World Footwear Interview
Darla-Jane Gilroy from GFFC: the first anniversary has laid the groundwork, now we are building on it
In this second part of our interview with Darla-Jane Gilroy, Founder of GFFC, we talked about the coalition’s reflections on its first anniversary, the inaugural symposium attended by 150 invited delegates and the organisation's view of the future of the footwear industry
Darla-Jane Gilroy: the Global Footwear Future Coalition (GFFC) is uniting the industry
We spoke to Darla-Jane Gilroy, Founder of GFFC. In the first part of our interview, we talked about the creation of the coalition, its four main areas of action and the necessity of a collaborative, pre-competitive space to address systematic challenges within the footwear industry
Torben Schütz (HDS/L): the Barefoot European Shoe Fair is the beginning of a success story
We spoke to Torben Schütz, Deputy Managing Director at the Federal Association of German Footwear and Leather Goods Industry, to learn more about the upcoming Barefoot European Shoe Fair, the first of its kind in Europe. The preview takes place in the summer in Offenbach, close to Frankfurt
Elizabeth Semmelhack from the Bata Shoe Museum: It has been a remarkable 30 years
We spoke to Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator at the Bata Shoe Museum, to learn more about the preparations for the museum’s 30th anniversary. Among other topics, we talked about current and upcoming exhibitions
Maria José Ferreira from CTCP : BioShoes4All aims to position Portugal to lead in the development of sustainable solutions
We spoke to Maria José Ferreira, Director of Research at CTCP and Coordinator of the BioShoes4All project. We discussed some of the current environmental issues affecting the footwear industry and how Portugal is positioning itself to address these sustainability challenges
Paula Maestro from AIMPLAS: the ECOFAP project was born to give a useful life to the waste of the footwear industry
We spoke to Paula Maestro, a researcher at AIMPLAS and of the ECOFAP project, which aims to solve the problem of recycling leather offcuts in footwear manufacturing. We talked about the projects’ objective, partnerships and anticipated impact on the sector
Benjamin Majster: Last Engineers supports brands to achieve their sustainability goals
We continued our conversation with Benjamin Majster, CEO of Last Engineers, about how the platform encourages collaborations between design and production teams, sustainability and the future prospects of the startup
Benjamin Majster (Last Engineers) envisions a future where footwear customisation becomes standard
We spoke to Benjamin Majster, CEO of Last Engineers, his French startup that focuses on delivering the “perfect fit” for shoe lasts. In part 1 of the interview, we talked about the fit issue, his solution and Last Engineers’ focus on customer satisfaction
Nikolai Christensen: MOVV aims to build a loyal community of runners by creating products that bring joy and progress
We spoke to Nikolai Christensen, Founder of MOVV, to learn more about his new minimalist and functional Scandinavian footwear venture. We talked about the company’s mission, challenges and recent initiatives
Katrin Ley from Fashion for Good: shifting the fashion industry towards circularity by championing innovations
We spoke to Katrin Ley, Managing Director at Fashion for Good, a global platform for innovation. Among other topics, we talked about how Fashion for Good is driving circularity in the fashion and footwear industries through a collaborative approach
Sergio Dulio: all UITIC gatherings are unforgettable, but the next congress will set new standards
We spoke to Sergio Dulio, President of the International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC), to learn more about the next UITIC Congress in late August and early September 2025 in Shanghai, China. During our interview, Dulio delves into the significance of the event, its theme and what attendees can look forward to
Horacio Moschetto (CIC): we aim to adapt and position the Argentine footwear sector as a global benchmark
We spoke to Horacio Moschetto, who has headed the Chamber of the Footwear Industry from Buenos Aires since 2003. We discussed the current challenges and opportunities for Argentina’s footwear sector
Florbela Silva from CTCP: how is Portugal modernising its footwear industry?
We spoke to Florbela Silva, Head of Innovation and Digital Fabrication and CTCP FabLab, to find out more about the FAIST project, which aims to drive a significant reindustrialisation of the Portuguese footwear industry. During our interview, we discussed the project’s objectives, tools to be leveraged, partnerships and main outcomes
Richard Shetliffe from BFA: we will always look at ways that we can support and offer guidance
We spoke to Richard Shetliffe, a veteran of the footwear and accessories industry who was appointed CEO of the British Footwear Association a few months ago, to discuss the role of the association in light of the various challenges facing the UK industry
David Roubach from Balena: sustainability is part of innovation and innovation is part of the success of a brand
We spoke to David Roubach, Founder and CEO of Balena, a materials science company that’s been making waves with its advanced biopolymer material BioCir. The company’s mission is to help create a fully circular model for consumer goods. Let’s find out more-
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Footwear Consumer 2030
A study reflecting on the main global consumer trends and the key changes for the footwear industry.
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World Footwear Public Calendar
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Media Partners
Media Partners
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Shoe Intelligence
SERMA
La Conceria
Schuhkurier