Although overall retail sales increased in the first half of the year, fashion sales fell, weighed down by weak demand in the early months, inflationary pressures and new tariffs. In this context, the online channel remains a bright spot, as consumers increasingly seek convenience and discounts. At the same time, footwear imports in the first seven months of the year recorded higher values but lower volumes, as average prices climbed under tariff pressure. Despite glimpses of improvement, retailers face a challenging road ahead, with fragile consumer sentiment and uncertain trade policy   

We spoke to Daphne Wattiez, the Founder of AKVO. This unisex footwear brand employs artisanal craftsmanship and bio-sourced materials, inspired by the Mediterranean beauty. Among other topics, we talked about the brand’s challenges and her perspective on the industry   

The World Footwear attended the 22nd edition of the Congress of the International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC) in Shanghai at the beginning of this month. Today we bring you a short film with the best moments of the event, which gathered shoe industry technicians from all over the world   

Taking place on the 24th of September during the SIMAC trade fair, in Milan, the FAIST seminar will present its main results. Speakers from CTCP will be in attendance, as well as representatives from the project’s participating companies   

While Brazilian footwear exports declined in August, mainly due to the impact of the 50% tariff imposed by the United States on Brazilian goods, imports from China surged