Milano hosted the best of footwear for SS 2025. MICAM Milano, the international footwear exhibition held from September 15 to 17 welcomed buyers from over 60 countries. With 932 brands, 475 of which were Italian and 457 from abroad, mainly from Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal and Germany, MICAM once again offered a unique platform for discovering new trends and new technologies for manufacturers and retailers, with all the best of footwear for SS 2025.

"MICAM has always supported the footwear industry which represents one of the cornerstones of Made in Italy and promotes our country’s image on the world stage, contributing to the growth of the economy," said Giovanna Ceolini, chair of MICAM and Assocalzaturifici. "Despite the current period of great uncertainty, MICAM continues to grow in terms of exhibitors and the number of brands represented, especially from abroad. Combining technological innovation, evolving styles, and craftsmanship, MICAM represents a both a unique showcase and an unmissable opportunity to catch up on the very latest developments within the footwear industry. Here in Milan, it's not just about setting trends, it's about shaping the present and
future of footwear”.

A renewed focus on young people, in a supply chain that involves them in every stage of production; more space for enhancing creativity, with multi-sensory experiences; a new layout facilitating visitor flows, with increased numbers of international buyers. For that the creation of MICAM Academy, a new educational area for schools, in cooperation with Politecnico Calzaturiero Veneto and Arsutoria School. The project aims to introduce young people to the art of shoemaking and show them how the combination of craftsmanship and new technologies represents an opportunity to be seized. Through five different stations, students had the chance to explore the technological advancements achieved in the footwear industry. They could try out an app for foot measurement and virtual fitting (Snapfeet), and see how a shoe can be designed in 3D and examined through immersive reality using visors (Prismatech). Going on to production itself, with Sneaknit, showing how to design uppers made a knitting machine, and Direct 3D, making soles with a 3D printer. ID Factory demonstrates the importance of tracking the finished product by means of a qrcode on the shoe, and the importance of measuring sustainability, accomplished with VCS software.

Emerging Designers, the successful initiative launching twelve new talents in the footwear world every year, with concretes opportunities to present their collections at MICAM in September and February, was back again for this edition. The shortlist of 12 new talents is truly unique in terms of the variety and quality of the shoes they present. The creative designers featured at the last edition of MICAM are: Daphne Wattiez (France, Akvo brand), Ardemia de'Gennaro (Italy, Ardemia brand), Luisa Soriano (Italy, Babù Milano brand), Cecilia Bringheli and Sibilla de Vuono (Italy, CB Made in Italy brand), Cristiano Magnoni (Switzerland, Crimagno Earth brand), Giacomo Morelli (Italy, Gio*Milano brand), Guillaume Mesly d'Arloz (France, Meeko brand), Corine Ferrer (Spain, O.Sur brand), Francesca Parisi (Italy, Parisy brand), Sabina Teruel (Spain, Sabinis brand), Alberto Tassinari and Francisco Batta (Italy-Mexico, Sistta brand), Lello Romano (Italy, Sneark brand).

The MICAM X area were back again this year, MICAM Milano's innovation hub curated by Spin360, a consulting firm specialising in the development of new sustainable business models and innovative technological and organisational solutions. Among the speakers there were two internationally renowned professionals with a cutting-edge vision of the future of retail such as Catherine Barba and Melissa Gonzalez.

Three innovative companies, each with their own distinctive traits, were featured in the StartUp space, created in partnership with ITA and MAECI. Supermateria is a Florence-based company combining design, additive manufacturing and new technologies to create tools at the service of enterprises. Why Only White (WoW) transforms design and the customer experience with cutting-edge Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) technology, fusing physical reality with projected digital content with no need for visors or smartphones. Unflock was born out of the innovative vision of three young startuppers who were deeply aware of the footwear industry's significant environmental impact. The spark of innovation was ignited when they discovered that the production of every single pair of conventional sneakers emits approximately 136 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Future of Retail, a space dedicated to innovative ideas destined to change the stores of today, hosted a number of companies proposing advanced solutions of use to the footwear industry: virtual and augmented reality, 3D reconstructions of footwear, and all possible interactions between real and virtual. The leading companies were Covision Media, ShopAR, Sync Lab, Elmec 3D, VisioneEye AI, and Fibbl.

MICAM 98 also focused on a multisensory experience for the first time, with a themed space created in collaboration with the Italian Association of Ambasciatori del Gusto. In the Taste Arena, guests could watch live demonstrations from renowned chefs, highlighting the culinary specialties of the seven footwear districts. After pleasing the eyes, the journey continued with tastings of the dishes, completing the sensory experience. It was a journey from the world of footwear to the world of food, celebrating the excellence of Italian regions and the most authentic, engaging Italian flavors.