Its debut will be from 16 to 19 June 2018, when Expo Riva Schuh celebrates an important milestone of 90 years of activity and launches the new ‘Gardabags’ project. Protagonists of this new “show-in-a-show” will be the accessories, that is to say bags, small leather goods, gloves, hats, etc. -, as the productive expression of European and Asiatic firms (and especially Chinese, Indian, and Thai), which will be presented in a new exhibiting area conceived ad hoc, the Palavela, located on the lakefront and directly connected to the Congress Centre. “The Gardabags project came about from a specific request from the market – explains Carla Costa, Exhibitions Manager for Riva del Garda Fierecongressi. At the moment, there is no other event in Europe for the mid-segment of the accessories market and our project is aimed precisely at filling this gap. An analysis of visitors to Expo Riva Schuh reveals that around 20% of buyers who come here to Riva del Garda also purchase bags. With Gardabags, we aim to respond to these demands, while also attracting other buyers with the right product offering that combines Asiatic production with that of Italy, Spain and France. I would like to think that Gardabags could also become a place for young designers and their artisanal products.”

“Just as Expo Riva Schuh wanted to fill a gap that was present in the footwear industry 45 years ago, today, our event would like to fill the gap present in the sector of accessories with the debut of Gardabags”, underlines Roberto Pellegrini, President of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi Spa.

“The question that I am increasingly asked more and more often is how, edition after edition, Expo Riva Schuh is able to confirm its role as a key-event for the footwear manufacturing industry – comments Giovanni Laezza, Managing Director of Riva Del Garda Fierecongressi Spa at the opening press conference -. The answer is because Expo Riva Schuh has known how to take into stride and interpret, over time, on-going changes in the world of footwear, and as such, has known how to maintain, over time, a youthful and cutting-edge orientation”

Gardabags is the confirmation of this ability to take into stride, interpret, and stay ahead of changes and new trends in the market.