Footwear and leathergoods show Couromoda, which is currently taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, has introduced a new concept footwear factory, which is being operated by the Association of Footwear Industries of Birigui, sponsored by Couromoda, in partnership with the Brazilian Institute for Technology of Leather, Footwear, and Manufactured Goods (IBTEeC).
The factory was inspired by the film ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and will show the different stages of production for children’s footwear, focusing on the health and comfort of children’s feet. More than 150 companies will be involved in the show that will highlight the most modern processes, materials and equipment.
The city of Birigui, in the state of São Paulo, is Brazil’s most influential children’s footwear manufacturing hub. It boasts 159 companies, employing 18,000 workers who produce 230,000 pairs of footwear per day—the equivalent of 55 million pairs per year. Almost 80% of the Birigui production is geared towards the children’s market and 60% of the jobs generated in the city are created by the footwear industry.
