There are shoes you look at from the toe and shoes you look at starting from the heel. Solo Soprani’s new Women’s Collection for Spring/Summer 2027 belongs to the latter category: the heel ceases to be merely a support and becomes a design object – sculptural, metallic, precious. This feature is found on slingbacks, evening sandals and pumps with clean lines, where the sleek silhouette leaves the spotlight entirely to that detail.

Around it, the materials play on contrasts and reflections: draped satin, tulle, leather, suede, crochet and metallic finishes. Then there are crystals, pearls, ribbons, bows and metallic embellishments, for a bold, uncompromising concept: footwear as jewellery. The colour palette ranges from black, nude and ivory, through rust and brown, to vibrant coral, fuchsia and green.

As the collection shifts, so does the style. The Men’s Black Label range focuses on casual elegance designed to see you through the day in style and comfort: loafers, boat shoes, driving shoes, sabots and deconstructed trainers that blur the old distinction between formal and casual wear. Suede, soft leathers, raffia inserts and espadrille-inspired detailing evoke a Mediterranean summer; lightweight constructions, exposed stitching and flexible soles complete the picture. The colours remain natural – beige, sand and various shades of brown – with navy accents that subtly evoke the nautical world.

Two styles – one dramatic, the other relaxed – held together by meticulous material research and attention to detail. The launch took place at a cocktail reception in the historic Luciano Soprani showroom at Via Morosini 30 in Milan, attended by the press, celebrities, opinion leaders and guests. A ‘new chapter’ that draws on the brand’s history to appeal to new audiences and new markets.

Three pairs of shoes in a row, side by side: olive green, ochre, cream. Woven uppers, a covered wedge heel, and fabric laces in the same colour that wrap round the ankle. This is the image chosen by Pitillos to present its Spring/Summer 2027 collection, and it already says a great deal about the direction the Spanish brand is taking.

The new line, described by the company as the meeting point between innovation, stylistic research and tradition, interprets next season’s trends with a contemporary approach. Yet it does so without compromising the three values upon which the brand has built its identity: comfort, quality and attention to detail.

The company manufactures in Arnedo, a town considered the heart of Spanish footwear production, and prides itself on ‘Made in Spain’ craftsmanship based on the selection of high-quality materials, meticulous workmanship and refined details.

It is from this region that comes a collection designed to be refreshed season after season to meet the needs of those seeking footwear that combines style, comfort and artisanal quality. Three requirements that often end up being mutually exclusive. Managing to bring them all together is the real test.

With the Spring/Summer 2027 collection, Pitillos therefore continues on its path of evolution, without compromising on the expertise that has made it a benchmark in Spanish footwear.

In music, ‘adagio’ is a tempo marking: it asks the performer to slow down and allow each note the space to be heard. Baldinini has borrowed this concept for its Spring–Summer 2027 collection, ‘Adagio Italiano’, which the brand describes as a philosophy of living that puts time, lightness and authentic values back at the centre, in a world that is moving ever faster.

Translated into footwear, the concept becomes a relaxed elegance in which comfort, quality and freedom of movement are in perfect balance. The common theme linking the men’s and women’s ranges is the Italian Riviera. The brand’s historic hallmarks – woven finishes, laser-cut details and techniques revived from the archives – are reimagined to create a wardrobe that transitions seamlessly from formal to casual, right through to sporty styles.

The most tangible aspect of the narrative concerns materials and construction. Ultra-soft calfskin leathers, textured surfaces and perforations coexist with technical solutions such as the Reverse Goodyear welt and ultra-lightweight soles. The aim is for every style to feel like a second skin and follow the foot’s every movement.

But what happens when a collection dedicated to slowness decides to pick up the pace? The answer is Onda, a trainer that Baldinini presents as a spin-off from the collection and as the more technological side of its research. Whilst the Adagio slows things down, Onda focuses on the active dimension of movement, with a design geared towards performance and everyday dynamism. The ultra-lightweight, voluminous sole is engineered to ensure cushioning and energy return, whilst the multi-layered upper combines durability, lightness and breathability. It is available in men’s and women’s versions, with a bold and modern visual impact.

A summer that never ends. Those in the footwear industry know that, in a sense, this is exactly how it is: in September, whilst the beaches are emptying, people in the Rho Fiera exhibition halls are already talking about the next season. Ambitious, a Portuguese footwear brand, has taken the idea literally and named its Spring-Summer 2027 collection “Endless Summer”.

The stand has been completely redesigned from scratch. An immersive experience: the idea is to guide buyers and distributors through the space, amongst different product narratives, rather than lining them up in front of a wall of shelves.

Behind the brand is an industrial group reporting an average turnover of 20 million euros, 500,000 pairs produced annually and a network of over 900 retail outlets worldwide. Italy is the brand’s leading market, accounting for 30 per cent of turnover on its own.

The collection, for men and women, draws inspiration from the landscapes of Mallorca, on an imaginary journey between the sea and the mountains. The colour palette ranges from terracotta tones to washed-out and intense blues, with desaturated greens, khaki and organic neutrals. The campaign images feature white trainers with sand-coloured suede inserts and orange and green details. Natural materials, high-quality leathers, lightweight constructions and relaxed silhouettes reinterpret classic styles for everyday wear.

Finally, a sneak preview: building on over 30 years of the group’s research and development, Ambitious has announced its most comfortable model ever, designed for city life.

A rucksack that charges your smartphone and a bag that brings order to your day. Put like that, it sounds like the wish list of someone who spends more time at the station than in the office. Instead, it sums up the two new leather collections from Piquadro: VICTOR, designed for business travel, and CIRCLE, a women’s range dedicated to everyday mobility.

Let’s start with VICTOR. The target audience is professionals who are constantly on the move, juggling business trips, appointments and getting about town. The leather gives the collection a professional and recognisable look, but the feature that sets it apart lies at the top of the rucksacks: a built-in induction charger, which keeps devices powered up whilst on the move. The interesting thing is where the technology ends. It’s not on show, but inside the product, discreetly, without detracting from the clean lines of the design. The interiors are organised to accommodate devices, documents and personal accessories, whilst the openings allow quick access to essential items – useful for those juggling work, travel and urban commuting.

With CIRCLE, the style changes, but the logic remains the same. The collection is aimed at women who juggle work, travel and leisure and are looking for practical accessories with attention to detail. Here, leather is the central element and defines the line’s aesthetic identity. The designs are crafted for comfort of use; pockets, compartments and organisational features keep devices, documents and personal items tidy. Clean lines, balanced proportions, no decorative excess: in this collection, femininity is conveyed through function and the quality of the leather.

What links two such different lines? One possible answer lies in the way Piquadro describes its audience: men and women who prioritise the language of design over that of fashion, and who value performance as well as style. In both collections, functionality is not flaunted. In the rucksack, the charging port is discreetly integrated; in the handbag, the internal organisation coexists with a design free from excess. The technology is there, but it is meant to be used rather than admired.

Then there is the question of materials, which applies across the entire brand. The leathers come from a supply chain certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), the international body that developed the world’s most widely adopted sustainability protocol for the leather supply chain. The technical fabrics are all recycled. The company is carbon neutral for Scopes 1 and 2, like the Group’s other two brands, The Bridge and Lancel, and has achieved an ‘EE-’ Corporate Standard Ethics Rating (SER).

Founded in 1998 and listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since October 2007, Piquadro has a distribution network spanning over 50 countries. With VICTOR and CIRCLE, it is therefore expanding its vision of mobility: organisation, quality of leather and integrated functions, for those who travel for work and for those on the move throughout their day.