The retail landscape in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, the UK, the US and Japan remains uneven, with the footwear sector often trailing behind broader retail and fashion categories. Fragile consumer confidence, varying pricing power and cautious inventory management continue to weigh on the sector, while stronger digital sales have yet to translate into a broader footwear recovery   

Brazilian footwear exports continued to decline in August, with falls in both volume and value. Year-to-date figures also remained negative, while imports continued to increase   

German consumers are becoming more restrained in their fashion spending, while fit, comfort and conveniente, and value for money continue to dominate purchasing decisions, according to the GermanFashion Consumer Panel 2026   

As part of the FAIST project, Portuguese technical and safety footwear manufacturer AFM Safety Shoes has committed to developing automation-focused solutions that prioritise efficiency and sustainability   

The Italy-based group recorded a 15% year-on-year increase in revenue during the first half of 2026, driven by double-digit growth across all regions and strong DTC performance