated from the BA Cordwainers Footwear course at London College of Fashion in 2023 and sadly passed away in 2024.
Applicants wishing to be considered for this award should include an additional 30 seconds within their submission video explaining what excites and inspires them about shoe design and making, with reference to Daniel's principles of design and craftsmanship.
The recipient of the award will be selected by the Charkow family.
KEY DATES — 2026-2027
20 October 2026 > Competition launches on Arts Thread
14 April 2027 > Deadline for entries
16 April 2027 > Online pre-judging
19 April 2027 > Final 15 announced
28 April 2027 > Deadline for additional information or physical material, where requested
30 April 2027 > Final judging
10 June 2027 > Cordwainers Footwear Awards Ceremony, London
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Entrants should ensure that all submitted work is their own.
Any third-party imagery, including AI-generated or AI-assisted imagery, must be appropriately credited.
Entrants may share their work on social media following submission, using the official Cordwainers branding in accordance with the relevant guidelines.
Finalists will receive further information regarding additional or physical submissions required for the final judging.
All entrants, finalists and winners will be provided with the appropriate Cordwainers branding to celebrate their participation and achievements.
By entering the competition, participants acknowledge that submitted work may be used by or on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers for press releases, publications, social media and promotional purposes.
A copy of the First Prize winner's work may form part of the Cordwainers Collection at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and/or be displayed by the Cordwainers' Company.
ELIGIBILITY & INCLUSION
The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students currently studying at UK universities or colleges. We will also accept applications from students who have graduated in 2026.
CRAFT OF SHOEMAKING AWARD
From 2025, the Cordwainers Footwear Awards have included the Craft of Shoemaking Award, administered separately by Carréducker. Footwear students may be eligible to enter both the Cordwainers Footwear Awards and the Craft of Shoemaking Award. If you wish to register for the Craft of Shoemaking Award please contact Carréducker
ABOUT THE CORDWAINERS
The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers was granted the right to regulate the footwear trade in the City of London in 1272, making it one of the oldest livery companies in the City. Livery companies originated in Medieval guilds when craftsmen united to regulate the quality of goods for sale and to train apprentices. Those who made the finest shoes were known as Cordwainers because they used a soft durable goatskin leather from Cordoba in Spain known as ‘cordwain’.
Today our members come from all walks of life, but we continue to maintain strong links with the footwear trade and are passionate about supporting footwear education and the shoe industry. The Cordwainers Footwear Awards 2027, reflect our commitment to highlight and nurture the next generation of footwear talent and we are proud to do so.
ABOUT ARTS THREAD
Arts Thread is a global platform connecting creative students, graduates, educators and industry.
Through the Cordwainers Footwear Awards, Arts Thread provides an accessible digital route for emerging creatives to discover the opportunity, submit their work, tell their creative story, build their professional portfolio and gain visibility within the creative industries.