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The geeks have spoken and the new sneaker line by KlearGear.com, Geek Sneaks, is a hit. The five styles of slip-on sneakers with designs that appeal to the math, computer or science nerd in all of us sold out within the first 14 hours. The pi sneaker was the best-selling shoe, followed by the periodic table design, then the circuit board, the constellation and finally the computer code. 

Lenny Kravitz can now add shoe designer to his list of creative credentials. The rocker/songwriter/actor/furniture designer (he recently created a line of chairs for Kartell based on Phillipe Starck’s iconic “Mademoiselle”) has lent his sartorial hand to a spring collection of slip-on shoes for Toms. As random as this collabo may sound, Blake Mycoskie, founder of the one-for-one footwear company, and Kravitz have been firm friends since first meeting two years ago and the singer got involved in the design process at the urging of his daughter, Zoe.

Congratulations are in order to Bill Taylor, who was recently named vice president of sales and marketing at active sandal and clog brand Birki’s. In his new post, Taylor will develop programs that strengthen Birki’s brand positioning with existing customers, as well as drive growth in new trade and consumer channels such as premier independents, department stores, outdoor and athletic specialty, home and garden, and culinary. 

As London gears up for the summer Olympics, New York City got an early start awarding record-breaking athletes on Monday at the 34th Annual AAFA American Image Awards. Presented by the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the event lauded Olympian Michael Phelps for his dedicated worked with the children of the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club and for the creation of his own charity, The Michael Phelps Foundation. Along with kids from the club, two-time Olympic gold medalist Donna de Varona awarded Phelps on stage with the Humanitarian Award.

You can walk and bike for a cause, but thanks to skate-shoe brand Etnies and The Sheckler Foundation–a philanthropic organization created by teen skater Ryan Sheckler and his family–you can skate for a cause, too.

This past Saturday, Etnies and The Sheckler Foundation hosted the “Skate for a Cause” event to help raise money for the A.skate charity’s summer “Be the Change” tour that benefits Autism Spectrum, an organization that helps children with autism. 

These days, celebrities are putting their names on everything possible–even magazines. And no, we’re not talking about the long-rumored Kardashian family mag. Instead, undefeated and award-winning boxer Floyd Mayweather is coming out with his own MyMag luxury print publication called “Mayweather,” and he’s giving amateur shoe designers everywhere a reason to get excited.

On Tuesday, leaders of the footwear industry gathered to address hot-button issues at the American Apparel and Footwear Association’s (AAFA) “Navigating the U.S. Footwear Market in 2012 and Beyond” conference.