Pharrell Williams and Adidas Earn Shoe of the Year for the Virginia Adistar Jellyfish
Pharrell Williams has added another fashion milestone to his expanding résumé. The musician and designer, along with Adidas, received the Shoe of the Year honor at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards for their collaborative sneaker, the Virginia Adistar Jellyfish. The award recognizes the shoe’s distinct design language and its unusually strong cultural impact, a combination that has become a hallmark of Williams’ work across fashion.
The Adistar Jellyfish first made waves during Paris Fashion Week in January, when a silhouette reveal created immediate buzz. The shoe debuted publicly in an orange colorway before being reissued in an exclusive blue version that reflects the aquatic inspirations behind the design. The shifts in palette helped underscore the conceptual foundation Williams envisioned from the start.
“I dreamed of a shoe that felt alive, something that moved like water, that had its own rhythm, energy and glow,” Williams said in a statement. “The Virginia Adistar Jellyfish started as a really big idea that we kept pushing, shaping, refining until it became real. I wanted it to feel fluid, futuristic, and free, not just another shoe but a living design. Seeing people connect with that spirit is the most rewarding part.”
Footwear News’ leadership highlighted the project as a standout in an increasingly crowded landscape. Michael Atmore, Chief Brand Officer of Fairchild Media Group and Editorial Director of Footwear News and WWD, praised Williams’ approach to design and cultural storytelling. “Pharrell’s partnership with Adidas continues to redefine what creative collaboration in footwear can look like, pushing boundaries in both design and storytelling,” Atmore said. “The Virginia Adistar Jellyfish reflects his singular ability to connect culture, community, and craft.”
Williams joins a slate of honorees at this year’s FNAA ceremony, including Coco Gauff, Ronnie Fieg, and Tommy Hilfiger, who will receive a lifetime achievement award. The inclusion of Williams reflects his growing status not only as a chart-topping artist but as a major force in contemporary design.
His influence extends far beyond this sneaker collaboration. In 2024, he made his highly anticipated debut as Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, presenting a breakout Spring/Summer collection that solidified his position as a successor to the late Virgil Abloh. Williams’ tenure, like Abloh’s, has been marked by a willingness to blur the boundaries between streetwear, luxury, and pop culture, a philosophy visible in both his apparel and footwear projects.
“When I’m moving in those spaces, I always kind of like to bend the rules a little bit,” Williams told Vogue ahead of the Jellyfish launch. “I’m not looking for attention, but I don’t necessarily want to blend in.” That sensibility is evident in the sneaker’s sculptural lines and fluid contours, which reflect a broader creative ethos centered on experimentation and movement.
The Virginia Adistar Jellyfish has become one of the most discussed footwear releases of the year, earning attention from collectors, fashion analysts, and sneaker communities for its unconventional construction and high-concept aesthetic. Its FNAA win positions the shoe as one of 2025’s defining fashion statements and further cements Williams’ reputation as one of the industry’s most forward-looking creative leaders.
