At the heart of the line is the innovative HEX fabric, inspired by the molecular structure of carbon: its distinctive hexagonal weave reflects a technological and elegant character. The material is made from 91% recycled polyester and 8% polyurethane, with leather finishes, confirming Piquadro’s focus on sustainable innovation. Its main features include water repellency, lightness, resistance and cutting-edge aesthetics, enhanced by details such as the customisable Monogram Plate, satin-finish metal elements and minimalist profiles.
Among Piquadro’s new developments, which are not only related to its collections, is the flagship store in Corso Matteotti 8 in Milan, which opened during Monza GP week with an experiential event: in the window, the original nosecone of the Visa Cash App RB single-seater caught the attention of passers-by, while on the -1 floor, a professional Formula 1 simulator allowed visitors to experience the thrill of a real race first-hand.
The Business model takes the distinctive essence of the East+West backpack and reinvents it in a sober and refined key. Clean lines and harmonious proportions meet robust and sophisticated materials, giving life to a refined aesthetic, designed for professional environments. Every detail accompanies those who face the city and work with a determined and ambitious spirit. The interior spaces make organisation a natural gesture: laptops, documents and accessories find their dedicated place, always ready for use without the need to rummage through pockets. Every item is in the right place, allowing you to face the day with agility, order and practicality. What’s more, those who wish to make their mark can personalise their rucksack with their company logo or initials.
“AI, sustainability, and competitiveness: shaping the future of footwear.” This was the common thread that guided the 22nd edition of the UITIC (International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians) Congress, hosted in Shanghai in 2025. A city that symbolizes industrial transformation, chosen not by chance to address the major issues that are revolutionizing the world of footwear: artificial intelligence, sustainability, innovative materials, and new production models.
The event, one of the most prestigious in the world for footwear technology, brought together 350 registered participants from 17 countries, involving companies, universities, and research centers. The agenda was intense and varied: two days of industrial visits to companies such as Shanghai Shima Technology Group, Zhejiang Huafon New Materials, Do-Win, and Saina Co., followed by two days of conferences and workshops.
Setting the pace for the conference were two keynote speeches—one by Footwearology, the other by Li Ning—16 technical presentations, a panel with six international speakers, and 24 presentations in the Innovation Showcase. But more than the numbers, what was striking was the depth of the topics covered: a true immersion in the present and future of the footwear industry.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE SECTOR
The word “AI” dominated every discussion. In the sessions dedicated to smart manufacturing and AI-empowered manufacturing, there was talk of intelligent production platforms, voice-based and machine learning-based quality control systems, and advanced robotization that does not replace but enhances human work.
A key concept emerged: artificial intelligence as the nervous system of the company, capable of coordinating flows, decisions, and processes. But — as one of the speakers pointed out — “humans are always needed in the loop.” The golden rules, summarized as “guardrails, license plates, and driver’s licenses,” are clear: AI must be guided, regulated, and understood in order to produce real value.
MATERIALS, DURABILITY, AND A SECOND LIFE FOR LEATHER
No less central was the session on materials and product innovations. The focus was on sustainable, recycled, and smart materials, with a reflection on durability as a new ecological paradigm. The theme of “second life for leather wastes” inspired many companies: transforming waste into resources is not only an environmental imperative, but also a competitive lever.
A particularly heated debate concerned the true nature of “eco-leather,” too often used as a marketing label. The congress reiterated the urgency of defining clear technical criteria capable of distinguishing truly sustainable materials from solutions that are only apparent.
SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS: THE NEW INDUSTRIAL COMBINATION
Discussions on the theme of “Technology innovation for sustainability” showed that green innovation is no longer an option but a condition for competitive survival. Companies and researchers shared projects on footwear traceability, disassembly and component recovery strategies, as well as large-scale circular production models.
Sustainability, it was reiterated, is not a communication issue, but one of engineering and a business model. And AI, once again, is the tool that makes it measurable and scalable.
STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION: WHEN INNOVATION BECOMES EVERYDAY
The session dedicated to “successful industrial stories” showed concrete cases of digital transformation in footwear: from the use of skill intelligence to AI applications for sustainable design.
The most advanced companies are already operating in an “innovation ecosystem”, where academic skills, research, and industry continuously influence each other. It is a new supply chain model, more open, collaborative, and oriented towards experimentation.
THE POWER OF AI
The conference closed with a panel discussion on the power of AI, in which researchers, material and technology suppliers, and industry innovators offered complementary perspectives. All agreed on one point: artificial intelligence is already transforming products, processes, and business models, and the footwear industry—often perceived as traditionalist—is becoming an ideal testing ground for global industrial transition.
Sergio Dulio, Presidente UITIC
THE NEW UITIC ERA
During the general assembly, UITIC also announced a new phase in its history: a new statute was approved to bring it up to date, the members of the Executive Committee were confirmed, and Paul Guillaume was welcomed as a new representative. From 2026, membership fees will be reintroduced and a new website with more services will be launched, in addition to the creation of the UITIC Journal of Footwear Technology, dedicated to research and technical innovation.
The next edition of the congress is scheduled for 2027, in a location yet to be determined, but with a message that is already clear: the global footwear industry has entered the era of augmented intelligence.
The UITIC 2025 Congress was not just a technical event, but a statement of vision: AI does not replace humans, but amplifies their creativity and efficiency; sustainability is not a constraint but a competitive challenge; innovation is not a promise but a path already underway.
For Sergio Dulio, President of UITIC, the world is changing radically and the footwear industry is facing challenges, “but these challenges can be solved through close collaboration. The development of the footwear industry must be forward-looking and always open to new technologies. The world is entering the era of artificial intelligence, which will not only change footwear technology, but will also change all aspects of life. Therefore, it is necessary to have an open attitude and correctly assess the impact of artificial intelligence on factories.”
‘Memories – Pages from a nomadic diary’ is the new collection by the Milanese designer, seventh generation of the family and high-end leather goods maison Leu Locati: not treasures to collect, but travel impressions that are recorded like pages in an imaginary diary.
The journey begins with Spinosa, where sand suede and an unusual cactus green suede lend themselves to recounting the strength of arid lands. The journey continues among natural straws that are enlivened by TuttiFrutti embroidery: an explosion of sunny colours, with exotic fruits embroidered and embellished with bright beads.
The atmosphere then becomes more intense with turcasso suede and dark brown woven straw, which outline a tribal and textured chapter. Here, the iconic Queen Mid clutch bag is embellished with woven lurex masks and wooden beads, giving life to Zamani, an evocation of ancestral rituals and symbols.
The story softens with shades of pink: peach blossoms and small embroidered sparrows rest on suede and linen, giving life to Sakura, a delicate motif that evokes oriental atmospheres.
Another important page in the diary is dedicated to Monkey embroidery, palm trees animated by the presence of a little monkey and enriched by the three-dimensional detail of coconuts made of wood or pearls.
The maison’s icons open up to new experiments: Queen Crochet welcomes three-dimensional embroidery such as English Flowers or the marine Abyssum, where shells and seahorses emerge in relief. An absolute novelty is Raviolo Crochet, completely hand-woven and available in all the colours of the season.
Completing the collection is a capsule collection of gold-plated brass necklaces that reinterpret the maison’s jewellery chains, transforming them into chokers with a sculptural character.
OPTIMIST is the sneaker inspired by the nautical world. Its clean and contemporary aesthetic hides a technical and functional soul. The upper combines premium suede and technical Ripstop, materials chosen to offer softness and protection without sacrificing lightness and resistance even in the most dynamic conditions. The elastic lace with stopper makes it easy and practical to put on, while the silver-finish eyelets add a distinctive nautical touch. Completing the shoe is the high-grip Vibram rubber sole, which guarantees performance and safety on any surface.
DECK, on the other hand, is a new interpretation of a timeless icon, the classic boat shoe, combining the elegance of the nautical world with a modern, technical and functional soul. Inspired by the deck of a boat, the shoe features a sophisticated upper that blends premium suede and technical Ripstop: a combination of softness and resistance, traditional craftsmanship and technology. The double laces are reminiscent of mooring ropes, while the silver-finish eyelets add a touch of contemporary sparkle. The Vibram rubber sole, designed exclusively to guarantee grip and traction on even the most treacherous surfaces, makes all the difference.
The footwear brand, founded in 1885 in the Marche region, has successfully combined traditional “handmade” craftsmanship with the use of the most advanced technologies, while maintaining the excellent quality of Made in Italy. At Milan Fashion Week, it presented its new collection for next summer. SS26 brings to the fore a constant dialogue between continuity and innovation, where classic shapes intertwine with sporty accents that reinterpret the codes of style. The collection experiments and dares, introducing models that combine fine materials, precious details and colour contrasts, designed to accompany both everyday life and more sophisticated occasions with natural ease.
The collection features slingbacks made contemporary by exotic textures, jewelled sabots enriched with new colour shades and feminine models that enhance the season with bright colours and bold accents. A special addition to the collection is a women’s sandal built on the sole of a heeled moccasin, taken from the SS 2003 archives and reinterpreted with a contemporary twist.
Miurakami footwear is born from a creative obsession: to create a shoe that you wear and don’t feel, but that you never want to take off. The brand’s mission is to create a “feeling of comfortable beauty” through the use of high-quality materials that fit like a second skin, seams designed to be unnoticeable, and lines that hug the foot as if they were born with it. Like a glove.
Even the concept of luxury footwear is changing: no longer something to show off, but rather something to feel. For those seeking silent perfection. For those who recognise that you don’t need to shout to get noticed. It is for those seeking a balance between Eastern simplicity and Western excess. ‘Miurakami designs the sensation of walking in weightless comfort, with the certainty of belonging to something that goes beyond fashion.’
The “noble art” of boxing meets the craftsmanship excellence of Made in Italy in the collaboration between Acquasparta and Danger Promotion, to support Italian boxing and accompany the return of a world title to Milan by 2026. A synergy that unites two seemingly distant worlds, but linked by the same values: dedication, precision and passion. Values that have always guided Acquasparta in the creation of its footwear, the result of a rigorously artisanal process and entirely Made in Italy.
The big boxing event took place on 3 October at the Centro Pavesi in Milan, when Alessio Lorusso regained the international title by winning the IBO Continental title, the penultimate step before the world title. The same event also featured the highly anticipated match between Negroni and Aceto, won by the former by KO in the first round, claiming the WPBF Mediterranean title.
The Art Of Comfort is the philosophy behind the new Zebzag collections – Laceless and Rigger – which emphasises that comfort is not just a matter of softness and necessity, but a way of living every day with style and personality.
The first, laceless, is the Zebzag boot without laces. Inspired by the 1460 boot, which marked the history of Dr. Martens, with some design changes to create a very soft silhouette. As the name suggests, the Zebzag laceless boot is easy to wear while maintaining the aesthetics of a lace-up shoe. The boot is wrapped in soft Wyoming leather for a look that appears worn even when new. The rear loop with the brand’s logo in black and yellow seals the iconicity of Dr. Martens.
The Zebzag Rigger boot, on the other hand, has a slightly lower fit that reaches the ankle. Inspired by industrial silhouettes, it has been redesigned to adhere to an idea of even softer comfort to make you feel at home. Again, the fit is laceless, the boot has double tongues and is marked by stitching on the upper. The Rigger boot is available in soft black Wyoming leather or water-resistant milled nubuck.
