Footasia

Committed to building a conscious and sustainable future, the Portuguese footwear brand a.li.ás has just arrived on the market under the motto " Another Way . Another Time. Another Place " “ Another path to a sustainable future ” is the premise of a.li.ás, the footwear brand that just landed on the market and promises to take a revolutionary step towards a conscious and sustainable future. Debuting under the motto ‘Another Way. Another Time. Another Place’,  the brand seeks to usher in a new era of ecological, unisex and timeless footwear that respects the environment, diversity and the local economy . The Portuguese footwear industry counts now on a brand committed to leaving a responsible footprint on the planet in different areas. “ a.li.ás is the answer to an environmentally conscious generation  that values sustainability, the origin, and quality of materials and that is concerned about the planet's future. By choosing a.li.ás,  consumers have the opportunity to be...

Pineapple leather, also known as Piñatex, is a sustainable and cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather derived from pineapple leaf fibers. In the footwear industry, pineapple leather has gained popularity for its eco-friendly properties and versatility. Here are some common uses of pineapple leather in footwear: 1.  Uppers: Pineapple leather can be used as a substitute for animal-based leather in the creation of shoe uppers. The material is processed and treated to create a durable and flexible textile that can be shaped into different components of the shoe, including the outer layer. 2.  Lining and Insoles: In addition to uppers, pineapple leather can also be used for shoe linings and insoles. These components provide comfort, moisture-wicking properties, and a sustainable alternative to traditional materials. 3.  Trims and Details: Pineapple leather can be utilized for various trims and details in footwear, such as decorative elements, logos, patches, or accent...

Mushroom-based leather substitutes, also known as mycelium leather or mushroom leather, have gained attention in the footwear industry as a sustainable alternative to traditional animal-based leather. Here's how mushroom-based leather substitutes are being used:  1.Upper Materials:    Mushroom-based leather substitutes are used as alternative materials for the upper part of shoes. The mycelium, which is the root structure of mushrooms, can be grown and processed into a leather-like material that is then used to create various components of the shoe, including the outer layer.    2.Insole and Lining:   Mushroom leather can also be used as a sustainable alternative for insoles and lining materials in footwear. These components provide comfort and cushioning to the wearer and can be made using mycelium-based materials.  3.Sustainable Branding:   Some footwear companies are using mushroom-based leather substitutes as part of their sustainable bran...

Kering with double-digit drop in revenue The luxury group announced the results for the first half of the year, marked by double digit decline in revenue. Kering name this the toughest period they ever faced “It is fair to say that the first half of 2020 has been the toughest period we have faced - we stand in solidarity with all who are suffering through this situation and acknowledge the remarkable contribution of all our associates. Our results today underscore the extent of the disruption exacted by the pandemic on our operations. Even more importantly, the resilience of our performances validates our model and supports our confidence that we will come out of this crisis even stronger. We entered 2020 in a particularly solid position - our global scale, the desirability and agility of our brands, and our values of sustainability and responsibility, all are key assets in weathering current conditions. Our strategic vision is only reinforced by the crisis and, with the be...

The US-based footwear giant has announced second quarter results. Sales declined by 42.0% overall. However, Skechers is optimistic with growth in China, improvement in many markets and jump on ecommerce “Skechers, like most businesses around the world, has never faced a more challenging time than during the pandemic, which caused the closing of nearly every market worldwide. COVID-19 continues to be a serious concern globally, and the health and welfare of our team, partners and customers remain our number one priority (...) We are hopeful that global economies will continue to improve, and as they do, we will continue to operate efficiently and judiciously during this pandemic.”, commented Robert Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer. According to David Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer, “the impact of COVID-19 to Skechers’ business was significant in the second quarter as we saw much of the world outside Asia shutter nearly all businesses”. Nevertheless, Skechers is opti...

Promoted by the European Commission, through the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and DG GROW (Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs), the campaign is presenting itself to young people This time the initiative is presented to students from the Polytechnic Institutes of Lisbon and Leiria, with the program aiming to lead them to discover areas complementary to their own.  After some physical and digital initiatives, the program is now targeting polytechnic students at this stage. Through newsletters and communication on the social networks, the Open Your Mind project will play a role in attracting young people under 30 to the Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear sectors. In addition to the students at the Polytechnic of Lisbon and Leiria, the campaign will also develop an action with the European Blue Flag Association (ABAE), disseminating the information at the level of secondary education, vocatio...

In face of the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic, the organisers of All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE), APLF and the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) have decided to postpone the 2020 event for next year China has enforced 14-day quarantine orders which would make it impossible for international exhibitors and visitors to attend ACLE. On top of that, on the 3rd of July, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Public Security and the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China jointly issued a COVID-19 Safety and Prevention Guidelines for the Organisation of Exhibitions, requesting that "large-scale, foreign-related exhibitions be held cautiously", with strict requirements including limiting the number of attendees. "Under these circumstances and after several in-depth communications, the organisers, in view of the health and safety of our exhibitors and buyers and the impact on the exhibition, made the hard decision to announ...

Exports of the leather sector have been severely affected so far this financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aqeel Ahmed Panaruna, Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports stated Provisional data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics indicates that in 2019-20 exports declined by 10.89% to roughly 5.07 billion US dollars from 5.69 billion US dollars in 2018-19. “Only about 10% of exports was achieved in March 2020 due to COVID-19. For combined April and May 2020 we achieved only 17% or 128.52 million US dollars in exports when compared to 757.11 million Us dollars in April-May 2019”, Mr. Panaruna is being cited by TheHindu. The same source says that while exports of leather, leather products and footwear stood at 442 million US dollars in June 2019, only 35% of that is expected for June 2020 due to the continuing lockdown. Assuming the lockdown ends, the expectation is that in July percentage could increase to 50%, and that the si...

From the 22nd to the 23rd September 2020 Lineapelle will take place at Fieramilano Rho, showcasing together with all fashion exhibitions of made in Italy Lineapelle has announced the news today and have said it will move into as smart event on its next edition. The event is called A New Point of View and it will take place on the 22nd and 23rd of September 2020 at the Fieramilano Rho, at the same time as Micam, Mipel, The One and Homi Fashion & Jewels. "Five trade shows, united, to underline the liveliness of the Italian fashion chain and lifestyle that, even if it was toughly hit by the situation of socioeconomic instability caused by the health emergency, reacts putting in play all of its creativity and renewed commitment to sustainability and innovation of the companies that are part of it", the organisers said. Conscious that a change in format was required in order not to risk a lack of concreteness to the real needs of operators. Lineapelle has decided to devel...

The Eco-design Guide for the Footwear Industry developed under the Life GreenShoes4All project intends to be a short guide to support companies that want to incorporate eco-design in the development of lower environmental impact footwear Eco-design can be defined as the “integration of environmental aspects into product design and development, with the aim of reducing adverse environmental impacts throughout a product’s life cycle” and should be applied at an early stage in the product development phase leading to improved design specifications. The aim is to develop new sustainable products, minimizing the environmental impact throughout the product’s life cycle, without compromise performance, functionality, quality, safety, ergonomics and cost. It is necessary to find the right balance to develop footwear products that fulfil the environmental requirements, the company business and consumer expectations. Currently, there are available several methods and tools to sup...

Daniel Langer, Chief Executive of Luxury, Lifestyle and Consumer Brand Strategy from firm Équité, believes half of the luxury brands around the world will fail to survive the COVID-19 crisis Mr. Langer commented: “The brands that claim to be luxury companies yet don’t create extreme value will be the first to go. In other words, the ones that think charging high prices is equal to luxury”, as reported by footwearbiz.com. The argument is that calling products or experiences as luxury based only on the idea that they are expensive will turn to be a fatal error for brands. The consultant argues that true luxury brands have to focus on delivering “significant value” to customers so that customers are willing to pay “a significant price” for what they receive. Not long-ago Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of luxury leather goods brand Loewe, said the word luxury had lost its meaning and called out for a need to “articulate luxury differently” Source: footwearbiz.com

Data prepared by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) indicates that 2.7 million pairs were shipped in May, generating 23.9 million US dollars of revenue. This resulted in decreases both in volume (-64.7%) and in value (-66%) The new coronavirus pandemic keeps impacting the results of Brazilian footwear exports. Data prepared by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) indicates that 2.7 million pairs were shipped in May, generating 23.9 million US dollars of revenue, and resulting in decreases both in volume (-64.7%) and in value (-66%) when compared to similar month in 2019. With this result, in the first five months of 2020 Brazilian footwear exports totaled 39.53 million pairs and 294.9 million US dollars, declining by 22.1% and 28.7%, respectively, compared to similar period in 2019. Abicalçados' Executive President, Haroldo Ferreira, highlights this is an expected result as orders have been shrinking since the beginning ...

While we have been encouraged to stop overconsumption for many years now, this pandemic may have created the perfect opportunity for this shift in consumer behaviour to happen. What business tips arise from here? COVID-19 has been adding economic uncertainty to the picture. This added to the already existing sustainability concerns, take consumers apart from mass consumption. As a consequence, reduces mass production in fashion. Transparency, in turn, plays a central role in demonstrating the firm’s commitment to sustainable and social concerns. Be aware of money consciousness In the face of an uncertain economic prospect, people will shop sensitively and safely. Provide quality at price deals A quicker response to the current reality implies that brands and retailers should consider offering accessible price deals for quality products to address the demands of rational, price-conscious, consumers post-outbreak. Embrace the circular economy model Responding to ...

Riva del Garda Fierecongressi has established the new dates for the next edition of Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags: 11th-14th December 2020, wishing to give a positive impulse towards a return to commercial exchange at international level “In a constantly evolving context, such as that in which we operate, exceptional decisions sometimes need to be taken: our new choice of dates for Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags aims to safeguard the target markets of these two events. Over the past two months, we have maintained a constant flow of dialogue with exhibiting companies and buyers, both via an on-line survey and direct discussions with Representative Institutions and International Agencies. As a result of this careful analysis and opinion-seeking, what has emerged is a common desire not to accept the moment passively, but to react, aiming to turn the crisis into an opportunity”, commented the Chairman of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Roberto Pellegrini. Riva del Garda Fierecon...

In a country with roughly 99 thousand cases, all the regions are now at different stages of their return to business. Some activities have opened and others, such as restaurants, will open within the next few weeks All provinces in Canada are at different stages of return to business. In the province of Quebec, all retails stores are now opened including store located in malls with the only exception being Montreal (expected to take place in the coming week). Dentists, physiotherapist, parks, boardwalks, construction, amongst other activities, are now fully operational. Restaurants are preparing their opening to happen in the next two weeks or so. Gatherings up to 10 people are allowed, however, social distancing is still recommended as well as the wear of masks when going in public. So far, and according to the latest figures Canada has roughly 99 160 cases of people infected with Covid-19. The casulaties are slighly over 8 000, with a high percentage taking place...

In an interview to Bloomberg TV Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of Italy-based luxury company Prada, said that sales of the brand in China rose significantly more than 10% in May compared The luxury brand’s CEO continued and added this is still far from being enough for a complete recovery of the luxury sector after the end of the Covid-19 driven lockdowns. Mr. Bertelli added that this increase is far from being sufficient to a complete recovery of the luxury sector and that Europe remains a problem. This is partly due to the fact that the European luxury sector is driven by tourist sales and, even after the lockdowns are lifted, tourism across the continent is expected to remain in low levels, especially while no vaccine is available. Prada's CEO added that the company is looking forward to demand recovering more consistently worldwide with no plan to delist the company. Source: Bloomberg

The US-based footwear brand Steven Madden reported a first-quarter loss of 17.5 million US dollars, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. The company has felt the hit of the Covid-19 pandemic "After a strong 2019, we got off to a good start to 2020, with revenue and earnings trending above plan through the first two months of the year and very positive consumer reaction to the Spring product in our flagship Steve Madden brand. Beginning in March, however, our business weakened materially due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, our top priority has been protecting the safety and well-being of our employees and the broader community, followed by ensuring the long-term viability and strength of our business. As we look ahead, we are confident that our strengths – including our brands, business model and balance sheet – will enable us to navigate this crisis and to thrive once conditions normalize", commented Edward Rosenfeld, Cha...