The 2025 FN Achievement Awards may often be referred to as the “Shoe Oscars,” but the Jordan team remained true to their brand and wore their sneakers on the red carpet at the glamorous event. Nigel Sylvester, Spike Lee, and Jordan Brand president Sarah Mensah all rocked black Jordans at the event, which took place on Wednesday in New York City.
Nigel Sylvester, Sarah Mensah and Spike Lee at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards held at Cipriani 25 Broadway on Wednesday in New York, New York.
John Nacion
The professional BMX athlete is presenting Jordan with the Brand of the Year award at the ceremony, while the famed movie director has been a longtime supporter, fan and collaborator of Jordan. They both wore pairs of Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro “Black Cement” sneakers. The shoes feature a black leather upper, grey elephant print detailing, and red accents on a white midsole.
Sylvester paired his with an Acne Studios Logo Zipper Jacket in black with a small white logo on the chest and a bigger one on the back. The jacket retails for $850. He paired them with flared trousers that concealed a large portion of the sneakers. Lee went for a more casual ensemble, pairing his sneakers with a puffer coat in black and matching tapered pants.
A close up of the shoes.
Mensah went black tie with her ensemble, dressing up her sneakers with all-over sparkles. She wore a black sequined dress with a side slit and long sleeves and a deep neckline with the Swarovski Air Jordan 1 Low OG Crystal Stealth sneakers.
The shoes are covered in black and silver crystals throughout, which was fitting for the prestigious affair. On Wednesday, Jordan Brand will be honored with the Brand of the Year award at the 39th annual FN Achievement Awards, which coincides with 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan 1.
The 39th annual FN Achievement Awards, often called the “Shoe Oscars,” returned on Wednesday at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York, celebrating the footwear industry’s top innovators. This year, Pharrell Williams and Adidas received the Shoe of the Year award, while Tommy Hilfiger was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting impact on fashion. Other honorees included Coco Gauff, Ronnie Fieg, Wolverine Worldwide, Nordstrom, the Jordan Brand and more.
