Around 100 retailers – a third of whom were Rexor members – came to Düsseldorf for the Rexor Barefoot Shoe Day. Over 20 brands exhibited in the Rexor office, with manufacturers with a focus on children and adults being roughly balanced. When you look at the collections, it becomes clear that there are now barefoot versions of every type of shoe. In addition to low shoes, outdoor shoes, retro sneakers and ballerinas could be seen. Chelsea boots and fur-lined boots were particularly well represented. Shades of brown, burgundy and animal prints were stylistically dominant. Silvio Bongiovanni, Bär Wholesale Manager, said at the event about the current trends: “Leo was already a top topic this winter and will be even stronger next year. Plus, people are expecting more and more barefoot silhouettes. We have included ballerina flats and men’s lace-ups in our range.” New brands also have to be visually convincing in view of the competition. Designs based on retro sneakers are particularly popular with the Blusun brand. The brand has set itself the goal of offering the highest possible level of fashion. In the models, the wide toe box can be hidden more or less visually despite an identical last. The Portuguese brand Alias from the founders of Fly London and Softinos is coming to the German market and offers shoes made of organic leather and with merino fur lining, produced in the area around Porto. The shoes will be marketed primarily through their comfort and design rather than as barefoot shoes.
A detailed report with voices from trade and industry follows in issue 5/25.
