Arsutoria Studio
Arsutoria Studio

Italian tanners: let’s create a common home in Brussels with other natural materials

A report focused on the need to preside over the work of the Brussels legislators that of UNIC President Fabrizio Nuti, yesterday in Milan at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Italian Tanneries. “For the past four years,” said Nuti, “my energies have been practically absorbed by opposing measure No. 1115/2023, that is, the Anti-deforestation Regulation, in the knowledge that, as it is written, it will have devastating effects on our sector. An effort that has taken the form of letters, meetings, various solicitations to MEPs, technicians, lobbyists, but also in the organization of seminars and webinars culminating on June 3 at the European Parliament where the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna study was presented showing that leather is not a driver of deforestation. An enormous amount of work that so far has apparently produced little result except for a letter to EU President Ursula Van der Leyen from Council Vice-President Antonio Tajani who, after meeting with the Unic president, took action “diligently and seems to have fully understood the gravity of the situation.”

A common home in Brussels

Noting the difficulty of changing laws that have already been passed, such as precisely the Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the tanners recently moved the offices of Cotance (which represents European tanning) to a large new headquarters in Brussels “which I would like to become a reference point for all associations in the leather supply chain and beyond.” Located near the European Parliament, “it could become the home of all the natural materials such as wool, silk, cashmere, etc. that share with us the daily problems and attacks.” Unity is strength,” Nuti explained, ”and having a common voice is worth the investment. There is a need for lobbying, which is transparent but necessary, also to prevent the passage of dangerous laws just as happened with the EUDR. The idea of collaborating with other supply chains stems from the observation that all natural materials have, just like leather, a very high environmental impact index compared to materials of petrochemical origin such as PVC, nylon and polyester. A paradoxical situation due to erroneous assumptions (in the case of leather, the inclusion of animal husbandry that should be discorporated since leather is a by-product) that needs to be changed by pursuing LCA studies carried out with accurate and up-to-date scientific data, as specialist Federico Brugnoli, CEO of SPIN360, also had the opportunity to explain in the following speech, thanks to whose work it was possible to lower the score of leather by 70% in the infamous Higg index related to the sustainability of materials.

New projects

President Nuti then reviewed the many activities carried out by the association over the past year. Among the most important is the collaboration with the Ministry of Made in Italy to draft a bill aimed at creating a univocal certification system within the fashion supply chain, by third-party certifiers, to defend against the proliferation of customer audits on the most disparate requirements. Also noteworthy is a new project dedicated to sustainability called “Leather Leaders” on which UNIC is working together with SPIN360 and other partners and which is based on three basic pillars: supply chain collaboration, science and data, and alliances with related sectors (wool, silk, etc.). The aim is to create a core group of brands and supplier companies to draft a protocol to achieve green goals and build a shared platform of innovation and knowledge that can drive the whole sector.

The 2024 results

As for the economic results, 2024,“ the UNIC president recalled,”was another difficult year, in which negative signs prevailed (production -4.5 percent, exports -3.6 percent), the result of persistent suffering in the fashion, furniture and automotive supply chains. The consequence is that “industrial and commercial reorganization phenomena are multiplying. Companies are aggregating, supply chains are integrating, procurement and financial investments are diversifying. And while we probably won’t all agree on this, this, in my opinion, is a sign of health for the industry, an indicator of the dynamism that continues to pervade our world. A luxury brand won’t invest in the capital stock of a tannery if it doesn’t believe in the leather material. Just as a financial fund would not do so if it believes that the tanning business is unattractive in profit marginality.”

 Guests

After the president’s report, the microphone was passed to Dario Fabbri, geopolitical analyst and editor of Domino magazine, who gave a talk focusing on the attacks on globalization and explaining the meaning of the Trumpian policy on tariffs. According to the expert, the US president does not aim to tear down globalization, but to redefine its balance at the expense of the EU and China.

There were numerous speeches by UNIC Assembly guests who enhanced the event by speaking about their fields of expertise. The following took turns on stage: Giovanna Ceolini (president Confindustria Accessori Moda), Agostino Apolito (general manager Assomac), Maurizio Maggioni (national secretary UNPAC), Michele Matteoli (president Tanners Consortium Ponte a Egola), Riccardo Bandini (president Tanners Association of Santa Croce sull’Arno), Roberto Giannoni (mayor of Santa Croce sull’Arno), Mirko Balsemin (president of the tanning section of Confindustria Vicenza) and Sonia Tosoni (secretary of FILCTEM CGIL).

The UNIC Assembly was held in Milan on July 1.
Geopolitical analyst Dario Fabbri spoke at the UNIC Assembly.

Stahl inaugurates Customer Center of Excellence in León, Mexico

Stahl, the world leader in speciality coatings for flexible materials, has just celebrated the relocation and opening of its enhanced Center of Excellence for Leather Finishing and Performance Coatings in León, Mexico. The new facility houses state-of-the-art offices, application laboratories and testing capabilities, reflecting Stahl’s commitment to delivering advanced, lower-impact products closer to customers across Latin America.

This strategic investment follows a series of recent expansions, including the doubling of capacity in China, a new production facility in Ranipet, India, a Center of Excellence in Apex, USA, a new laboratory in Japan and a new PUD facility in Singapore. With a significantly larger footprint than the previous León facility, the upgraded center offers a more complete customer experience, from multi-substrate design support and application development to testing and training.

“Mexico is an important market for Stahl, with a strong base of automotive, fashion and footwear customers,” said Maarten Heijbroek, CEO of Stahl. “By investing in this enhanced facility, we are staying close to where our customers are and giving them access to the very best technologies, people and expertise. This is a clear example of how we are growing with purpose, to better serve our partners today and tomorrow.”

The León site is part of Stahl’s global network of more than 30 application labs, 10 Center of Excellence and 15 manufacturing facilities. It supports the development of high-performance coatings and finishes for industries including footwear, apparel, automotive and home interiors.

Saul Rios, Managing Director of Stahl LATAM, added: “This new regional capability strenghtens our customer intimate business model. Here we can directly collaborate with our customers and brands, speed up our customer’s innovations and deliver according to regional needs. Our focus remains on co-creating products that touch lives, while always contributing to a better world.”

Guests at the inauguration joined a guided tour of the new facility’s main stations, including showrooms for Shoe & Leather Goods, Automotive interior and Performance Coatings, the Leather Finishing laboratory, a dedicated testing lab and the on-site Stahl Campus® classroom. The event concluded with a networking reception hosted in the new labs.

 

The laboratories at Stahl’s new headquarters in Leon

Giancarlo Lovato elected IULTCS vice president

The International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) has officially elected the new vice president for the 2026/2027 biennium destined to become president in the following 2028/2029 biennium. The nomination concerns Dr. Giancarlo Lovato, a candidate presented by the Italian Association of Leather Chemists (AICC). This is an important achievement especially considering that the last Italian president of IULTCS was Dr. Cuccodoro in 1983. After a full 45 years, Italy (AICC) will finally express a president in 2028.

Giancarlo Lovato currently works as Director of Research at Corichem, a leading Italian leather chemicals company; in this role he is responsible for the development of new leather chemicals and related technologies. Dr. Lovato served as Secretary of AICC from 2019 to 2022 and as Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the III IULTCS EuroCongress Vicenza 2022. In IULTCS, he is currently in charge of the ISO Committee.

IULTCS also announced the winner of this year’s prestigious Merit Award. Members of the organization unanimously chose Dr. Patricia Casey from Argentina for her dedication and commitment to the advancement of the field. Casey previously served as president of IULTCS and held an apex position with the Argentine AAQTIC Association for many years. The award will be presented to Dr. Casey at a gala dinner as part of the IULTCS Congress in Lyon on September 10.

Irisphera wins the Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags Startup Competition

From 14 to 17 June 2025, the Innovation Village Retail at Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags was back in the spotlight, showcasing the best innovative solutions dedicated to distribution. The centrepiece of the event, organised in collaboration with Retail Hub, was the highly anticipated Startup Competition, now in its eighth edition, with impressive results: 68 startups from 19 different countries had the opportunity to present revolutionary ideas to transform the sector.

The jury, composed of leading buyers and market experts, awarded the prize to Irisphera, a Romanian startup that stood out for the quality of its technological proposal and its ability to respond concretely to one of the biggest challenges facing online fashion retail: efficient returns management and sustainable purchasing.

Thanks to its victory, Irisphera will be present at the next edition of Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags scheduled for January 2026, an opportunity to further establish itself on the international scene. The startup offers an innovative SaaS platform that combines artificial intelligence and 3D technology to help consumers choose clothing that perfectly fits their body type. The result: a significant reduction in returns of up to 30%, an increase in conversions and valuable analytical data for retailers.

IRISPHERA: A VIRTUAL PERSONAL SHOPPER THAT CHANGES THE RULES OF THE GAME

Online shopping today presents numerous challenges, especially due to the high rate of returns, which generates significant operating costs and considerable environmental impacts. Irisphera, through a virtual personal shopper powered by AI, provides personalised recommendations in terms of size, colour and style, combined with the ability to view clothes virtually in 360°.

Antonia Dumitriu, CEO and co-founder of Irisphera, tells us about the mission and distinctive features of the solution: «Our technology is highly scalable and automatically transforms images of clothes on retailers’ websites into 3D models in a matter of seconds. No physical samples or high production costs are required. Since its launch last December, we already have customers in Romania, Italy and the Netherlands, and we are entering the UAE market with a men’s fashion group.»

The immediate benefits are clear: «We are already seeing significant results, such as doubling conversion rates, increasing customer loyalty through a better customer experience and more robust business strategies based on key consumer data», adds Dumitriu.

«By working with us – continues the CEO – retailers can access savings of up to 7.5 billion, reduce returns by 30% and cut emissions by 60%. Considering that the fashion industry generates around 10% of total CO₂ emissions, partly due to returns, our platform represents a concrete and sustainable solution.»

Integrating Irisphera is simple and straightforward: «For websites based on Shopify or WordPress, we already have plugins ready to use. For other sites, integration is via API. All we need are the images already online, which are automatically processed and digitised into 3D models», concludes Dumitriu.

The Innovation Village Retail thus continues to confirm its status as a key showcase for innovative start-ups ready to rewrite the rules of fashion distribution, looking determinedly to the future of the sector. An excellent opportunity for buyers to find new avenues for their business.

Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags. Evolving in a changing world

“The big fashion brands understood that the sneaker had to change – and they succeeded in changing it. We now have a sports shoe that’s a ballet flat, and a ballet flat that’s a sports shoe.” This was one of the insights shared by Maria Cristina Rossi, teacher at Arsutoria School, with the large audience attending trend talks in the Highlights Area at Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags.

Her observation captures, in simple terms, the much broader and more complex transformations affecting not just fashion, but the entire market. But how can we respond to a shifting landscape? The key concept is “Knowing How to Become”. “Knowing How to Become” refers to the ability of individuals and organisations to continually learn and adapt to ever-changing contexts, environments and situations.

It is the most fitting way to describe the work carried out by Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags since the early 2000s: “We began by focusing on internationalising the exhibitor base – the fair that moves the world.
More recently, we’ve evolved the event into a must-attend opportunity for the entire footwear and accessories community. A place for doing business, of course, but also for staying informed and connecting intelligently – through a rich program of events, the Business Scout services, and the app that enables direct contact between exhibitors and buyers,” as Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, explained.

 

KEY FIGURES FROM THE 103RD EDITION

The 103rd edition of Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags, held from 14 to 17 June 2025, welcomed 8,000 attendees from over 100 countries, meeting organisers’ expectations and reflecting broader market trends.

 

Roberto Pellegrini, Chairman of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi: “Once again, the summer edition has proven to be stronger than the winter one. Visitor numbers remained largely stable – a solid result considering the many complications currently affecting global markets, as well as the military conflicts that, during the fair itself, escalated and prevented several countries from participating.”

 

Buyer attendance grew from the UK (+5%) and Poland (+15%), with Germany holding steady and Italy showing a slight decline. Non-EU inbound attendance was also positive, with India up by 13.6%, and both Africa and the United States registering a +10% increase.

 

That buyer quality – often more important than quantity – continues to drive order placements is confirmed by the consistent demand for more exhibition space to welcome new exhibitors and allow existing ones to enlarge their stands. “We will meet these demands by expanding the exhibition centre. Over the next three years, we plan to complete works that will make the fairgrounds even more welcoming: we will add another 20,000 m2, building new halls for a total investment of around €50 million. This will ensure an even greater international reach and exhibitor diversity,” revealed Roberto Pellegrini.

 

This diversity is indeed one of the event’s greatest strengths, as confirmed by Antonia Reading of Hotter, a major UK retail chain with its own manufacturing company, who visited the fair for the first time: “I was amazed by the variety of the offering – both in terms of the chance to meet suppliers from literally all over the world and the different levels of quality I could choose from.”


 

THE EVOLUTION OF GARDABAGS… AND BEYOND

Undoubtedly, the most talked-about transformation at the June edition was the revamp of Gardabags. Social media lit up with photos of the new halls entirely dedicated to the event, which doubled in both floor space and collection offering. A stylish, fashion-forward atmosphere defined the three new zones designed for interaction between exhibitors and buyers – the pillars of the new Gardabags format: Sourcing, Sourcing4Bridge, and Brands, not to mention the strong presence of exhibitors specialising in travel goods.

 

Having successfully redefined the Riva event as the essential hub not only for footwear trade, but now also for bags, backpacks and travel accessories, Riva del Garda Fierecongressi is already looking ahead. The next step: the progressive evolution of Expo Riva Schuh itself, beginning with the unveiling of a new visual identity – a reflection of the fair’s continued innovation, adaptability, connection to its local roots and commitment to networking.

The new logo – featuring a clean and immediate design – complements the renewed identity of Gardabags and clearly conveys the message of a modern, functional and service-oriented trade fair. Every detail of the new design has been carefully analysed to communicate Expo Riva Schuh’s commitment to keeping pace with the times, while maintaining strong and consistent brand recognition.


 

INNOVATION

Alberto Mattiello – futurist, author, Head of Innovation Retail Hub, and member of the Scientific Committee of Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags – also addressed the profound changes shaping the world during his opening speech at the Startup Competition: “Artificial Intelligence remains the central theme when it comes to innovation. After being used to streamline processes and save us time, it has evolved into a wide array of specialised, customisable and controllable tools capable of ‘reasoning’. Now, it’s reaching a third evolutionary stage. We’ve entered the era of Massive Automation: within a few months, we may all become programmers – not because we’ve learned to code, but because machines will do it for us, creating applications tailored to our needs.”

 

The ever-growing panel of judges, composed of leading buyers and industry experts, selected Irisphera (Romania) as the best solution among those presented during the June 2025 edition of the Innovation Village Retail, an initiative organised in collaboration with Retail Hub, which – across its eight editions – has showcased 68 startups from 19 countries.

 

Thanks to their win, Irisphera will have the opportunity to exhibit at the next edition of the event, scheduled for January 2026, further strengthening its presence on the international stage.


The company will promote its platform, which uses artificial intelligence and 3D technology to help consumers find clothing tailored to their bodies, offering personalised suggestions on size, colour and style. The result is a significant reduction in returns, an enhanced shopping experience and valuable analytics for retailers.

 

Other events throughout the four-day fair also drew large crowds: the Highlights Area, where attendees explored consumer trends and gathered reliable insights to inform purchasing decisions; the Market Focus sessions, a prime opportunity for buyers to discuss their local markets and meet suppliers suited to their specific needs; and the Expo Riva Nights, where connections were built beyond business in a festive, relaxed atmosphere.

 

Once again, the 103rd edition of Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags demonstrated its ability to truly “Know How to Become” what the industry needs – and it will continue to do so in future editions, starting with the next, which will take place from 10 to 13 January 2026.

UITIC Congress, “Competitiveness and sustainability in the era of artificial intelligence”, here is the programme

The official programme for the UITIC International Technical Footwear Congress has been released. The 22nd edition, to be held in Shanghai (China) from 31 August to 3 September 2025, will feature numerous in-depth presentations on the evolution and innovation sweeping the footwear industry.

UITIC also continues its tradition of offering participants a complementary programme of visits to factories and institutions. Two options will be available, providing an insight into the world of Chinese footwear and China’s extraordinary traditional culture. Participants can choose between one-day or two-day visits.

 

Click here for the full programme of the UITIC 2025 event.

The Tuscany4Shoes network focuses on sustainability

A day dedicated to sustainable fashion, environmental responsibility and the promotion of the footwear and fashion supply chain was held in the splendid setting of Villa Bruguier in Capannori. This was the focus of GREEN DAY, an event promoted by the Tuscany4Shoes network, which now brings together over 60 companies from the footwear and fashion world, based at the Capannori Technology Park.

The event opened in the early morning with institutional greetings from Giordano Del Chiaro, Mayor of Capannori, Regional Councillor Valentina Mercanti and Mayor of Scandicci Claudia Sereni. Representing the Tuscany4Shoes Network were Serena Cecchini, President, and Pietro Angelini, Director of NAVIGO, Temporary Manager of the Network.

The agenda focused on sustainability applied to fashion and the local area, with speeches by Silvia Gambi (Solo Moda Sostenibile), Marco Zappolini (ESG Italia), Tonja Pierallini, representative of the ‘Terra di Tutti’ project, and Matteo Pasca, director of Arsutoria.

In addition to the aforementioned presentations, there was also a space dedicated to the presentation of the ‘Shoes ID’ project, created in collaboration with NAVIGO, Lucense and CAEN, aimed at strengthening the identity of Tuscan footwear through innovation, traceability and digital technologies.

The event was closed by a rich panel of some of the most important international fashion houses and companies in the supply chain, who shared best practices, challenges and strategies for fashion that is increasingly attentive to the environment and the future.

“With the first edition of GREEN DAY, we wanted to demonstrate how sustainability, innovation and supply chain are not just keywords, but concrete actions that our companies put into practice every day. Tuscan fashion has a strong identity, rooted in the territory and capable of facing environmental and social challenges with vision, both locally and internationally,” said Serena Cecchini. “This event is a step forward in strengthening our network, activating new connections and building a more responsible future together.”

IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS

There is an old idea that is gaining ground again amid the folds of an increasingly complex supply chain: creating a system. Not because it is fashionable and everyone is talking about it, but out of necessity. Joining forces to overcome market challenges is the underlying theme that underpinned most of the conference presentations.

 

SUSTAINABILITY: FROM COST TO STRATEGIC LEVER

The conference gave ample space to the topic of ESG, showing how sustainability is no longer a reputational option, but an enabling condition for accessing markets and finance. Marco Zappolini (ESG Italia) put it clearly: “Companies must start testing their level of compliance. Certifications are not logos to be displayed, but tools for governance, competitiveness and access to funds.”

The same applies to those who have turned sustainability into a business: the ‘Terra di Tutti’ project is a prime example. It recovers materials, regenerates them into design objects (from broken umbrellas, exhibition banners and textile scraps) and at the same time integrates vulnerable people into the world of work, creating a social and aesthetic supply chain. An innovative craft workshop, rooted in the local area.

 

FROM THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO THE ECOSYSTEM

On the sidelines of the conference, representatives of international brands also spoke. The message was unanimous: transparency, traceability and a cultural shift in the relationship between brands and suppliers are needed. “Today, customers ask us: who made this product? Where? Under what conditions?” recalled Luca Perone. This is why sustainability must become a strategic asset, not a marketing label.

 

THE FUTURE LIES IN DIALOGUE BETWEEN SMALL AND LARGE

The comparison with the French model – which is more centralised and structured – has been useful in recognising the limitations but also the strengths of the Italian system, which is based on districts and small businesses. But a strategy is needed. Without targeted public policies and a change in mindset among big brands, small businesses risk being left alone to face increasingly stringent regulations (such as European Eco-Design or Digital Product Passports).

 

FROM KNOW-HOW TO KNOW-HOW-TO-TRANSMIT

Italian know-how is a heritage. But it is not enough to preserve it: it must be transmitted. This is the heart of the reflection on training that emerged during the conference. It is not just a matter of teaching technical skills, but of creating educational systems capable of integrating manual skills, organisation and innovation. As Matteo Pasca of Arsutoria pointed out, “vocational training cannot be based solely on theory or passive mentoring: precise teaching protocols, stimulating work environments and machines that are suited to the real world of production are needed”.

The most structured companies are already investing in the creation of a ‘library of gestures’ and in internal courses that enable the transfer of skills from one generation to the next. But it is the synergy between the public and private sectors that makes the difference: the use of training funds, the use of ITSs and collaboration with training institutions are key elements. A concrete example? Co-designed courses to train rare professionals such as jointers, through intensive tailor-made courses. Because a district is not only competitive when it innovates its products, but when it innovates its people.

 

CONCLUSIONS: THE COST OF DOING NOTHING

“What is the cost of not doing it?” This is the question that Francesco Cosentino (Antica Valserchio) posed to the audience. It concerned digitalisation, but it could apply to any of the topics discussed: sustainability, training, traceability, supply chain. This is the point: today, the real risk is not investing. It is standing still.

This is where the ‘Tuscany4Shoes’ model comes in, not as a goal, but as a method. A way of tackling complexity with collective energy.

Matteo Pasca, Director of Arsutoria School, during his speech at the conference organised by Tuscany4Shoes

ABOUT TUSCANY4SHOES

Tuscany 4 Shoes is a network of companies representing the footwear sector, created to serve the industry, to understand, strengthen, promote and internationalise it.

On the one hand, T4S aims to support companies during a difficult period for the footwear market, which is undergoing major changes. On the other hand, it acts as a privileged technical partner, providing accurate information to institutions, public administrators and trade associations. It was born from the belief in the strength of grassroots, cross-cutting and complementary groups, in response to the need for companies to come together and share information.

Today, it has 59 member companies (+4 entry requests), including 21 footwear manufacturers, 20 suppliers, 6 component manufacturers and 5 retailers.

Two companies, one vision: transforming creativity into productivity

“Whether you are looking for inspiration, technical innovation or new business connections, this event is not to be missed.” This was the invitation that called industry professionals to visit the event organised by Italiana Accessori and Sagitta on 26 and 27 June 2025 in Montevarchi, Tuscany.

Italiana Accessori, a specialist in the production of studs and decorative elements, and Sagitta, a leader in the development of technological solutions for the automatic application of studs, have resumed their tradition of organising an event to present the latest innovations in the world of decoration for footwear, leather goods and clothing. This is an opportunity for customers and suppliers to meet and highlight the state of the art in accessories and technologies dedicated to efficiency and precision, always at the service of style.


“Numerous visitors came to see us and took part in live demonstrations and personalised consultations in a festive and networking atmosphere. They discovered how our solutions integrate perfectly into their production processes, how they simplify them and how they can increase productivity.”


Have fun talking about leather: Nera does it

Nera, a brand of Royal Smit & Zoon, has launched a new podcast series: ‘Leathertainment on the Go,’ hosted by Florian Schrey and Volkan Yilmaz (known as Tanner Leatherstein on social media). As many as eight episodes, all available on YouTube and Spotify.

Over the course of the chats, with a dash of humor and levity, the two experts delve into a wide range of skin-related topics, from trying to dispel common myths about vegan skin to discussing animal welfare and the future of skin. An entertaining and informative series that aims to spread correct information about skin for the benefit of the entire industry.

Nera is Dutch company Royal Smit & Zoon’s flagship brand of innovative Zeology leather that represents a major advance in sustainable leather production. It uses a revolutionary zeolite-based tanning agent that makes it free of chromium, aldehyde and heavy metals. This unique process not only makes the leather compostable and biodegradable, but also improves its performance and durability.

 

 

 

UITIC Congress, interview with the chairman of CLIA, the event host

Li Yuzhong

This will be the second time that the UITIC Congress comes to China after being held successfully in Guangzhou in 2013.

The organizers have chosen Shanghai, an international metropolis that harmoniously combines historical culture and modern fashion, as the conference venue. «China will offer the participants a high-level footwear technology extravaganza with the warmest hospitality and the most considerate service», as explained by Li Yuzhong, the chairman of the China Leather Industry Association.

 

Why was Shanghai chosen as the host city for this year’s conference?

«Shanghai is a modern international metropolis with the spirit of inclusiveness, pursuit of excellence, broad-mindedness, and humility. Located at the estuary of the Yangtze River in East China and facing the Pacific Ocean, Shanghai forms part of the Yangtze River Delta, one of China’s most robust, open and innovative regions. As China’s largest economic powerhouse and an important international financial center, Shanghai achieved a GDP of 5.39 trillion yuan in 2024, up 5 percent year-on-year. Shanghai is also an important hub for the Chinese fashion industry. Nowadays, Shanghai Fashion Week is ranked among the top five fashion events in the world.

Shanghai is closely associated with footwear industry. Firstly, in Shanghai, there are “China Time-honored Brands” like Huili and “Shanghai Time-honored Brands” such as Shanghai Leather Shoe Factory, along with well-known shoe material suppliers like Huafeng. Secondly, design-oriented institutions such as Donghua University and Shanghai Art & Design Academy are also located here. These institutions have cultivated and supplied a large number of talents for the footwear industry. Moreover, in the areas surrounding Shanghai, numerous footwear manufacturing clusters, including Wenzhou, Wenling, Gaoqiao, and Danyang, can showcase the significant changes in China’s footwear industry in terms of intelligent manufacturing, technological innovation, and quality improvement. Finally, Moda China International Shoes, Bags & Apparel Fashion Fair will be held concurrently with All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) in Shanghai from September 3rd to 5th. ACLE is the largest leather raw materials exhibition in Asia. Therefore, we believe this city can offer a unique platform for attendees to explore the latest developments and trends in the footwear industry.»

 

What about the development situation of China’s footwear industry?

«China is the world’s largest footwear producer, exporter, and consumer. Annually, it produces around 13 billion pairs of shoes, accounting for over 55% of the global production. In 2024, sales revenue of footwear enterprises above designated size reached 550 billion Yuan. China exported 9.2 billion pairs of shoes, with an export value reaching 46.87 billion US dollars in the same year.

 

In recent years, the industry has continuously achieved high-quality development. Numerous shoe brands have come to the fore in China, including Anta, Lining, Belle, Kangnai and Yearcon. Simultaneously, China’s footwear industry has accelerated technological upgrading by leveraging digital applications, and the implementation of clean production has furthered the low-carbon manufacturing transformation significantly.»

 

How many representatives will attend UITIC Congress 2025 in Shanghai?

«Participants will include not only footwear manufacturers, but also upstream footwear materials, chemical enterprises, shoes machinery enterprises, and shoe manufacturing clusters. It is anticipated that there will be 300 attendees, among whom more than 80 will be foreign representatives. At present, online registration is in full swing. The deadline for early bird registration has been extended to July 1st. We sincerely invite entrepreneurs, scholars and industry experts from all around the world to join us in Shanghai.»

 

What is the theme of this conference?

«The theme of this conference is “Footwear Competitiveness and Sustainable Development in the era of AI”. Footwear brands, manufacturers, researchers, and related experts will get together to discuss and explore the future of footwear companies through innovative materials and products, smart manufacturing and sustainability, sharing key innovations and insights at this technical conference.»

 

How many oral presentations and visual presentations are planned to be presented?

«The UITIC Congress Scientific Committee has reviewed the abstracts submitted globally and selected about 16 speakers to give oral presentations and 24 visual presentations to be showcased on site. Two keynote speakers will bring the latest innovation trends on both AI and sustainability.»

 

The International Shoe Industry Technology Conference has always had the tradition of factory visits. Will there be any related arrangements or other off-site activities this time?

«The organizers will follow the factory visit tradition of the UITIC Congress. A two-day visit will be arranged from August 31st to September 1st, including visits to SADA, Shima, Huafon, Siena, and Duowei. Meanwhile, the participants can also enjoy the Huangpu River night cruise tour on Sep 2, and visit ACLE and Moda China exhibitions on Sep 3. We firmly believe that this is not just a high-level technical event, but also a platform for information exchange, and cooperation. The delegates will have a deep understanding of the achievements of China’s footwear industry and experience the charm of Shanghai, which is known as the Pearl of the Orient.»

 

For registration and more info: www.uitic2025.com