Expo Riva Schuh closes its 91st edition, in line with the January 2018 edition: there have been approximately 13,000 visitors attending the Widespread Fair at Riva del Garda, i.e. the exhibition network of Expo Riva Schuh, Gardabags and the hotels, which for years have represented an additional resource for companies interested in choosing a more suitable context for one-to-one targeted meetings. By recording a significant increase in the number of visitors to the fair, the Gardabags project has confirmed its commitment to meet the need for a total look offer, which is increasingly important for the retail market. The synergy with Expo Riva Schuh has strengthened the format of the event, making it possible to implement a series of promotion and communication actions that enhance the proposal of the companies operating in the bags and accessories sector. In particular, two events were greatly appreciated:
- the talk show "The dream bag", featuring style coach and television icon Carla Gozzi, together with lifestyle and fashion journalist at La7 and Book Moda Cinzia Malvini, as well as Carla Costa, head of the Riva del Garda Fierecongressi Fair Area;
- the event "Share your bag", which was attended by about two hundred fashion lovers inspired by Carla Gozzi's advice.
From a trend point of view, the 2019/2020 autumn/winter footwear collections reveal a western mood revisited with fashion elements, such as lacquered materials and metal inserts. For women, the prevailing style is a vintage one featuring heels with strong lines and bold shapes, and many references to the fashion of the 80s and 90s; while men have become bolder and more daring by wearing soles with unusual shapes and bright colours. A playful mood permeates the children's collections, with the new chunky sneaker also proposed for the very young girls.
With regards to the world of Gardabags, the main trend for bags is the animalier, especially found in the models for daytime and free time: for the evening, instead, the great protagonist is the rigid clutch, which becomes a real jewel to be shown, thanks to the sparkling details and the precious stones inserts.
"We firmly believe in this event and in its potential as an international hub for footwear and leather goods - says the president of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Roberto Pellegrini. - For this reason, we are working on an increasingly accurate selection of the offer, complemented by Gardabags for the bag sector. We also offer innovative services, and the renewal of the exhibition spaces.”
1,469 exhibitors at Expo Riva Schuh took part in this edition: among these, 1,207 are foreign companies, for a total of 39 countries involved, including some emerging economies such as Tunisia, Turkey and Lithuania.
Among the visitors of the event there were also 40 delegates from France, Poland, Northern Europe, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary and Croatia, attending the fair thanks to the collaboration with ICE (Italian Trade Agency) and MISE (Ministry of Economic Development).
"Expo Riva Schuh is able to adapt to the changes of the market very quickly - says Giovanni Laezza, general manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi. - Our flexibility has enabled us to respond effectively to the Digital Revolution, which we wanted to analyse during the opening event. E-commerce, social commerce, and influencers have not weakened the role of trade fairs: the challenge is to shed skin, to become a moment where all this digital vortex takes shape in the new collections (increasingly tailored to the needs of digital consumers), through the exchange between production and distribution and through the confrontation with an increasingly fast-paced retail world that aims at responding as quick as possible to the suggestions of social networks”.
Flexibility and focus on the market are the key words for Expo Riva Schuh, which stands as a point of reference even beyond the exhibition. The exhibition event is no longer just a provider of spaces, but - also and above all - of services: among the possible future developments we envisage, for example, to offer training packages for companies and professionals.
"We aimed at making Gardabags a business and fashion space - explains Carla Costa, head of the Riva del Garda Fierecongressi Trade Fair Area - with the help of style coach Carla Gozzi who, together with fashion journalist Cinzia Malvini, guided us on a journey through icons and dreams to discover the "Dream Bag". With Carla Gozzi, we have granted the public exceptional access to the fair on the occasion of "Share your bag": for a trade fair event that is both international and so closely linked to the territory, it was important to create a moment of encounter with the fashion addicts, to show how our event is increasingly focusing on fashion content and research".
The next exciting appointment with Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags will take place from 15 to 18 June 2019.
Riva del Garda, 15 January 2019