New Balance, Miu Miu Accept Collaboration of the Year at 2025 FNAAs

New Balance president and chief executive officer Joe Preston and Prada Group chief business development officer Roberto Massardi took the stage at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards in New York City on Wednesday to accept the Collaboration of the Year Award for New Balance and Miu Miu‘s buzzy partnership.

Preston and Massardi accepted the award from Coco Gauff, who worked with the brands on a tennis-inspired collection that dropped in September, and has been a New Balance ambassador since 2018.

The tennis star, who was dressed in Miu Miu and earlier accepted the Style Influencer of the Year Award, said, “So I know we all just celebrated Thanksgiving, and you know when the macaroni and cheese and the yams touch on Thanksgiving — chef’s kiss right? Well, that’s how it felt when these two brands came together to create something that not only transcended fashion but also sports. Bringing us high fashion as well as high performance, two brands that are so different, but coming together to create pieces that are perfectly blended together, to showcase each brand’s identity so seamlessly as if they were one.”

Gauff continued, “I am so lucky to have been able to work closely with both of these brands individually and also collectively. So thank you to New Balance and Miu Miu for allowing me to be a small part of their vision. To witness and be a part of the magic they created was an amazing honor, and it’s even a greater honor to present Miu Miu and New Balance with the Footwear News Collab of the Year Award.”

Preston said in his remarks, “I’m proud to be up here representing our world-class New Balance team. Very grateful to be standing beside Roberto, it’s very rare when you find two companies that share the same integrity and authenticity. This collaboration, as Coco mentioned, is the pinnacle of sport performance and fashion lifestyle. And when you bring those two together, you can really create some great energy. And lastly, to the heart and soul of it, Coco Gauff, what an inspiration she is — the passion she brings on the court is only matched by the passion she brings to her family and her community. So thank you very much.”

Massardi also praised Gauff and spoke to the overlapping values of the brands, saying, “Thank you first of all to Footwear News, for this deeply appreciated award. And above all, thank you, Coco, you are the perfect ambassador for Miu Miu and New Balance. You are a source of inspiration and motivation.”

He expressed gratitude to Preston, the Davis family and the New Balance team, concluding his remarks with, “Our group and New Balance share many, many values. And mainly we share passion and love for what we do. That’s the most important thing. Thank you very much.”