The September 2025 edition of MOMAD, Intergift, Madridjoya and Bisutex ended on a positive note in terms of professional participation and business generation. The quality of the offering in the accessories and fashion, decoration, interior design, gifts, fine jewellery/watches and costume jewellery sectors attracted national and international professional visitors, who found IFEMA MADRID to be an unmissable meeting place to learn about new trends and strengthen business relationships.
MOMAD, in particular, closed with excellent results, presenting the new SS26 proposals of over 300 brands, with a focus on sustainability and textile innovation. The show recorded an 11% increase in professional visitors compared to September 2024, coming from 70 countries. The event once again hosted the MOMAD Talents competition, which rewarded emerging young designers, with Victoria Af Burén and Sandra Vargas recognised as the first and second winners of this edition, respectively. The Pasarela MOMAD fashion shows attracted considerable interest, with participants including designers from Bogotá Fashion Week, as well as a full programme of conferences and meetings.
With an eye to the future, MOMAD will now meet with professionals from the accessories and fashion industries from 5 to 7 February at IFEMA MADRID, together with Intergift and Bisutex (4-7 February 2026). The coincidence of dates and locations will strengthen the synergies between the fairs, multiplying business opportunities.Madridjoya, on the other hand, will concentrate its efforts in a single annual edition in September, from the 24th to the 27th.
Nowadays, safety boots must offer much more than just protection. They must be comfortable, lightweight, and weather-resistant in everyday use. “Safety boots featuring EXTRAGUARD upper technology combine all these characteristics: they are sturdy, waterproof, dry quickly, and remain lightweight even after long periods in wet conditions,” says GORE-TEX®.
This performance has been confirmed by a six-month field test conducted at Deutsche Bahn (German Railways). At A+A 2025, the GORE-TEX® brand and its partner brands Atlas, Elten, Fal, HAIX, Heckel, Obuv, Robusta, Solid Gear, Steitz Secura, and U-Power will present their new collections of boots featuring the innovative upper technology in Hall 11, Stand H 67.
With EXTRAGUARD upper technology, the GORE-TEX® brand combines the advantages of traditional robust materials with those of lightweight fabrics, paving the way for greater protection and comfort with minimal maintenance. EXTRAGUARD upper technology is suitable for the most challenging work environments and offers robust protection and comfort even after months of continuous use in demanding and wet conditions. “Workers in the construction, demolition, rail, utilities, agriculture, power, and water industries benefit from our innovative upper technology: these are all fields where people doing heavy, strenuous work need sturdy, durable, lightweight, and comfortable footwear they can really trust,” explains Johannes Krieg, footwear product specialist for the GORE-TEX® brand.
Since last September, the director of the A+A safety trade fair has been Daniel Feische, a manager with extensive international experience who has been with Messe Düsseldorf for many years. He takes over from Lars Wismer, who has become Regional Manager Asia for the trade fair based in Singapore. The new director Feische agreed to answer a few questions.
Daniel Feische
A+A 2025 promises to be the biggest ever. Can you give us some details about the number of exhibitors and the floor space occupied?
“Absolutely. A+A 2025 is set to be the largest edition in the trade fair’s history. We are expecting more than 2,200 exhibitors from over 69 countries and around 87,000 square meters of exhibition space have been sold. This makes the 2025 edition the largest A+A we have ever organized. We are also seeing a continuously growing number of international registrations, particularly from Europe, Asia, and North America. The trade fair will bring together a strong mix of established global market leaders and many first-time exhibitors, who will enrich the event with fresh ideas and innovations. What we can already confirm is that large parts of the fairgrounds will be dedicated to future-oriented topics such as wearable technologies, robotics, smart PPE and digital solutions. This clearly reflects the growing importance of innovation and future orientated technologies within our industry.”
Could you provide us with some data on the presence of exhibitors from the specific footwear sector?
“Safety footwear is an essential segment within A+A and we have more than 340 exhibitors related to footwear The dedicated Corporate Wear and Fashion Show formats highlight this trend, underscoring how important the combination of safety, ergonomics, and style has become. This increased focus also suggests that protective footwear will have a stronger presence compared to previous years.”
How many visitors do you expect and from which countries?
“Workplace safety, health, and wellbeing are gaining global importance as companies face demographic change, digital transformation and new work models. Rising ESG requirements and employee expectations make safe and future-oriented workplaces decisive factors for competitiveness and employer attractiveness. In 2023, A+A welcomed around 62,300 visitors from more than 140 countries. For 2025, we expect growing visitor numbers, underlining the truly global scope of the event. Pre-registration trends already show a strong increase in participation from outside Europe – especially from Asia and North America – alongside consistently strong attendance from European neighbor countries.
Looking at exhibitors, we already see significant representation from countries such as Italy, the USA, India, Korea, Spain, the UK and China. This illustrates the broad and highly international spectrum of A+A 2025.”
During the fair there will be many side events. Which ones are not to be missed?
“The supporting program is a core element of A+A and one of its major strengths. A particular highlight is the A+A Congress, one of the world’s leading international conferences on occupational safety and health, which this year will feature new interactive formats. Key topics include sustainability, climate change, mental well-being at work, prevention strategies for SMEs, as well as digitalization and artificial intelligence. In addition, WearRAcon Europe will take place at A+A for the second time, providing in-depth insights into wearable robotics and exoskeletons, and showcasing how these technologies can be applied in professional contexts. At the Trend Forum, leading experts will discuss the latest research and developments – from sustainability and innovative materials to corporate wear. Another highlight will be the Corporate Wear/Fashion Show, once again a visitor magnet, presenting workwear and PPE in a modern, stylish format that combines safety with design and fashion.”
In recent years, the safety sector has experienced steady growth. However, the international economic context is now dominated by uncertainty…
“It is true that the current economic climate – with supply chain challenges, inflation, and geopolitical tensions – creates uncertainty across many industries. However, the safety and health sector has proven to be particularly resilient. Occupational safety is not optional: it is a regulatory and ethical obligation in many countries, which ensures a stable demand for reliable solutions. At the same time, the industry is undergoing significant transformation. Trends such as digitalization, wearable technologies, AI, and sustainability are driving investment because they provide efficiency, compliance, cost savings and improved employee protection. These factors make us confident that A+A 2025 will once again showcase the sector’s innovative strength and underline its essential role in creating safe and future-ready workplaces worldwide.”
The Grisport shoe factory turns the spotlight on the “Misano” safety footwear, part of the STS (Super Trail System) line, which joins the Imola, Mugello, Adria, and Monza models, all comfortable and safe. At the same time, in line with the latest trends in the sector, Misano is increasingly similar to a city sneaker in terms of sportiness and lightness.
The upper is made of top-quality genuine gray suede and Cordura, which, thanks to the new construction technology applied to the sole and the breathable perforated steel toe cap, is unique in its kind, also thanks to the sportiness and lightness that distinguish it.
The Misano features a non-slip Vibram sole and an anti-torsion “Block-Up” system that guarantees ankle support.
The models in Grisport’s STS line also feature an innovative patented BOA closure system. With almost 14 million users worldwide, this system is reinventing the way we think about sports footwear. The system is durable, secure, comfortable, quick to adjust, and easy to close, open, and clean.
TFL has released its new catalogue for Spring-Summer 2027, presenting the latest colour trends for leather garments, footwear, accessories and for the upholstery industry.
The trends are divided into “Wearing” and “Living”.
“Wearing” comprises inspirations and colour trends for garments, footwear and accessories.
The “Living” section features all colours that will decorate the season’s interior designs.
In the “Wearing” section, fashion and design embrace bold contrasts and natural inspiration. The negative reptile print makes a comeback in striking greens and lemon yellow. Boat shoes dive into a spectrum of sea blues and reflection of the open sky, while suede takes on sandy neutrals combined with pop colours inspired by fruit ice creams.
In the “Living” section, sofas and armchairs light up in vibrant camellia pinks for dynamic environments with character or opt for timeless elegance with taupe and earthy browns. TFL Colour Trends Spring-Summer 2027 are an invitation to explore tactile and visual emotions through colour, combining innovation, comfort and style.
The TFL Colour Trends catalogue is available. More info: www.tfl.com.
Inspired by the idea that every human being comes from ancient stardust scattered throughout the universe, Stardust carries a profound message: an invitation to rediscover one’s origins and the bond that connects each individual to the universe, to others and to the environment around them. The design is inspired by the iconic football boots of the 1960s, revisited with a modern twist. The silhouette is simple yet distinctive, with long laces that ensure a precise fit, embellished with exclusive details such as an embossed logo, gold accents, decorative stitching and reinforced flaps on the tongue and heel. The result is a versatile, sturdy and incredibly comfortable shoe, designed to become a new classic.
There are two versions. Stardust Suede: made from suede combined with full-grain leather from LWG Gold-certified tanneries, it comes in refined colour combinations and stands out for its stitched toe cap, which enhances its sporty character. Stardust Premium, on the other hand, is made from premium leather with a nubuck finish, combined with full-grain leather and high-quality suede, all sourced from LWG Gold-certified tanneries. The upturned toe is inspired by old footballs, while protective flaps on the tongue and heel and a leather inner lining complete the design.
Founded in Florence in 2019, ID.EIGHT offers timeless, seasonless sneakers made from over 70% recycled materials, 100% cruelty-free and genderless. The upper is made from Italian-made materials derived from food industry by-products: BioVeg, made from industrial corn waste and mycelium; Vegea, made from discarded grape stalks, skins and seeds; Uppeal, a leather-like fabric made from apple skins and cores. The sole of the ID.EIGHT is made from natural and recycled rubber, as are all the materials used for the laces and label. The lining is made from 100% certified, breathable organic cotton. All of the brand’s suppliers are European, carefully selected and certified according to international environmental standards, such as ISO and GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certifications. ID.EIGHT has also obtained the highest score of VVV+ in the Animal Free Fashion rating promoted by the Anti-Vivisection League.
A|impact, the venture capital fund promoted by Avanzi, has also chosen to invest €350,000 in the sustainable sneaker brand, contributing to the internationalisation process and expansion of the Florentine brand’s product range. ‘We are particularly proud of this partnership, as it brings a partner into our company who shares our values and our code of ethics,’ were the comments of the two founders of ID.EIGHT, South Korean designer Dong Seon Lee and Italian Product Manager Giuliana Borzillo.
The trendy, high-end brand, whose acronym hides the names of its four founders – Damiano, Alessandro, Tommaso and Emiliano – chose to celebrate its twentieth anniversary in the city where it all began, Florence, with an immersive event in the extraordinary setting of the Cattedrale dell’Immagine.
A symbolic place that blends the historicity of its architecture with the most advanced visual technology. It was here, on Monday 17 June, during Pitti Uomo 108, that DATE staged a multisensory experience capable of recounting – through images, sounds and suggestions – two decades of aesthetic research, authenticity and independent spirit.
The evening took the form of a narrative that went beyond the classic concept of an event. The immersive projections, created specifically for the occasion, interacted with the exhibition dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, a key figure in Tuscan culture and an icon of experimentation and genius. It was also a personal tribute, given the proximity between Empoli, where the brand’s headquarters are located, and Vinci, the artist’s birthplace.
The evening of 18 June, hosted by Fabiana Giacomotti in the gardens of the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence, brought together distinguished guests from the worlds of high fashion, luxury craftsmanship and institutions. The star of the event was the limited edition created in collaboration with Diego Dolcini: a masculine reinterpretation of the classic Opanka moccasin in natural shades that characterise the excellence of Tuscan leather. ‘I am particularly proud of this collaboration with Cuoio di Toscana,’ said Diego Dolcini during the event. ‘After creating the first special version of the Opanka sole with a stiletto heel in 1995, returning to work on this iconic model represents a full circle for me. The consortium’s craftsmanship and the quality of Tuscan leather have made it possible to create a shoe that combines tradition and innovation.’
The limited edition presented is a perfect example of how tradition and innovation can come together: the special Opanka technique, which makes the sole and upper a single piece that only a few Italian workshops can produce, is enhanced by a hidden tag that traces the various stages of the shoe’s production, a real sustainability passport with which Cuoio di Toscana certifies and guarantees its green values.
Castañer’s journey began with the iconic jute wedge, a collaboration with Yves Saint Laurent that revolutionised the fashion industry. Since then, it has never stopped, combining traditional craftsmanship with sustainable materials to create shoes that are as beautiful as they are timeless.
In particular, the Castañer Curated Edition embodies the essence of uniqueness: each piece, made with fine materials and shaped by expert hands, is the result of a careful selection, in which every detail reflects the precision and dedication of a craft refined over time. This line is characterised by the use of high-quality suede certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), a sustainable and luxurious material with a distinctive soft texture and matte finish.
The Ready-to-Wear line, on the other hand, represents the most avant-garde collection, bringing the latest trends to the Castañer universe. Each piece is uniquely designed and handmade with fine materials, combining contemporary style and craftsmanship.
