MICAM: Global footwear epicenter
Between September 15 and 17, four fairs related to the fashion industry were held in Milan: MICAM MILANO (footwear), MIPEL (leather goods and accessories), MILANO FASHION AND JEWELS (jewelry, clothing, and accessories), and THE ONE MILANO (apparel), at the Fiera Milano (Rho) event center.
The same venue also hosted the supply sector with LINEAPELLE (leather, materials, and components) and SIMAC TANNING TECH (technology for footwear, manufactured goods, and tanneries), which ended on the 19th.
The combined fairs gathered 2,090 brands from over 60 countries, with international participation accounting for 47% of the total, as reported by ASSOCALZATURIFICI.
At MICAM MILANO, 932 footwear brands participated, 475 of which were Italian, and 457 from abroad, mainly from Spain, Türkiye, Brazil, Portugal, and Germany. The fair was a platform to discover new trends and technologies for manufacturers and buyers, showcasing the entire Spring-Summer 2025 collection.
In terms of attendance, 40,950 commercial visitors attended the first four events. In this regard, 140 countries represented 45% of the total attendance, with notable participation from the United States and Canada from North America; Japan and China from the Far East; and Germany, Spain, and France from Europe.
“Despite the current period of great uncertainty, MICAM continues to grow in terms of exhibitors and the number of brands represented, especially from abroad,” said the president of the fair and ASSOCALZATURIFICI, Giovanna Ceolini.
The diverse exhibitor offerings were complemented by a series of parallel activities, including EMERGING DESIGNERS, a space with 12 new designers from around the world who showcased their collections.
Additionally, a new "MICAM Academy" area was introduced, where schools were invited to learn more about the sector and spark interest in the footwear industry among young people.
MICAM X, among other initiatives, provided insights from experts and presented the Buyer’s Trend Guide for the season, highlighting materials and styles with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
The latest edition of the fair in Milan generally yielded positive results for its participants. The initial expectations were not promising, considering the poor summer season experienced by the retail sector, which had to stockpile much of its inventory. However, optimism was renewed for the upcoming season, and a good pace of business was achieved. Many exhibitors reported a promising level of sales, though with the caution and uncertainty brought by the current global economic situation.
The footwear industry is not immune to global events and thus reflects the widespread decline in consumption, weakened economies, inflationary processes, raw material shortages, and the growing international instability due to prolonged geopolitical conflicts with an unpredictable outcome.
In 2025, the 99th edition of MICAM MILANO will take place from February 23 to 25, while the celebration of the 100th edition will be held from September 7 to 9.
Some of the most outstanding models on the runways and in the Emerging Designers area.
