This year’s Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags from 17 to 20 June 2023 will be the 99th edition and organisers are planning a hugely successful event aimed at fostering business in the footwear and leather goods industry. Two new halls will be opened to host extra exhibitors and additional visitors.
The international manufacturing industry is returning en masse to Riva del Garda following the success of the last two post-pandemic editions. Halls A1 and A3 will be opened to create more exhibition space, filling the exhibition centre to its utmost capacity.
More than 40 countries will participate, including China – with strong representation of all major production districts – Brazil, India, Turkey and Europe. This further demonstrates the truly global nature of the event.
Some pleasantly unexpected additions include the return of Japan, Mexico and Nepal, all of which had been absent for some time, joined for the first time by a group of companies from the Czech Republic and one from Taiwan, organised by the local national association of footwear manufacturers. It will also be the first time for CLIA – China Leather Industry Association and the Municipality of Wenzhou, one of China’s most important manufacturing districts.
More than 120 international buyers are anticipated, eager to get a taste of upcoming trends at the first industry event, which, as per tradition, will kick off the summer 2024 season. This edition promises to be a memorable one thanks in large part to the forecasts for visitor participation, which on paper already exceed January’s figures.
One of the organisation’s aims was to increase the variety of the offering, courting manufacturers of leather goods and accessories with both their own and third-party brands. Three exhibition areas will be dedicated specifically to small leather goods, belts, wallets and travel items, placed in strategic, high-traffic areas.
Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags has been committed to actively promoting research into sustainable products and manufacturing for many years but has also actively sought to host more environmentally friendly events.
Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags uses carpets supplied by a certified company that, at the end of the event, recovers all the recyclable material (more than 50 percent ) and reintroduces it into its manufacturing process to create new products. They also partner with the “Food for Good” project, allowing any food not consumed during the event to be collected and donated to the needy.
