With production still concentrated in Asia, the European footwear and apparel industries are navigating reindustrialisation, with value-added manufacturing, regulation and sustainability emerging as key factors
Artificial intelligence is being increasingly adopted across the footwear industry, with applications ranging from optimising design and production to managing the supply chain and creating smart footwear
In response to evolving market conditions, footwear companies are reshaping their business models through customisation, digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence
Innovation and technology were at the centre of a discussion on the future of the footwear industry. The speakers of an international conference held under the FAIST Agenda addressed issues such as production shifts, adoption barriers, and workforce transformation
Automation and robotics are shaping the future of footwear manufacturing. Amidst labour shortages and mounting competitive pressures, the sector is transforming the way shoes are produced
Having initially studied Communication Design, Mariana Monteiro transferred to the School of Arts and Design to pursue a more digitally oriented education. She is now in charge of communication at the sustainable shoe brand a.li.ás
Demographic change, evolving consumer preferences, technological innovation and increasing economic fragmentation are reshaping the global footwear industry, a theme explored at an international conference held under the FAIST Agenda
Portuguese tannery exports grew by 5.8% year-on-year up to September 2025, reflecting the recovery in external demand and the ongoing efforts of the sector to modernise production
The FAIST project aims to transform the Portuguese footwear industry by advancing automation, digital manufacturing, and sustainability. It plans to deliver 80 innovations under its 50 million euros investment
The expected growth in European defence investment could present an opportunity for the Portuguese footwear industry, which aims to double exports of technical footwear to 100 million euros by 2030
An international conference dedicated to the future of the Portuguese and European footwear industries was held as part of the FAIST project on the 18th and 19th of November
Data from the first nine months of the year shows that the Portuguese footwear industry is gaining ground in the main international markets, with year-on-year export increases of 3.8% in volume and 2.1% in value
The Portuguese slow luxury brand Via Essenza creates timeless bags in limited editions of 25 per collection. The first creation, the VIA backpack, is available to pre-order from the brand’s official website
The Portuguese company that specialises in the production of professional footwear, has set itself the target of producing and marketing a third of the Portuguese security and defence needs by 2030
A two-day international conference focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing the footwear industry will be held in Porto from the 18th to the 19th of November. The event is organised by APICCAPS and CTCP