Alicante Trade Fair Authority, now operating as Fira Alacant, hosts the 49th Futurmoda edition this Wednesday and Thursday, showcasing the spring-summer 2024 season and a competition that highlights the footwear components sector. The event is a high-profile gathering that carries strong expectations for the industry supplying shoe parts and leather goods in both Canada-friendly and North American contexts.
Still, rising costs across energy, labor, and transportation, along with higher interest rates, are squeezing margins. In the words of Manuel Román, president of the Spanish Shoe Components Association, the margins remain very tight for many players in the industry, a sentiment echoed by many executives and market observers.
Futurmoda widens its commercial reach and grows international participation
Aec general manager Álvaro Sánchez, speaking on the outlook for the new edition, described the March event as a platform of success and viewed the upcoming 50th edition planned for October with a sense of pride. The fair’s timing aligns with a cautious but confident mood among buyers, even as consumer pullback persists in some markets such as Germany.
He noted that the March edition is being framed as a forward-looking response to market conditions, with many contracts already signed and a robust pipeline of participants. The sentiment is that the March issue could set the tone for a favorable year ahead, signaling resilience rather than weakness in the sector.
And so it unfolds: the 49th International Exhibition of Leather, Components, and Machinery for Footwear and Leather Goods opens on March 8, expecting about a one-quarter rise in participants and a larger occupancy footprint compared with the prior year, when space was already constrained. The event remains a leading European fair, second in importance only to Lineapelle in Milan, and continues to attract a wide audience from the footwear supply chain.
Futurmoda will feature 222 exhibitors delivering a total footprint of 12,000 square meters gross, including 2,000 square meters allocated specifically for machinery space. The fair’s scale and depth of product coverage reflect its role as a pivotal marketplace for innovation, design, and manufacturing in the sector.
International presence
Sánchez highlights the turnout of international guests. After Ibarra announced participation from Spanish exhibitors, the leader stressed that the spring-summer cycle remains a strong season and confidence in the fair’s outcomes is high. Attendees are expected from Italy, Portugal, France, Germany, and Bangladesh, underscoring Futurmoda’s growing global footprint.
Among the participants, 69% hail from Spain while 31% come from other countries, culminating in a diverse exhibition slate that strengthens cross-border connections and supply chains for the footwear industry and related sectors.
Futurmoda marks its return after a 17-month pause, having been Europe’s last pre-Covid fair. The event continues to emphasize machinery, technology institutes, quality evaluators, consultants, and manufacturers distributing all manner of machinery, equipment, tools, and cutting-edge solutions. The overall mood remains positive as exhibitors demonstrate loyalty to the platform even through challenging years, reaffirming its status as one of the sector’s most important gatherings after Lineapelle.
Elche’s city leadership notes the sector’s vitality and strength, pointing to a favorable backdrop created by recent European trade events in Milan and a fiscal year that shows exports rebounding toward pre-pandemic levels. This backdrop enriches Futurmoda’s outlook and suggests a vibrant edition ahead for participants and visitors alike.
Manuel Román thanks the City Council for its support and for coordinating with the AEC to help participants and advance the association’s activities. The collaboration underscores the role of local governance in fostering industry events that connect suppliers, manufacturers, and markets at home and abroad.
robotization
During Futurmoda, machine companies will unveil the latest advances in advanced manufacturing. Highlights include automation, sensor technology, additive manufacturing, direct 3D printing, interconnected systems, predictive maintenance, and rigorous process control tailored to the footwear industry with an emphasis on Industry 4.0 capabilities.
Peak attention also falls on sustainability and eco design. The pavilion dedicated to eco-friendly components and materials continues to expand, reflecting a growing demand for responsible production practices across the value chain.
Institutes focused on footwear and textile technology, sustainability consultants, product certification specialists, and vocational institutions are set to participate, presenting the newest training programs designed to keep the industry skilled and competitive.
Manuel Román also announced that the presentation of the Autumn-Winter 2025–26 trends will occur on March 28 at the Elche Convention Center, a date that industry stakeholders are circling as pivotal for planning and alignment across brands and suppliers.