From July 16 th to 19 th , 2018, the Expo Center Norte in São Paulo hosted the 50th edition of Francal, the International Shoe and Accessories Fashion Fair – widely acknowledged as Brazil’s leading trade show dedicated to said sectors, able to bring together, under the same roof, the entire industry supply chain. As a matter of fact, thanks to its strategic scheduling, this event marks the beginning of the largest and most profitable sales season – Spring/Summer – for the domestic footwear and retail branches, while acting as the perfect showcase for the promotion, on a global scale, of Made-in-Brazil products and manufacturing. The latest edition welcomed visitors, buyers, importers and professionals from all over the world, providing them not only with an ample array of stylish collections, services and innovations, but also with a thorough overview of the main trends for the upcoming months as well as with an eclectic line-up of activities and initiatives. Great success was met by the cycle of lectures Francal Talks and forums (such as Fórum de Moda), where industry experts shared their opinions, experiences and insights concerning some of the most topical issues. Noteworthy the high turnout registered by the exclusive exhibition areas set up for the occasion: Francal E-Commerce Solution gathered 28 specialized companies and arranged also a full programme of conferences; (RE)VOLUTION Visual Merchandising put on display creative installations and functional solutions aimed at enhancing product presentation; last but not least, Francal Kids merged business, content and fashion, entirely dedicated to children’s footwear. Equally successful were the catwalk shows and the brand-new edition of the Francal Top Stylist Award. Grown into a pivotal tool for the development and economic growth of the domestic fashion industry, the trade show was organized with the support of Abicalçados and Apex-Brasil, respectively the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency: the two bodies sponsored the VIP Buyer Project as well as the Image Project. The latter succeeded in bringing to Francal foreign journalists and trade publications proceeding from some of the most important export markets for Brazilian shoes (that is, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Italy, Russia and the UAE): the ultimate goal was to effectively celebrate the creativity, talent and skills of local manufacturers, giving them the chance to make themselves known well beyond the national borders. The next edition of Francal is set to take place from June 3 rd to 5 th , 2019. www.francal.com.br
Francal Kids, the exclusive exhibition area dedicated to children’s footwear and accessories hosting specialized brands and fashion shows.
Francal Talks, the programme of lectures putting in the limelight the main fashion and market trends.
Fórum de Moda, held by Walter Rodrigues