Events

New York event explores Portugal’s role in premium footwear manufacturing

Jun 15, 2026 Portugal

Portugal’s growing importance in global footwear sourcing was the focus of a New York event on the 27th of May, which was attended by representatives from Reformation, Coach, Kate Spade New York, Revolve, Rag & Bone and Proenza Schouler

On the 27^th of May, executives from leading fashion and footwear brands, including Reformation, Coach, Kate Spade New York, Revolve, Loeffler Randall, Margaux, Rag & Bone and Proenza Schouler, gathered at The Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan to discuss the evolving dynamics of global footwear manufacturing and the growing importance of Portugal as a destination for sourcing premium and luxury footwear.

Against a backdrop of increasing uncertainty in the global supply chain, the conversation featured Paulo Gonçalves, executive director of APICCAPS (the Portuguese Footwear Association); Ana Correa, accessories and footwear strategist at WGSN; and Patricio Campillo, founder and creative director of Campillo.

According to Paulo Gonçalves, Portugal’s current position is the result of a long-term strategic transformation. “China is losing space in the market to other Asian countries, because there is always someone available to offer better prices. If we tried to compete on price, it wouldn’t have worked”, he said. “We study the brand and we try to make the right match. That’s our task”.

Over the last decade, the Portuguese footwear sector has invested heavily in modernisation. Through initiatives such as FAIST (Agile, Intelligent, Sustainable and Technological Factories) and the Portuguese Shoes Green Agenda, manufacturers have increased their capacity for automation, robotics, sustainability and traceability.

APICCAPS estimates that the industry has invested over 600 million euros in innovation and sustainability projects while exporting more than 90% of its production to over 170 international markets.

During the discussion, participants emphasised how the country’s manufacturing sector has evolved beyond the production of traditional leather footwear. Portuguese companies now manufacture a wide variety of products, including premium sneakers, fashion footwear, and items made from innovative, sustainable materials.

Campillo, whose brand produces footwear in Portugal, highlighted the value of the country’s specialised expertise. “When I visited Portugal, I had the possibility to dream about something and then have it made, which changed the equation entirely. You see how specialised manufacturers are, how much they know about their craft, how much tradition it takes to transmit this knowledge. It just resonates with our brand DNA”, he said

The discussion also addressed changing consumer expectations. According to Ana Correa of WGSN, durability, longevity and transparency are becoming increasingly important factors in purchasing decisions, particularly among younger consumers.

Correa also argued that manufacturers should be involved in the creative process from the outset as genuine collaborators. “It’s not just about making a product. It’s about working together to build the brand. That’s when both the manufacturer and the designer are happy with the result, and the consumer even more”, she said.

One of APICCAPS’s functions is facilitating that kind of match. The organisation collaborates with fashion design schools, such as the London College of Fashion, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and the French Institute of Fashion in Paris, to connect emerging designers with Portuguese factories and tanneries. APICCAPS has also supported the presence of Portuguese footwear at major international fashion weeks.

However, for Paulo Gonçalves, the industry’s greatest asset remains its people. He recalled visiting a factory in Felgueiras, near Porto, early in his career, where he watched a worker gently stroking each pair of shoes before placing them in their box. “It took so many years for me to understand that movement, that passion, that love. Portugal has so much to give and it’s not only about shoes”.

Source and Image Credits: businessoffashion.com

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