Five country-strong project preserves luxury shoemaking skills
22/09/2017
High End Shoe is a three-year initiative involving companies in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic to train young people in the art of ultra-high end shoemaking, to promote the sector’s longevity.
Speakers included Stefano Miotto, CEO of Italy-based footwear academy Politecnico Calzaturiero, and Rita Souto from Portuguese counterpart CTCP, who both discussed the need for the training programme and how it can benefit manufacturers.
Carmen Arias, general secretary of the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC), explained that between 2009 and 2016, shoe exports from Europe increased 40% in quantity but 90% in value.
She explained that there are opportunities for shoe brands in China, online and in the millennial marketplace. She said younger customers are looking for something unique, which less well-known brands can use to their advantage.
She added that passing on shoemaking skills to the younger generation is vital if European is to retain its place as the biggest producer of luxury footwear.
To find out more about the project, visit www.highendshoe.eu.
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