- New signings include global leader Ecco
- Strengthened presence for women’s brands with enhanced Boutique platform
- New look for Mini Moda
- Earlier dateline for show is welcomed by children’s footwear buyers
Birmingham-based trade show Moda Footwear will return this spring with a relevant and contemporary selection of brands across the men’s, women’s and children’s sectors.
This season will see the show welcome a range of new signings including contemporary Spanish footwear label Arrels Barcelona, New York bridal label Nina and leading Danish footwear label Ecco. Established in 1963, Ecco is renowned globally as a quality footwear brand for men, women and children, and will unveil a casual and contemporary collection at this season’s Moda, all designed in line with its signature Scandinavian styling.
Moda’s new signings will be showcased within the show’s new, re-organised format, which was praised by exhibitors and visitors alike following its debut last season. Moda Footwear will build upon this success by focusing on the increased presence of its new features such as the Boutique platform, which brings together contemporary women’s shoe brands as a destination concept for fashion buyers across the sectors. Relevant to both dedicated footwear buyers and womenswear visitors alike, Boutique plays host to the industry’s leading names including Lisa Kay, Hoegl, Alpe, Ruby Shoo, Art, Pedro Miralles and Peter Kaiser.
“Moda Footwear is a great show with a lot of relevant brands, and viewing footwear within the context of women’s fashion gives us a good idea of trends across the sectors,” says Faye Clark, director at women’s footwear and accessories retailer Finale in Corbridge, Northumberland. “We enjoyed looking at the new Boutique platform last season, and we will be returning to the brands that we have already had good results with – such as Peter Kaiser, Hoegl, Lunar and Alpe – and will of course be looking at new brands that would fit in well at Finale, as well as of course buying our accessories at the same time, which is really useful to us.”
For children’s footwear buyers meanwhile, Mini Moda will unveil a new-look show with a refreshed colour scheme and new features. Showcasing the sector’s leading labels including Lelli Kelly, Xti Kids, Petasil, Daisy Roots, Ricosta, Bo-Bell, Bobux, Primigi, Gioseppo, arauto RAP and Froddo, the show will confirm its position as the essential destination for footwear buyers and those buying childrenswear across the sectors.
Moda’s new earlier dateline – which will see the exhibition take place around a week earlier than usual – has been welcomed by the children’s sector in particular, because of increased sales in stores in the lead up to “back to school” in September.
“We certainly welcome this season’s new dateline for Moda Footwear,” says Katharine McLean, partner at independent footwear retailer Andrew Begg in Forfar and Aberdeen, Scotland. “We sell children’s footwear within our Aberdeen branch, and having the show slightly earlier will make it much more possible for our buyer to attend.”
Fellow independent footwear retailer Sheila Barry agrees that the earlier dateline will ease the pressure on children’s footwear retailers. “August can get incredibly busy within our children’s department so even a week earlier in August can only work in our favour,” says the director of the Banbridge-based store in Northern Ireland.
Elsewhere within the wider footwear exhibition, Moda will welcome back leading labels Hush Puppies, Ipanema, Skechers, Tamaris, Rieker, El Naturalista, Ravel, Dr Martens, Hispanitas, Padders, Barker Shoes, ARA and Dude Shoes.
“Moda cements itself season after season as the UK’s essential footwear exhibition and we are pleased to see the show further evolve in line with industry feedback,” says event director Sean O’Connor. “Women’s fashion footwear and children’s collections are two areas which have emerged as destination exhibitions within their own right, and we have responded by giving these sectors the platforms they deserve while maintaining the convenience of being placed within the country’s most comprehensive and accessible trade show.”
