We have well-known players in the shoe segment on board, including Marc O’Polo and the Lorenz Shoe Group as well as Josef Seibel, Panama Jack, Digel and Emu Australia, and there is also interest from the fashion segment. The early date seems to be convincing here. We would be very happy if many brands would get behind the new approach. It’s about giving retailers information at an early stage so that they can order with certainty. We have received the mandate for this, not least from the #schuhhandelhatzukunft initiative. We can also observe that events are also moving forward internationally, such as the Ciff in Copenhagen or the Modefabriek in Amsterdam.
What will the Shoes look like in February? Are there new concepts?
First of all, I would like to emphasize: The February trade fair is an interim step before we launch with a fresh concept in the summer. One of our ideas for February, for example, is a Marketplace for Brands, where brands can present themselves in a smaller area and perhaps only with the most important styles from their collections, supplemented by a lounge where we will also have short impulse lectures, discussion groups, etc You can also imagine a small event like a brunch.
What events are planned in addition to the pure trade fair events?
Dates such as the HDSL press conference and the HDSL Junior Award have been set. In addition, we are pursuing the idea of not having accompanying events take place on a separate stage, but rather at the stands parallel to what is happening at the trade fair. We want to do things a little differently and offer a certain experience. We have done this with the Shoes every season and it will continue to be this way.
How far along are you with planning the summer date?
We are working on a date that the vast majority of the industry can live with. And there are also different options for the daily sequence. The Shoes consists of the middle brands, but also curated international collections. We try to do justice to all of them. We will be able to communicate the summer date in a few weeks.