It is clear that the formula of Gallery Shoes is rewarding: a continuous renewal of the spaces and selection, and of the inspirational themes and information, which come together to create a unique marketplace that goes well beyond a simple platform of presentation for the new collections. “The event confirmed its dynamic progress with extremely positive developments – commented Igedo Managing Director and Gallery Shoes Project Director Ulrike Kähler – With the professional visitors in mind, there are new, exciting brands including firm favourites like Clarks, but also plenty of exciting newcomers like EYS, BNSM (Basics Natural Spirit in Motion) and Mythoo. We are also allocating, for example, the ‘Halle am Wasserturm’ to around 40 brands including Cinque Shoes and Colmar Footwear, as well as to 15 new brands such as Alba Moda, Manas and Womsh”.

Among the 350-plus exhibitors, representing 500 brands, there will also be a greater number of Italian exhibitors, thus reconfirming the strong interest expressed by the German market in Made in Italy.

At the same time, all the areas of the show will see new arrivals. The Premium zone dedicated to high design content will propose the style of the Italian brands Angelo Bervicato, Beyond, Cheville and Womsh; the Danish understatement of Et Al and the sensitivity of Royal RepubliQ; the western boots of Mexicana from France and the classic craft workmanship of Lottusse from Spain. The Urban zone will be showcasing international brands like Supertrash from Holland, Tiurai from Italy, and Refresh from Spain, alongside young trends and unconventional street styles. In the Contemporary Zone, we will find Angulus, which has been making handmade shoes in Denmark since 1904; Spanish brands like Johnny Bulls and Xti, French creations by Les Tropeziennes, Mexx from the Netherlands, and the German lifestyle brand Bugatti Woman. Many new additions will also join the Comfort Zone, with the ‘Alte Federnfabrik’ and ‘Glühofenhalle’ seeing the debut of brands like Aetrex and Samuel Hubbard from the USA, Barth Schuhbandl from Germany, Living Kitzbühel from Austria, TDO Therapy from Turkey and Tumar Art from Kyrgyzstan… Fully booked once again is the Kids’ area in the ‘Edelstahlhalle’, which for the first time will see the presentation of collections by brands like Mabelo and Playhoes from Germany, Tomm Shoes from Poland and Vicco from Turkey. A truly international selection that will not fail to inspire the over 9,500 professional visitors expected at Düsseldorf.

Plus, revolving around the show will be an accompanying line-up of events, presentations and discussions that will contribute to the appeal of the show, reconfirming it as a meeting place between international producers and buyers coming from all over Europe. Among the focuses of this edition will be included sustainability, which will be the protagonist in the presentation by Oeko-Tex, while also playing an important role in the granting of the Junior Award promoted by HDS-L (the Federal Association of the German Footwear and Leather Goods Industry), which awards the most innovative projects in the production of shoes, with this year’s theme based on ‘Sport meets fashion – open minded’. The other theme is digitalisation, which will allow for a more ‘connected’ experience at the fair, thanks to new digital tools at the main entrances of “Alte Schmiedehallen”, “Blankstahlhalle” and “Edelstalhlhalle”, tools that will even be available inside the shuttles and at the shuttle stops. The last focus is naturally dedicated to fashion, with the forecasts of MODEUROP, the official platform of the DSI-German Shoe Institute, and the calendar of fashion shows taking place at “Kaltstahlhalle” , where the participation of Marc Cain, Högl, Peter Kaiser and the Italian Tosca Blu have already been confirmed.

Many contents for an edition that promises to be dynamic: all that’s left to do is to await the market’s confirmation.