Igedo Exhibitions presented its new trade fair concept on January 25th during the Fashion Rooms on the Böhler area, which will replace the Shoes Düsseldorf and the Fashion Rooms from summer 2025. Under the Twodays umbrella brand, there will in future be an early and a late date in the season, each of which will only last two days. The subtitle Fashn – Shoes – Accessories – Bags for both dates is intended to emphasize that all sectors should come together at the trade fair. Edition #1 will take place on July 20th and 21st, 2025, supplemented by the four-day Showroom Concept from July 18th to 21st. Edition #2 follows on August 24th and 25th, 2025. Düsseldorf was deliberately specified as the trade fair location, although it is the clear wish of those responsible for Igedo to remain in the Böhler area, according to Managing Director Ulrike Kähler: “We feel very strongly We are probably here and want to stay here, the Böhler area is priority 1. But we want to see how big the event will be and where it will go.” That’s why we left the option open, too to move to the Düsseldorf trade fair grounds. Managing partner Philipp Kronen explains: “15,000 square meters can be easily accommodated in the Böhler area. With over 15,000 square meters of rented space, you would have to change location.”
Those responsible at Igedo want to remain flexible in order to be able to control the development of the new concept in the coming seasons. This also applies to the two dates, says Kähler: “There is a call for a large trade fair. But it is a noble goal to find a date for all industries, which are very heterogeneous.” In particular, the southern European premium brands, which are strongly represented at Shoes Düsseldorf, would like a later date. Although many of them were able to be won over for the early Shoes date this season, some had already announced that they would not be able to keep an early summer date. “We offer the second appointment. Maybe we will be able to combine appointments in the long term,” said Kähler. In the long term, those responsible would prefer to be able to offer a major trade fair date.
The Igedo Exhibitions organizers are confident and combative to be able to make an offer with the Twodays concept to bring the shoe and fashion industries in Germany together. However, this requires the commitment of the industry. Now there is still an opportunity to build a forum for the industry instead of allowing regionalization to continue with order days and SOCs. The start of Twodays is seen as a kick-off to allow the concept to continue to grow. If there is a corresponding response, in addition to combining the dates, it would also be possible to implement further ideas or organize events within the trade fair.
