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“Although a digital version is no replacement for a physical tradeshow, it is an important, supplementary tool that guarantees accessibility, continuity and service – and not only in the current unprecedented situation. We value this experience and the lasting added value for future hybrid formats. However, the physical event, as an anchor point for us and our partners from the fashion, shoes and accessories sectors, still remains absolutely indispensable.” Ulrike Kähler Managing Director of Igedo Company

The European Footwear Confederation (CEC) organised the fifth edition of the International Footwear Forum (IFF) on February 2, 2021. Held virtually, the IFF brought together 25 associations from 24 countries across the globe to discuss current common challenges for the footwear industry. Potential pathways toward the industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis were of course front and centre at this year’s Forum. As CEC President Luis Onofre put it in his opening speech, “we are here today in search of inspiration: how can we best help our industry survive and progress in this new reality?”. Two high-level speakers presented their views on the best strategies to restore growth and set forth key elements expected to shape the recovery. Denis Redonnet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Trade Enforcement Officer at DG Trade in the European Commission, insisted on the role of open and rules-based trade to underpin the economic recovery. Achim Berg, Senior Partner & Global Leader of McKinsey’s Apparel, Fashion, and Luxury group, highlighted the long-lasting changes brought about by the crisis and how disruptions in the supply chain and consumer behaviour have changed the playbook to succeed for good.

The wait will finally be over on 28 January 2021: at 9:30 am (CET), Gallery FASHION & Shoes will open the digital portals to its digital event, which will have the same authentic look and feel as the Areal Böhler in Düsseldorf. From 28 January until 15 February 2021, exhibitors, visitors and other key industry players will have 19 whole days to make the most of the digital order and information platform and its extended dates. “We are looking forward to the premiere of a digital order platform for fashion, shoes and accessories from the fashion destination of Düsseldorf. It was incredibly important to us to offer our partners an alternative that is appropriate and professional amid the current situation and that reflects our continuity, reliability and the best possible service. This also applies to our line-up with exclusive presentations and talks that, like at a physical event, can only be viewed once at the specified times.” Ulrike Kähler Managing Director of Igedo Company Gallery Project Director

Siro Badon: “Reintroduction of restrictive measures, compromised Christmas shopping and postponed recovery of demand will have serious repercussions for a sector that has seen a further drop in the number of active enterprises (-101 in the first 9 months of the year) and employees (down by about 2,600) in 2020. If component manufacturers are taken into account, the balance is even more negative: -231 enterprises and -3453 employees”. In the third quarter the dynamics recorded in the Italian footwear industry were somewhat less unfavourable, but still far from positive. This is the picture that emerges from the figures processed by the Confindustria Moda Research Centre on behalf of Assocalzaturifici, revealing a double-digit drop in the turnover of the companies surveyed during the period under examination (-26.6%). Only 14% of interviewees declared that they had exceeded, or at least matched, their turnover in the third quarter of 2019, while more than half of the panel reported a drop of -20 to -50%. These figures were matched by Istat's industrial production index, which registered -17.4% in the months between July and September. The drop since the start of the year is considerable, in all forms.