Andy Polk from the Footwear Innovation Foundation: changing the industry from reactive to visionary

The Footwear Innovation Foundation was established to address the footwear industry's longstanding tendency to operate in crisis mode rather than proactively shaping its future. Andy Polk, Executive Director of the Footwear Innovation Foundation and Vice President of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), leverages his managerial expertise to lead the Foundation and address strategic and future challenges.

Its mission extends beyond immediate concerns, aiming to cultivate talent pipelines, encourage fresh thinking and fill critical knowledge gaps, such as through its recent carbon footprint report, which shows significant industry-wide improvements over the past decade. “Whether it is sustainability, supply chain resilience, or future retail models, we are here to help footwear move from reactive to visionary”, the Executive Director highlights.

One of the Foundation’s primary strengths is its ability to serve as a neutral, trusted platform that bridges the gap between brands, manufacturers, retailers and policymakers. By operating as a scientific non-profit, it facilitates conversations that might otherwise stall due to conflicting interests. Through research, education and structured innovation programmes, the Foundation “reduce friction, offers clarity and helps both the private and public sectors align on what change looks like and how to get there”, Polk shares.

“The Footwear LaunchPad is a first-of-its-kind, open-call innovation challenge that we built in a matter of months after our board recognised the urgency after the new tariff struggles”, the Executive Director emphasises. Unlike typical competitions, the LaunchPad provides mentorship, prototype support and direct connections to industry leaders, accelerating ideas from concept to reality in a fraction of the usual time. 

Polk continues: “We are focused on practical, scalable innovation in areas like sustainable materials, advanced manufacturing and new business models. This is more than a competition — it is a new pipeline for talent and technology that can reshape how shoes are made and sold”.

The Foundation is building a comprehensive, multi-phase support system designed to help promising innovations move from early-stage concepts to full commercial adoption. This approach ensures that new solutions can either be developed into standalone businesses or integrated into existing footwear supply chains, maximising their practical impact. “Our goal is not just to spotlight ideas or to set up events for more talk — we are here to see ideas scaled and deployed”, the Executive Director highlights.

The LaunchPad is envisioned as an annual or semi-annual event, continually evolving to match industry needs. Future initiatives will focus on rethinking supply chains and manufacturing models, with an emphasis on refining inventory systems and producing on demand based on real-time trends. “Our long-term vision includes building an innovation accelerator network and hosting an annual summit to spotlight solutions and foster public-private partnerships”, Polk shares.

In other words, the Footwear Innovation Foundation is positioning itself as both a catalyst and a guide, supporting the transition to a more resilient, visionary and sustainable footwear ecosystem.

For more information on the Footwear LaunchPad initiative, visit the website.