The doors open to the new Autumn-Winter 2025/26 season. As always, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags leads the way. It does so certain of its ability to offer visitors a unique business experience, featuring over 1,000 exhibitors, including companies and brands, from approximately 40 countries.

However, there is no overlooking the widespread crisis that continues to affect the international footwear and accessories markets, the fashion industry as a whole and many other sectors. A study conducted by World Footwear in the first half of this year confirmed a sharp decline in the footwear industry in 2023, although many remain optimistic about a strong recovery in the coming months. Factors contributing to the crisis include high raw material costs, insufficient international demand and intense competition in domestic markets.

So, why invest time and resources in Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags?

Because this prominent international event could prove to be an effective antidote to the challenges of the global economy. 

The careful and well-balanced selection of exhibitors aims to provide buyers with a wide range of potential business partners, diverse in origin, production capacity and quality, product types and pricing. It represents the most significant global opportunity to identify new suppliers that best meet sourcing demands.

The 50,000 square metres of exhibition space, complemented by three hotels (Astoria Resort, Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort, Grand Hotel Liberty), will host, among others, the established and extensive Asian manufacturing delegations, particularly from China, including groups such as Yaquitè, Wenzhou Woil, Wenzhou Bobo, Ningbo Jade, Guangdong Province Qizhan Industrial and Xiamen Luocheng. National and international representatives from the most important trade associations and industry organisations will also be present, including those from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, India, Turkey, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

A positive sign is the return to the fair of major brands such as Aerosoles, Pampili and Mustang, along with the continued presence of Imac/Primigi, Valleverde, Geox, Marina Galanti, US Golf Club, Armata di Mare and Nazareno Gabrielli, to name just a few.

 Equally well-founded are expectations regarding the retailers attending the fair.

Registrations confirm the participation of buyers from approximately 100 countries, 70% of whom are either owners or head buyers. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that 25% of buyers are coming from Africa, mostly from sub-Saharan regions. In addition, over 100 hosted buyers selected by the fair – from 32 countries – will be attending for the first time. These include retailers representing more than 2,600 points of sale. If we also consider the long-standing participants from previous editions, who will also return for the 102nd edition, the total number of represented points of sale will reach 8,358.

Thanks to numerous initiatives aimed at connecting supply and demand through non-traditional methods, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags reaffirms its status as a strategic platform for seizing business opportunities.

One such example is the Digital Connection App, which enables users to precisely identify the most suitable companies for their needs, establish direct contact and plan visits. For the first time this year, the exhibition will also feature a dedicated pathway for those seeking products for infants and children.

The Market Focus sessions represent another unique opportunity to facilitate connections between exhibitors and buyers. They provide a chance to explore prospects and trends in major global markets.

At Riva del Garda, deals are often finalised after-hours, perhaps even at a hotel or local restaurant. Similarly, strong relationships are often built during the Expo Riva Nights – relaxed evenings organised by the fair to bring the footwear and bag community together and facilitate networking. In January 2025, with the support of numerous partners*, a special guest will enliven the evening: Amii Stewart and her band will perform in the show “Back to My Roots”.

Challenges are overcome with perseverance, vision, a touch of luck and above all, the right information – a crucial aspect Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags has been careful not to overlook. Throughout the exhibition, the Innovation Village Retail and Startup Competition will once again take centre stage, offering advanced solutions for distribution, with the participation of nine startups (seven Italian, one French and one American) selected by partner Retail Hub. The fair’s Scientific Committee – composed of Enrico Cietta from Diomedea, Matteo Pasca from Arsutoria and Alberto Mattiello from Retail Hub – along with a panel of expert judges, including buyers and exhibitors, will declare the winner, recognised for their presentation of the most innovative project.

In this complex and ever-changing moment in time, understanding and carefully evaluating consumer trends is more crucial than ever. Addressing this need is the Highlights Area, which, in collaboration with Arsutoria, provides visitors with insights into the latest fashion and consumer trends, offering practical suggestions on the most interesting models to purchase, thanks to collections from 15 exhibitors selected by the Fashion Committee.

The opening of the new dining area in Hall D, following the inauguration of the new multi-storey car park in 2024, further demonstrates how the Riva del Garda exhibition continuously evolves.

With so many innovations, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags reaffirms its status in 2025 as the premier destination for developing international business, despite the ongoing challenges and uncertainties affecting the industry.

*Expo Riva Nights:

Partner

Wenzhou Woil Import And Export Co

Wenzhou Bobo Shoes International Co., Ltd.

 

Contributor

Guangzhou Yaqite Industrial Co., Ltd.

China Leather Publisher co. Ltd.

Guangdong Province Qizhen Industrial Co., Ltd.

Uts

Ningbo Jade International Co., Ltd.

Xiamen Luocheng

G&F Co., Ltd.

Xiamen L&C Int’l Exhibition Co., Ltd.

Guangzhou Newtop Exhibition Business Co. Ltd.

One might have the idea that a trade fair is a stationary, immobile, sometimes unchanging institution that calls to itself the actors that animate it. This is not the case with Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags, which has always been devoted to capturing the moods of the market and, to do so, moves and visits the main manufacturing countries in the footwear, handbags and accessories sphere, as well as seeking contact with the world of distribution. This is what Mauro Di Molfetta, Gardabags project manager, has also done in recent months, and we now ask him to take stock of the state of health of leather goods internationally.

Di Molfetta knows the world of handbags, accessories and luggage well by frequenting it, in different roles, for about 30 years. First as head of foreign promotion for Aimpes and Mipel, then as export manager and sales network manager for top brands in the apparel and footwear sectors, and finally as sales director of Mipel, before coming to Riva del Garda.

As part of the Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags Around the World program, he recently visited several markets, including China, India and Turkey.

“During our travels we talked with many entrepreneurs and, for all of them, the main theme is the sharp slowdown in orders that is pushing them to look for new partners and new outlets.”

 

Let’s start with China…

“China is confirmed as the leader on the leather production front in terms of volume, synthetic materials and leather accessories production, and, it goes without saying, also in the production of the finished product.

During our missions to some of the most important production districts in the country, we have found that, today, companies need to travel, investigate new marketplaces and open new business channels. Basically, they have the need to find new customers. Evidently, interactions between customers and suppliers have changed as well as orders have been greatly reduced. A situation of uncertainty exacerbated by the geopolitical dynamics of war compounded by the election of the new U.S. president and the breezy policies focused on tariffs.

It is precisely the duties and rising labor costs in traditional leather manufacturing districts, where there is good production capacity and quality, that could reinforce the trend to relocate Chinese manufacturing activities to other countries, such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and India. Countries that stand to be the new frontiers of leather goods production. The dynamics of Chinese offshoring, among other things, as a side effect, is producing the growth of indigenous manufacturing entities. Starting from owning a family tannery, they are finding themselves structured as large footwear and leather goods groups.

Also worth noting is the formation of new production districts where product prices are competitive, but with lower quality.”

 

What characterizes India, however?

“While the tanneries are located in the Chennai area, the vast majority of production is still located in Calcutta, with companies with more industrialized processes than other districts such as those in Noida, near Dehli. It is a market characterized by many small-to-medium family businesses (in this it bears similarities to the Italian manufacturing company) devoted to the production of leather products mostly exported to the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.

Indian companies face a variety of problems such as, for example, the sourcing of PU and small metal parts that must necessarily be purchased in China since they do not have the complete supply chain in house. In addition, they have greater constraints than standards for processing leather and raw material in general. Factor that affects production costs to the detriment of competitiveness.

Even in the case of India, which has been working with signatures for a certain type of production for years, the decline in orders for the high-end product pushes companies to look for new partners offering to work even for more commercial level orders. This is why they find Gardabags’ platform interesting as a hub where they can weave new business relationships.

It is also interesting to note the growth of the domestic market. A population with high spending capacity is expected in the future. An interesting fact when you consider that India is the most populous country in the world and more than 70 percent of the population is under 35 years old.”

 

One market that rose to prominence in the pandemic years and soon after is Turkey.

“Unfortunately, recent data confirm that 2024 was also not a good year for Turkey. Their exchanges have been greatly burdened by the inflationary push that has brought great fluctuations to their price lists. A situation that buyers do not like. Large Turkish manufacturers have been less affected, but small and medium-sized companies all along the supply chain have been in great difficulty. Leather goods exports have suffered declines of 20 to 30 percent. Italy remains the country with the highest share (11.3 percent), followed by Germany (10.7 percent).”

 

What growth markets might be surprising?

“Vietnam, after gaining good market share on footwear production, is also entering the leather goods sector. The real surprise could be Bangladesh, where there is really ferment, and Pakistan. Many are already working with international brands. We would be very pleased to bring a representation of them to Riva del Garda, and we are working in that very direction.”

 

Of signs of recovery, is no one talking?

“Right now, no. Stagnation is confirmed. Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags could be a very good tool for tracking it or at least limiting its effects. The balances are very delicate and the markets are changing much faster than before. What was believed to be established until a year ago can be disproved if you are not present and constantly confronting the market thanks to platforms like our event, where you can meet the most important players from the most representative production districts.”

An increasingly comprehensive trade fair that not only offers flourishing business opportunities, but also events and meetings to spread industry knowledge, trend discovery, insight into global markets and the latest creations in technology and innovation. Through all these avenues, the aim is to consolidate and expand trade, the development of the entire sector and the creation of new professional relationships. The players and protagonists of world fashion will find themselves at Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags, the place for sharing experiences and possibilities.

 

Below is the detailed programme of all the opportunities not to be missed during these four days of the fair:

 

SATURDAY 11 January:

●       

●      h. 11 am-12.30 pm.: Inauguration in the Theatre (Hall D) – Management presents the event in the presence of authorities and institutions

●      h. 3.00-4.00 pm.: Market Focus Asia (registration only) – Buyers Lounge (Hall C1)

●      h. 4.00-4.30 pm: Trend Analysis F/W 25-26: Women’s Shoes – Highlights Area (Hall D)

●      h. 4.30-5.30 pm: Market Focus America (registration only) – Innovation Village (Hall B2)

●      h. 7.00-12.00 pm: Expo Riva Nights (registration only) – Palavela

 

SUNDAY 12 January

 

●      h. 10.00-10.30 am: Trend Analysis F/W 25-26: Men’s Bags – Highlights Area (Hall D)

●      h. 11.30 am-12.30 pm: Innovation Village Input #1 – Theatre (Hall D)

●      h. 2.00 – 2.30 pm: Trend analysis F/W 25-26: Sneakers – Highlights Area (Hall D)

●      h. 2.30 – 3.30 pm: Innovation Village Input #2 – Theatre (Hall D)

●      h. 3.30-4.30 pm: Market Focus Europe (registration only) – Buyers Lounge (Hall C1)

●      h. 4.30-5.30 pm: Fashion and market trends for the DACH market (registration only) – Highlights Area (Hall D)

 

MONDAY 13 January

 

●      h. 10.00-10.30 am: Trend Analysis F/W 25-26: Women’s Bags – Highlights Area (Hall D)

●      h. 10.30-11.30 am: Market Focus Africa and Middle East – Buyers Lounge (Hall C1)

●      h. 11.30 am-12.30 pm: Innovation Village Input #3 – Theatre (Hall D)

●      h. 2.00-2.30 pm: Trend Analysis F/W 25-26: Men’s Shoes – Highlights Area (Hall D)

●      h. 3.00-4.30 pm: Startup Competition – Theatre (Hall D)

 

Scan the QR CODE to follow the programme updates online!

Perhaps not everyone knows that Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags was not born as an entrepreneurial business devoted solely to a stringent profit logic. Riva del Garda fair was born to provide the territory, which lived largely on seasonal tourism, with an opportunity to work throughout the year. Bringing people to the area and bringing the local economy to life was the real mission, and it still is today, albeit with broader horizons.

“Profit is a means for businesses to achieve other ends. With this purpose Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags was born and continues to work. The purpose is to provide benefits to the territory,” Professor Ericka Costa confirmed during the presentation of data from a research study she led, together with colleague Michele Andreaus, and carried out by the Department of Economics and Management of the University of Trento.

The purpose of the survey is to provide a balance of the socioeconomic impact that Riva del Garda Fierecongressi’s exhibition-congress activity has had on the local economy. Spoiler: the crucial role of the company led by Roberto Pellegrini as a growth engine for the area is confirmed.

 

In 2023, the total impact (composed of direct, indirect and induced) produced by trade fairs and congresses will exceed 57 million euros. The direct impact, generated through supplier expenses (18.6 million euros), overnight stays (16.9 million euros) and extra-hotel expenses (8.4 million euros) exceeds 44 million euros, between exhibition (26 million euros) and congress activity (over 12 million euros).  The indirect and induced impact, related to the production interdependencies generated by the exhibition-congress activity, amounts to 12.9 million euros (2.2 million euros from suppliers, 10.7 million euros from exhibitors, visitors and fitters). The trade fair activity accounts for 60 percent of the direct and 65 percent of the indirect input, while the congress activity contributes 40 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

 

Specifically, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags produced a total induced revenue in overnight stays of 7,422,148 euros, while extra-hotel expenses in favor of the territory – between exhibitors, visitors and stand builders – amounted to 2,506,516 euros in January and 2,618,007 in June.

 

Figures that in themselves might be of much value to those who live in the area while little to those in the footwear and leather goods industry. In reality it says a lot to them as well, because it tells of an event that is not bound by political or entrepreneurial logics typical of the trade fair scene, but that having as its mission ‘the good of the territory’ enjoys the freedom to move, evolve, renew and innovate to ensure that the events it organizes are always fruitful and useful for those who attend them, so as to convince them to return.

 

“In recent years, our Society has faced unprecedented challenges, demonstrating an exceptional ability to adapt and innovate to respond in a timely manner to the needs of a constantly evolving market, thus maintaining our leadership at the international level. The research confirms this and confirms us in our willingness to continue to propose initiatives that facilitate business for both exhibitors and visitors and the territory,” said Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi.

How has the Turkish footwear market evolved in recent years? What is its current structure?

Türkiye is a benchmark country in footwear production with an annual production capacity of 550 million pairs. We also have the largest production capacity in Europe. We distinguish ourselves from our Asian competitors with our high-quality production and design expertise. Until 2023, Türkiye was a net exporter of footwear. In 2022, we achieved $1.3 billion in exports and closing the year with a surplus of $338 million. However, from the last quarter of 2022 onwards, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict situation in the Middle East, combined with the global economic slowdown, also led us to feel the impact of the contraction in global demand. Over the past two years, we have faced an undesirable situation largely driven by developments specific to the Turkish economy. However, we believe this temporary phase will end soon, and we will stride confidently toward our medium-term target of $3 billion in footwear exports. The fact that global brands have started researching production in Türkiye, especially the possibility of manufacturing in alternative locations during the Trump era, will be a development that will bring Türkiye to the forefront.

What kind of products are consumers looking for in Turkish footwear?

In general, and not only in Turkey, consumers are always looking for the highest quality products at the most affordable price.  This general motivation remains constant, even as trends change periodically. Since the pandemic, the demand for sports and comfortable footwear has continued to grow, where technological advances have been particularly important. With regard to material technology, innovations in uppers and soles have increasingly focused on lightweight and durable materials, while interest in sustainable and recyclable products has increased.  I can confidently state that Türkiye has the capacity to produce footwear in every category. We are now focusing more on designing innovative, high-value products with strong brand equity and adapting our capacity to achieve this goal. The Turkish footwear industry has a strong presence in leather footwear production with its design and high-quality production, as well as a serious capacity in sneakers, slippers. With a favorable investment climate, I see no obstacle to Türkiye becoming one of the most important footwear suppliers to high-consumption markets such as Europe and the U.S.

What are your target markets for exports?

The U.S. undoubtedly tops our list of target markets. With $28 billion in imports, the U.S. is the largest footwear importer in the world. Türkiye’s exports to the U.S. currently stand at $25-30 million, on the other hand we aim to increase this volume to $200 million in the short term and $700-$800 for the medium term. Additionally, we believe there is significant potential to grow our market share in Europe (especially the EU), the Middle East, Gulf countries, Russia and Turkic Republics.

How do ‘Made in Türkiye’ footwear products stand out and earn recognition?

As mentioned before, Türkiye has a strong presence in leather footwear production with design- oriented footwear and high-quality production. It strengthens its position with its proximity to the market, fast delivery, the ability to produce even in small quantities and repeat order production during the season. I believe these key factors distinguishing us from countries in Asia that focus on large-scale production. By adding innovation and sustainable production to design, we can increase value-added products and continue on a different path than our competitors.

What role does the Expo Riva Schuh trade fair play for the Turkish footwear industry?

Expo Riva Schuh is a key event that occupies a prominent place in our trade fair calendar because it is the first event of the season where buyers can get to know the new collections and it serves our manufacturers as a meeting place where they can show off the production power and quality of Turkish footwear and forge business relationships. Moreover, as companies from all over the world participate, it offers our companies an important opportunity for comparison. Some 130 Turkish companies will be present at the January edition of Expo Riva Schuh. We have been organizing the AYMOD International Footwear Fashion Fair in Istanbul for over 30 years with this perspective. In September, we held the 71st edition of AYMOD, which is Europe’s largest fair in its field. We hosted nearly 7.000 international visitors from around 100 countries, including Italy. In addition to AYMOD, we highly value international fairs that connect our companies with global buyers as a means of promoting our industry. In this context, we actively support the participation ofour companies in Expo Riva Schuh.

In the new FW25 collection Tamaris continues last season’s success story by focusing, for trainers, on lightness and comfort ensured by the new Step-In technology, flexible soles and a waterproof membrane in the inner lining. Then there are the ‘Retro Match’ trainers, inspired by sports icons, and characterised by high-quality leather combinations, striking stitching and a colour palette centred on green and burgundy. For business and everyday life we find T-bars and Mary Janes with a rebellious attitude. Not forgetting the new Tamaris Step-In technology, which, thanks to the innovative flexible back counter and elastic laces, allows the shoe to be put on quickly and easily even without the help of a shoehorn.

The FW 2025 collection is inspired by the four worlds that gave life to the brand’s DNA, reinterpreting them through the use of new materials. We have Turin, the city at the foot of the Alps, where the brand was born at the beginning of the 20th century and, with it, the mountain, symbol of its geographical origins; rubber, a material that founder Walter Martiny used to produce rubber boots that improved health conditions for workers in rice fields and factories; vulcanisation, an innovative technique that has elevated simple materials to strong and durable products, an example of which is the legendary 2750 trainer, which celebrates 100 years in 2025; sport, which since its tennis origins and through various sports disciplines over the years, continues to represent the beating heart of the brand.

Founded in 1946, The Sebago® Company was started by three friends originally from New England, a land of rivers and lakes, forests and mountain ranges, spectacular ocean coastlines and soft sandy beaches. The three Boys’ love of nature and the outdoors was transferred into their first collections of shoes and clothing, with their choice of premium, long-lasting materials, attention to detail and design that goes beyond current fashions to embrace a practical lifestyle that values comfort.

Registered in more than seventy countries, PETER KAISER was acquired at the end of 2023 by the shoe manufacturer CAPRICE in Pirmasens, a subsidiary of Wortmann Schuh-Holding KG in Detmold, one of Europe’s largest shoe production and distribution companies. The relaunch of the brand started with the S/S 2025 collection, which is already available in more than 700 specialised shops throughout Europe, to which the new PETER KAISER outlet at the CAPRICE headquarters will be added from March 2025. While elegant pumps made of premium materials continue to be at the forefront of the PETER KAISER offering, the range has been expanded to include trainers and other casual styles, and the shoe lasts have been adapted to make them even more comfortable.

The historic Made in Italy luxury fashion house founded in 1886 presents its new F/W25-26 collection in Florence, at Pitti Uomo: a perfect synthesis of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design. The collection includes three new trainer models, each with distinctive details that reflect the brand’s heritage and sporty elegance. These include a reinterpretation of the classic Penalty model, which retains the original design enriched with a leather upper and suede inserts. The model is characterised by a play on contrasting colours (green, pink, light blue) and a light rubber sole, while the three-star Pantofola d’Oro logo, embossed in relief, is a distinctive mark that characterises the side of the shoe.