The question of sustainability in the footwear industry is to take precedence in June at the annual Expo Riva Schuh in Riva del Garda, Northern Italy. The opening ceremony, scheduled for 11am on Saturday the 15th, will consist of talks exploring the sustainability of production – both as it pertains to the fashion industry as well as more generally – in an increasingly eco-conscious retail and consumer market.
The expo will run until the 18th of June in tandem with the redesigned Gardabags expo, centred around the bags and accessories industry. This is the first time the two events will have taken place in parallel, with both being hosted at the Riva del Garda Exhibition Centre. Some of Expo Riva Schuh’s operations will also take place at local hotels, as well as the waterfront Riva del Garda Congress Centre.
“The combination of the two events ensures a comprehensive exhibition experience for buyers, with a truly 360-degree view across the available range of accessories,” said Giovanni Laezza, manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi which owns and operates both the Exhibition and Congress centres. Mr Laezza went on to observe that the event has already attracted “a significant number of Italian manufacturers, a sound growth compared to previous editions, along with Asian and European manufacturers.”
In addition to hosting the 70 exhibitors of Gardabags, Pavilion D will host the new HangarD, a multi-functional space for events, interviews and B2B dedicated meetings. “We have set out to especially enhance the visual side of the new space,” said Carla Costa, head of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi Trade Fair Area. “Hanging lighting, shapes, spaces and materials have been harmonised in a concept that enhances fashion trends and fosters the pooling of supply and demand.”
For more information, visit exporivaschuh.it.
