The historic official brand of the United States Polo Association presented its footwear collection for next summer at the recent Pitti Uomo, once again combining authentic sporting spirit with the latest trends in menswear. The star of the collection is the Samoa model, a hybrid shoe that reinvents the concept of summer smart-casual, combining the lightweight, relaxed structure of the classic espadrille with the laced, dynamic silhouette of an urban trainer. Crafted from lightweight, breathable canvas, the style stands out for iconic details such as the embroidered double polo player logo and the traditional sole with a braided rope edge and flexible rubber tread, designed to ensure comfort and versatility throughout the summer season.
RERERI brings the new circular luxury to Florence
The Florentine circular luxury brand has unveiled its new REband model, which embodies a contemporary, dynamic and genderless vision of artisanal leather goods. Designed for a new generation of travellers, creatives and professionals on the move, the new crossbody bag is a versatile accessory that makes a statement, naturally adapting to different lifestyles. Minimalist in form yet full of character, the bag embodies the concept of contemporary luxury through a functional, gender-neutral and customisable design.
The new model was unveiled at Pitti Uomo within the spaces of The Social Hub Florence Belfiore, where RERERI took centre stage with a temporary pop-up experience that invited the public to delve into the creative process and actively participate in designing their own bag.
Monkuniverse reimagines walking with its Monk (bare) Foot
The brainchild of Giacomo Gallina, a fashion and footwear designer with nearly twenty years’ experience in the luxury sector, the launch of the Monk (bare) Foot project sees the brand introduce a lightweight, high-quality shoe, designed to revolutionise the concept of walking in line with the philosophy of emptiness and meditation in motion.
The brand name encapsulates its very essence: ‘Monk’ evokes the figure of the monk, whilst the concept of ‘Mu’ – the answer to an ancient Japanese koan meaning ‘nothing’ or ‘emptiness’ – manifests as a creative force, the true origin of every generative process.
The Monk (bare) Foot project translates this philosophy into a physical experience that simulates walking barefoot, an ancient Zen meditation practice. To recreate the sensation of natural contact with the ground, the shoe features the Vibram FF Cup sole: an ultra-thin shell, just a few millimetres thick, made of ‘zero-drop’ rubber (with no height difference between heel and toe). The extraordinary flexibility of this component is combined with the excellence of Italian craftsmanship. The upper, made from genuine full-grain leather, is stitched directly to the rubber sole, whilst the insole is made from genuine leather. Production is entirely entrusted to a small artisanal shoe factory in the Veneto region, a guardian of the ‘Made in Italy’ tradition.
Lotto Losanga ’76 PRT: a tribute to the Italian legend
Founded in 1973 in Montebelluna, at the heart of the Veneto footwear district, the brand is now one of Italy’s most recognised names on the international sporting scene. At the latest edition of Pitti Uomo, it unveiled its new SS27 collection, featuring a range that blends sporting heritage, material innovation and contemporary sensibility. Among the standout models is the Losanga ’76 PRT, a tribute to one of the most iconic chapters in Italian sporting history: Italy’s victory in the 1976 Davis Cup. The model takes its name from Lotto’s signature maxi diamond, an oversized graphic element that dominates the upper, and is crafted from beige velour that extends seamlessly to the toe and back tab. The trainer strikes a sophisticated balance between sporting heritage and urban influences, thanks to its vintage, distressed finish and distinctive graphic details: the ideograms on the sole, the contrasting Japanese characters on the heel, and the ‘Losanga ’76’ branding on the tongue and back tab all reinforce the model’s urban appeal.
Kapten & Son: a friend for life and adventure
Ever since its inception, Kapten & Son has been committed to turning every moment into a meaningful experience, offering innovative, functional products with eye-catching designs. The brand’s extensive collection ranges from sunglasses to travel gear, right through to a versatile range of bags and rucksacks. It is these rucksacks in particular that perfectly blend style and practicality: available in various sizes (from 4 to 26 litres), they are ideal for work, university, sport and leisure. Made from high-quality materials and available in a wide range of modern styles and colours, Kapten & Son rucksacks offer all the space you need to organise your everyday essentials – such as laptops, documents and water bottles – in the best possible way.
D.A.T.E unveils RETRÒ, its new aesthetic manifesto
Raw canvas, textured inserts and premium leathers coexist in a quest for balance where imperfection becomes a design detail and contrast takes on aesthetic value. Offering a preview of the season’s vision is RETRÒ, a new release presented exclusively at Pitti: a sneaker that encapsulates the collection’s minimalist approach and embodies the concept of ‘quiet luxury’. Crafted from nappa leather and suede, completely unlined and free of internal reinforcements, it offers extreme lightness and comfort, emphasising the sensation of a shoe that naturally accompanies the body’s movement. The design draws on archival sportswear imagery reimagined with a contemporary twist: the round cotton lace, the technical eyelet on the first hole and the honey-coloured rubber sole define a clean, versatile and authentic aesthetic. On the side of the upper, there is also a new interpretation of the distinctive D.A.T.E. logo: four small squares representing the brand’s four founders and embodying its original DNA..
Aeronautica Militare: a narrative that blends Urban, Military and Heritage
The Italian sportswear brand, born from an exclusive agreement between the Italian Air Force General Staff and Cristiano di Thiene S.p.A. – which for over twenty years has been translating the history and values of the Armed Forces into clothing – presents a men’s collection for next summer that reinterprets the brand’s roots to project them into the wardrobe of tomorrow. The narrative of the SS27 season is structured around three distinct themes, which blend together in a play of layers and layering.
Urban interprets a concept of contemporary classicism designed for those seeking understated elegance and shunning ostentation. Iconic, timeless pieces such as cotton chinos or jersey polo shirts offer sophisticated versatility that flows naturally throughout the day.
Military embodies the brand’s deepest essence, where functional inspiration translates into form and character. Field jackets, bomber jackets and military-style overshirts evolve into clean, contemporary silhouettes, blending a glorious history with maximum practicality.
Heritage brings the story to a close with the power of its iconic details and distinctive features. The embroidery stands out as a defining element, evoking craftsmanship, authenticity and a sense of belonging, making each piece unique and instantly recognisable.
As for accessories, the minimalist leather and suede trainers are designed to effortlessly complement any outfit, whilst the iconic helmet bag has evolved into a rucksack, preserving intact the sense of belonging that has always distinguished Aeronautica Militare.
Cuoio di Toscana presents He(ART)
Unveiled at Pitti Uomo 110, the collaboration stems from the convergence of the tanneries’ manufacturing heritage and the creative vision of a designer who has helped define the aesthetic language of some of the world’s leading international luxury brands. He(ART) places the material, the culture of craftsmanship and the value of Italian artisanal tradition at the heart of the collection. This limited-edition collection interprets sole leather not merely as a technical component of footwear, but as an identifying feature – a symbol of quality, durability and timeless beauty. Among the models, the unisex Softy moccasin stands out, characterised by a particularly flexible construction and hand-crafted details. For Cuoio di Toscana, the project forms part of an initiative aimed at promoting the region’s manufacturing heritage through collaborations that amplify its cultural and international significance.
Farewell to Roberto Pellegrini, the chairman who brought the world to Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags
From every trip he returned with a small globe. Not a souvenir: a reminder. Because for Roberto Pellegrini, broadening one’s horizons was not just a figure of speech, but a way of working.
President of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi since 2007, he transformed a territorial trade fair into a crossroads of markets and cultures. It was his intuition to take Expo Riva Schuh beyond national borders: the Middle East (2008–2009), India (2011–2013), and the consolidation of ties with China. The international footwear industry owes part of its global reach to him.
He used to repeat two phrases. “When I look back, I see the future.” And “You recognise thoroughbreds on the uphill stretch.” The first encapsulates his vision of growth: memory as a laboratory, not a museum. The second says it all about him. Those who worked with him remember the man behind the role: the informal “you” he insisted on with everyone, colleagues addressed by name, no air of superiority.
He passed away on 8 August 2026, aged 76, following a serious illness. He leaves behind a more international trade fair and his globes, which still point the way forward.
We extend our thanks to him for the many years we worked together – intense, full of energy, and always punctuated with a bit of laughter.
The AEC is focusing on AI to drive growth in the sector
The specialised training programme in Artificial Intelligence, aimed at professionals and companies in the sector, is organised in collaboration with 3DSoul School and funded by the Valencian Regional Government’s Department of Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Trade, with the aim of accelerating digitalisation, automation and business innovation in the footwear components sector. The initiative has been designed to integrate Artificial Intelligence into the day-to-day operations of companies, through highly practical content and use cases relating to management, design, production, logistics, sales, e-commerce, technical documentation and customer support.
The programme comprises 72 hours of face-to-face teaching and will take place between September and October 2026 at the 3DSoul School campus in Elche (Avenida de la Libertad, 136), with a maximum of 15 participants per course. The training will be free of charge for participants, as it is funded by the Generalitat Valenciana.
“With this programme, we aim to help companies in the sector integrate artificial intelligence in a useful, secure and results-oriented way, boosting their productivity, their capacity for innovation and their competitiveness,” says Álvaro Sánchez, Director-General of the AEC.
FIVE COMPLEMENTARY TRAINING COURSES
As part of the 72-hour training programme, participants will be able to choose the courses best suited to their professional needs:
1. Introduction to generative AI applied to the business world, lasting 21 hours.
2. Automation of business activities and processes using AI, lasting 15 hours.
3. Digitalisation of business processes using AI and Vibe-Coding tools, lasting 18 hours.
4. AI agents, agent-based AI, risks and security in the workplace, lasting 12 hours.
5. Research and development in generative AI applied to the footwear sector, lasting 6 hours.
The activities will combine basic technological concepts with sector-specific workshops, including the creation of content and visual resources, the automation of orders and documents, the creation of dashboards, the prototyping of no-code solutions, the implementation of virtual assistants, and the analysis of risks related to cyber security and the protection of business information.
Info: www.3dsoulschool.es/acciones-formativas-calzado-aec/