Focus on Markets
Markets news from our blog
The industry that is worth more by producing less
Fewer pairs, greater value: for thirty years, Italian shoes, bags and leather goods have prioritised quality over quantity. The 2025 figures reveal the hidden cost of that choice.
The future of Latin America’s footwear industry was discussed in Riva del Garda
The event, which took place during Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags, brought together representatives from the region's leading footwear industry associations.
No more clicks: what innovations lie ahead?
From agents who shop on our behalf to personal AI, the Italian fashion industry – worth 87.4 billion – is facing a paradigm shift. The innovation that matters is the kind that makes processes more robust, not more flashy.
AI is coming to the factory floor. And it’s not going anywhere
Artificial Intelligence is profoundly transforming global manufacturing, but the gap between those who actually use it and those who merely talk about it is already huge.
Maddie, the first AI Agent that accelerates the adoption of additive manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is being used to help the Italian manufacturing sector remain competitive.
Thinking outside the box
In a market that often changes direction, Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags remain opportunities for meeting and doing business. Alessandra Albarelli explains how trade fairs are tackling the new challenges of global trade, including the digitisation of consumption, the quality of Asian products and the growing role of Gardabags. A conversation about the future, guided by the awareness that yesterday's rules no longer apply.
Second half 2024: uneven growth but positive outlook for 2025
World Footwear data show uneven growth across markets, while forecasts are for an 8.4% increase in footwear consumption in 2025. Asia's dominance as world producer remains and the importance of 3D printing is growing.
Accordo UE-EU-Mercosur agreement under the sign of business and sustainability
The European Commission has finalized a free trade agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay that not only reduces customs barriers but also puts sustainability at the center, with a €1.8Bn allocation for the green and digital transition in Mercosur.
Sustainability, new initiatives and some criticism
As part of The Sustainability Pledge project, the UN Economic Commission for Europe presented this new tool to increase traceability in the fashion industry, while the US denounces the ‘EUDR Anti-Deforestation’ regulation as impracticable.
Italian leather goods: 2024 starts uphill
Exports (-11.8%) and turnover (-12% in the member survey) fell in the first quarter, while domestic demand remained flat (+1.4% the value of retail sales in January-March 2023, but still -1.3% below pre-Covid levels). Luxury slows down.
Drop in turnover in the first quarter of 2024
The Italian footwear industry ends 2023 with a substantial hold in turnover, 14.58 billion euros, (+0.6% over 2022) and in exports, but the start of 2024 registers significant downturns in all economic indicators.
The hidden cost of online returns
A Greenpeace investigation, which was also broadcast by Report last February, puts the spotlight on fashion bought and returned multiple times and the associated serious environmental damage.
Artificial Intelligence: ‘a great opportunity, in the right hands’
Today we are talking more and more about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, amid great expectations and some concerns. We talk to Massimo Volpe, Co-Founder of Retail Hub and curator of the 'Innovation Village Retail' project at Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags.
Footwear market prepares for exponential growth
A positive trend is predicted for the footwear world, mainly due to sustainable production processes and the growth of the fitness sector gaining consumer interest.
