IULTCS CONGRESS: research takes stock in Lyon
From September 9 to 11, international leather chemists gathered to share and discuss the latest advances in the scientific world.
Keep reading...While the footwear business is driven by the pace set by the global market, it is precisely this pace that Eleonora Ferracuti, Provincial Councillor of Fermo, was able to interpret when she launched the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) project to relaunch the Fermano-Maceratese footwear sector. This project is not just a gamble on the future, but a silent revolution that could redefine the boundaries of European manufacturing.
THE REGULATORY TURNING POINT
From 1st December 2025, it will be possible to apply for protected geographical indication registration in Italy for both artisanal and industrial products. No longer just Parmesan cheese and ham: now shoes, bags and other manufactured goods will also be able to boast the same recognition that has made Italian agri-food products famous throughout the world.
Who is responsible for this historic opening? The Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, which acted as spokesperson in Europe for the enactment of EU Regulation 2023/2411 in November 2023. A diplomatic victory that opens up new scenarios for European craftsmanship.
THE CONSORTIUM THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
The Fermano-Maceratese Footwear Consortium was established in the province of Fermo in mid-November 2024, under the chairmanship of Germano Craia. Its headquarters? Monte Urano, not by chance: the beating heart of a district that has been setting the standard in Italian footwear production for decades.
The municipalities of Monte Urano, Porto Sant’Elpidio, Montegranaro, Fermo, Sant’Elpidio a Mare, Torre San Patrizio, Monte San Pietrangeli, Montecosaro, Civitanova Marche, Corridonia, Morrovalle and Monte San Giusto have already given their support. Such widespread support is no coincidence: when twelve municipalities unite for a common goal, it means that the idea has solid foundations.
THE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
“We want to engage young people and make them even more involved in a sector that characterises the area,” says Councillor Ferracuti. And she has done just that, with a competition for secondary school students to design the logo for the IGP Calzatura. The winner will receive a prize of €400.
This is not just local marketing. It is a strategic move that recognises an uncomfortable truth: without the involvement of the younger generation, even the most brilliant project risks remaining a dead letter. Many of the young people involved are the children of those who work in the footwear sector. The circle is complete, and tradition finds new life.
REGULATIONS: THE FINAL CHALLENGE
Now comes the moment of truth: defining the production regulations. “We have to define the processing stages to be included and much more. It will be a serious and in-depth discussion,” warns the president of the Province of Fermo, Ortenzi. A discussion that allows for no mistakes, because ‘once written, it cannot be changed’.
The crucial question: how many processing steps must be carried out in the territory to obtain the PGI mark? Is one enough (as provided for in the European text of the law) or must they all be carried out? The answer will determine the success or failure of the entire operation.
REAL INNOVATION
The initiative has received positive feedback from the main local associations, including Confindustria, Confartigianato, CNA, Claai, CGIL and UIL. Agreements such as this memorandum of understanding are fundamental: they join forces and bring together skills and resources.
The goal is ambitious but clear: “to be among the first to be recognised as European excellence in craftsmanship”. It is a race against time that could redefine not only the image of the Fermo-Macerata district, but the entire Italian manufacturing landscape.
The game is on. And this time, it is not just entrepreneurs who are playing: entire communities are betting on their industrial future.
