New Chief Executive Officer of the British Footwear Association (BFA), Richard Shetliffe, has been reflecting on his first few months in the role leading the organisation. He joined on 14 May, bringing with him a depth of experience and knowledge with over 30 years in the footwear and accessories industry. He has held leadership positions at iconic brands such as Dr. Martens, Ben Sherman, Vagabond, VF Corporation the Dune Group and Havaianas. In 2008, Mr Shetliffe joined Alpargatas S.A., the parent company of Havaianas, where he set up the UK operations. As Director for Northern Europe, he pla ..read more

Organisers of the recent Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags event, held in Riva del Garda from 15 to 18 June, have spoken of the show’s huge success and the positive comments they have had from brands and attendees alike. More than 9,000 people attended the fair, the 101st edition, marking significant growth compared to both January 2024 and last year’s June edition. Buyers, whose voices met those of 1,300 exhibitors, brands and companies representing 40 countries, including the world’s major producers (80 per cent international, 20 per cent Italian), spread across a total exhibition area of 50,0 ..read more

For 25 years, The Original Muck Boot Company has been synonymous with waterproof reliability, crafting footwear designed for life’s most mucky challenges. As the brand commemorates its 25th anniversary, it has taken to the Isle of Muck, Scotland to honour its legacy and highlight the unique connection and shared values with this resilient community. Nestled off the west coast of Scotland, the Isle of Muck is home to a tight-knit community of just 32 people who face wind, rain and mucky weather conditions every day. Among them are Magnus and his Granny, Jenny Macewen – whose family owns the isl ..read more

The 2024 Cordwainers Footwear Awards took place last week (on 13 June) at Saddlers Hall, London, with 16 student finalists from the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London and De Montfort University competing to win the coveted Cordwainers Footwear Award Trophy. This year was the tenth anniversary of the Awards, recognised by industry leaders as the most prestigious celebration of emerging student talent. International footwear designer Sophia Webster’s outstanding contribution to footwear was recognised by the award of the Sue Saunders Award for Excellence. First place winne ..read more

The 101st edition of Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags opened this weekend (15 June), with some 1,300 exhibitors, brands and companies representing 40 nations filling 11 fully occupied exhibition halls covering more than 50,000sqm. The area dedicated to bags, luggage and accessories hosts 47 companies from Bangladesh, China, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan and Turkey. And a whole host of various events are taking place, with market focuses, fashion and trend talks, appointments with innovation and celebrations for the 101st edition. Visitors at the show will enjoy the usua ..read more

View the latest edition of Footwear Today here – or on your mobile device Editor’s Comment: Power to the people! Welcome to the June edition of Footwear Today, where this month we’ve got a really thought-provoking piece from the BFA (page 8) about the skills shortage in this industry and the struggle to attract young people into the profession… A new trailblazer group is reviving a new manufacturer apprenticeship scheme to not only make it more relevant to the needs of today’s industry, but also universally applicable to all kinds of UK footwear businesses. And it would seem this couldn ..read more

In celebration of Men’s Health Week, DB Wider Fit Shoes has introduced the next phase of its campaign “Joyful Strides for Wider Feet”, to promote the real stories of the brand’s loyal customers. The initiative aims to promote foot health and comfort, emphasising the critical importance of properly fitting footwear. The campaign highlights Matt Barnes’ inspiring journey, a 39-year-old from St Albans who has faced significant challenges with diabetes and poor foot health. Mr Barnes’ story is a poignant reminder of how crucial foot health is to overall well-being. Struggling with diabetes, he ex ..read more

The global sports footwear market is poised to achieve a total valuation of $208.7 billion by 2033, which demonstrates a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.4 per cent. This is according to the latest data from Fact.MR, a provider of market research and competitive intelligence. It reported that the expansion of the sports footwear market is predominantly propelled by several pivotal factors, including the evolution of fashion trends, heightened global awareness of health and fitness, and a surge in physical activities. Technological advancements in footwear design and materials, with a pa ..read more

Gloucester-based footwear and clothing wholesaler, Gardiner Bros and Footsure Western Ltd, has gained ISO 14001:2015 certification following a focus and commitment to environmental sustainability practices. ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). It provides a framework for organisations to design and implement an EMS, and continually improve their environmental performance. The framework encompasses various aspects, from resource usage and waste management to monitoring environmental performance and involving stakeholders in environment ..read more

Dubs Universe has been named as the Manufacturing & Engineering Start-Up of the Year at the 2024 South East StartUp Awards. The Awards were established to highlight the success of start-up businesses across 10 UK nations and regions, and to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs in all sectors of the economy. As a regional winner in its category, Dubs Universe will now progress to the UK StartUp Awards final being held at Ideas Fest on 12 September, dubbed “the Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs”! Dubs Universe – based in Orpington in Kent – is a sustainable footwear brand making ultra-com ..read more