In a time of profound change and economic uncertainty, especially on the internal front, MICAM ShoEvent remains a reference point for the footwear fashion world. The presence of international buyers and important operators of the worldwide footwear market, from Russia, China and Japan, in addition to the European presence of Spain, France and Germany, was significant.

“The result of the presence of new clients and of new sales,” says the President of ANCI Cleto Sagripanti, “is a distinctive element in the role of MICAM ShoEvent as a concrete business space. The number of foreign participants surpassed the number of Italians present, whose participation we believe was also hindered by the traffic closure on Sunday which reduced the number of participants by around a thousand people on opening day, which is usually attended by Italian retailers who take advantage of the day off to visit the event”

“We are happy but not surprised by these results, which confirm the event’s solid hold on the industry in the current storm of the international markets,” continues Cleto Sagripanti, President of ANCI. “We are not surprised because the event has a long and important history, but has been able to renew itself and now looks ahead with the MICAM in the World project, thus learning to become recognised by a larger public with targeted initiatives to be held in city centres. A fully-rounded celebration of beautiful footwear, that are trendy, of excellent quality, and capable therefore of attracting the most important worldwide operators in the industry.”

The very international nature of the event is also expressed in internationalization projects that ANCI is stepping up all over the world. The first of these events is MICAM in the World, which strengthens the international vocation of this footwear fair: the first appointment is MICAM Shanghai which will bring the MICAM ShoEvent, from April 9th -11th 2013, to one of the most prosperous markets in the industry, before developing in the rest of the world.

The Micam Award was awarded to the best Italian and foreign buyers who were chosen by the exhibitors - an important signal to the international footwear business community - and was handed out at the exclusive “Made-in-Italy gala dinner, Oniric Attitude”. Giuseppe and Giorgio Diliberti won the Italian prize, while the prize for best foreign buyer went to Tom Kalenderian, the vice-president of Barneys New York.

In addition to the exhibitors, this year there were also outside events dedicated to the public at large: the undisputed star was MICAM Point, which enjoyed a huge success with a record number of visitors. The space was the centre of fairytale like competitions such as Operation Cinderella Days and the competition connected to it, A Fairytale Night, as well as events for young children, with a first time exhibition dedicated to Barbie and the most beautiful shoes worn by this historic style icon.

Young talents and the future of the industry were the focus of the 13th competition organised by ANCI-MUIR (Ministry of Education, Universities and Research), dedicated to Italian schools and training agencies: institutes of Forlì, Quartu Sant’Elena, Chieti, Vittorio Veneto, Pesaro, Bari and San Mauro Pascoli were awarded prizes at a ceremony held at the Stella Polare Congress Center.

“This edition draws to a close on a positive note and with faith in the future,” concluded Cleto Sagripanti, President of ANCI. “Our goal is to continue down this route with the determination we are known for, and ensure that the industry is in possession of the necessary tools to be competitive globally. We intend to grow to the sound of the new technologies and changes affecting international markets, without ever forgetting Italy’s historic production traditions, which have made us famous the world over”.

(12/11/2012)