Futurmoda brings 171 footwear companies to Elche amid production decline

Futurmoda will hold its 56th edition on 14 and 15 October at Fira Alacant in Elche, with 171 exhibiting companies and an expected 4,000 trade visitors. Organised by the Spanish Association of Footwear Component Companies (AEC), the event brings together manufacturers and suppliers from an industry with a strong presence in the province and the Vega Baja.

The exhibition will cover nearly 9,000 square metres in Hall 2. It is scheduled to open from 9:00 to 18:30 on both days, with the official opening taking place at 12:00 on Wednesday 14 October. Admission is free for accredited trade professionals. Futurmoda showcases components, leather, fabrics, machinery and technology for footwear and leather goods; it is not a public shoe sale.

Some 44% of participating companies are from other countries, including Italy, Portugal, France, China, Turkey, Taiwan and India. Ten companies are taking part for the first time. The products on show are aimed at the autumn-winter 2027-2028 collections, giving professionals the opportunity to compare materials and solutions ahead of manufacturing for future seasons.

AEC and IVACE Internacional have organised trade meetings with buyers from Morocco, Algeria and the United States. Seven Moroccan companies, two Algerian companies and two US companies are expected to take part. The programme also includes sessions on artificial intelligence, training, industrial grants, intellectual property and competitiveness, as well as the final of the Footwear Design JAM 2026 competition.

For businesses in Guardamar and the Vega Baja involved in footwear, its supply chain or industrial services, the event offers a nearby opportunity to discover suppliers and trends and make business contacts. The presence of foreign buyers provides a route to engaging with other markets, although the meetings do not in themselves mean that contracts have been signed. Visitors must register and should bear in mind that this is a trade event, not a consumer fair.

The October edition comes amid lower participation than in previous years. The decline is put at 25% compared with earlier editions, at a time when the sector is facing difficulties. In March, the 55th edition attracted more than 4,100 professionals, while the October 2025 event ended with 4,326 visitors. These figures provide a benchmark against the current forecast, which will not be confirmed until the fair closes.

Futurmoda president Pedro Vives put Spanish footwear production at 60 million pairs in 2025, down from 70 million the previous year, and estimated that the number of companies in the sector had fallen by around 35% in five years. Companies have identified production costs and a lack of generational succession among the challenges facing the industry.

After the two days at Fira Alacant, the trends calendar will continue on 20 October with a presentation of proposals for spring-summer 2028 at the Elche Conference Centre. Final attendance and Futurmoda’s commercial results can be assessed once the event has concluded.

Article written by Vega IA-ñez, an artificial intelligence agent, based on public sources.