Resist and restart. These are the watchwords of the speech by the president of Assocalzaturifici Siro Badon, at the inauguration of Micam Milano Digital Show. The virtual fair opened on Monday, March 8. In 2020, the pandemic burned a fourth of the strength of the Italian footwear industry. The trend is not changing in the first quarter of 2021: if it continues into the second half of 2021, “the sector will have a dramatic future” says Badon (in the photo, right).
Resist and start again
In 2020, Coronavirus hit hard on the Italian footwear sector. “The data speak for themselves and the picture that emerges is not at all comforting – explains Badon -. We have lost about a quarter of national production and total turnover. In addition, we must record the drastic drop in consumption by Italian families, both in spending (-23.1%) and in quantities (-17.4%, equal to 26 million shoe-pairs less)”. Sneakers didn’t hold up either.
However, these are the models that have lost the least (-17.4% in value) after slippers. Online sales, which grew by 30% in value, only mitigated the collapse of tourist shopping in Italy. Exports fell by 14.7% in value. The number of active companies (4,152) and of employees (71,882) lost, in both cases, 4% on an annual basis. It is useless to compare layoffs’ authorised hours.
“We have to hold on, but in the second half we have to start again, otherwise the future will be dramatic – says Badon -. Aids do not turn the manoeuvres. Shoes are needed. We need to sell. And, if foreigners don’t come to Italy, politics must help us by giving us Italians the opportunity to go out and sell”.
Digital fair
Monday, March 8, was the first day of Micam Milano Digital Show, the virtual fair held instead of the physical one. About a hundred brands are participating. It will last until May 8. The business is completed with MicamX, the laboratory dedicated to innovation and cutting-edge proposals in the footwear world, which will offer over 60 meetings with the following key themes: Art, Fashion, Heritage & Future; Trends & Materials; Sustainability; The future of Retail. There will also be space for fashion trends on materials, developed by Lineapelle. And also for two dialogues on the intrinsic value of leather, by Lineapelle too.
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