Gallery SHOES provides fresh impetus for German footwear industry
30/08/2017
The exhibitors were divided into five segments: premium, contemporary, urban, comfort and kids. As well as shoes, there were also companies presenting a range of accessories, including bags and belts.
The event took place in the city’s Areal Böhler complex. Organisers the Igedo Company has said it had to erect two additional exhibition areas to accommodate the number of brands that wanted to exhibit at the inaugural edition of Gallery SHOES.
The Igedo Company had just over five months to put everything in place for the event following the demise of established footwear exhibition GDS, which had its final edition in February 2017. The organisers of that event, Messe Düsseldorf, said it was no longer the right format for the shoe sector.
Ulrike Kähler, project director for Gallery SHOES, said the new event will help to “preserve Düsseldorf’s heritage as an internationally renowned trade fair location”.
For his part, Carl-August Seibel, chairman of the German Shoe and Leather Industry association (HDS/L), said it was very important that Gallery SHOES had brought a new fresh, feeling to the German footwear industry. He added that the response from visitors has been positive, meaning this has been a good start to the post-GDS era.
The next edition of Gallery SHOES will take place from March 11-13, 2018, continuing the biannual schedule of its predecessor GDS.
Before that, another show organised by the Igedo Company will make its debut. The event, which will be called Gallery, will be dedicated to fashion. It will take place from January 27-29, 2018, also at the Areal Böhler centre. The organisers are expecting around 800 exhibitors to attend.
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