Spain is set to show off its fashion prowess – and this is taking shape in a premier footwear assortment showcased at NYFW and Europe at key trade shows, such as WHITE Milano and MICAM Milano.

Spain Fashion promotes the best talents of the national footwear industry has already proven to play an influential role in the segment: Spain is the second largest producer and exporter of footwear in the European Union and is renowned for its high-quality designer shoes present in more than 140 countries around the world.

Here, Pablo Conde, Spanish Fashion Director of ICEX (Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade), talks to Fairchild Studio about his participation in NYFW, upcoming European fairs, the growth and influence of Spanish fashion at the United States and abroad.

Fairchild Studio: Let’s talk about the growing presence of Spanish brands at NYFW. What can you tell us about the selection of Spanish brands at Coterie and MAGIC New York?

Pablo Condé: The United States is one of the biggest markets for Spanish fashion. For the Spanish footwear industry it is the fourth export destination and for the clothing sector before the pandemic it was the seventh market, and now it is the ninth.

Despite the exhibition and travel difficulties, Spanish companies wish to be present at NYFW through their representatives or distributors. This is a considerable effort for companies and reflects their interest in this market. New York is still one of the fashion capitals of the world from where trends are prescribed to the rest of the world.

The Spanish brands exhibiting in New York are very competitive companies, with a high quality designer product that adapts very well to the New York market. All of them have a very distinct entity and a very differentiated product. Companies such as TBA, Aldomartins, Lola Cruz, Charo Ruiz, Paloma Barceló, Chie Mihara, Hommers Pretty Ballerinas, Vilagallo, Wonders or Tinta Style present very new and different collections.

Fairchild Studio: The FashionLAB Market event is another place where the presence of Spanish brands has continued to increase. What can viewers expect this year regarding products and / or trends?

computer : In the Fashionlab market of White Space Chelsea, 555 West 25th Street, fourteen Spanish companies will exhibit the next spring-summer 2021 season. The exhibition is very representative of the spirit of Spanish fashion, very bright and with a Mediterranean character.

On this occasion, it is worth mentioning the involvement in sustainable development and respect for the environment for many of our brands committed to slow fashion and respect for the environment, such as Limo Concept, Ball Pages, Elemental Knit or Genyum. Visitors will also find brands with a lot of character and design like Clodesign and Chie Mihara, or with a strong technological component like Camper.

In addition, we have all kinds of business, both women`s clothing, shoes and other accessories. It is an appointment that the professional who is in New York should not miss. In addition, this year in October, for the first time, the showroom will also be present in Los Angeles.

Fairchild Studio: Would you like to develop Spanish fashion at the White Milano show in Milan? What makes this spectacle experience different?

computer : I think the main difference is the fact that the pandemic has disrupted and changed the course of the fairs. We expect fewer international visitors this time. In any case, Italy is a fundamental market for us since it is the second destination market for our exports.

Italian professionals appreciate and understand better than anyone the quality of the Spanish product and its competitiveness, so even if the next edition reduces the number of visitors, for the Spanish industry the Italian market is important enough for us to be present there.

Fairchild Studio: MICAM Milano is another major event for the footwear industry that will showcase Spanish brands. What is unique about the Spanish brands that will be launching their summer collections at this event?

computer : Indeed, MICAM Milano is the great international meeting place for footwear. We understand that on this occasion there will also be a drop in the number of international visitors, especially from Asian and American countries. However, the Spanish shoe industry jumped into the event. More than 80 brands will exhibit at the fair, and they will do so with great enthusiasm after so many months without physical contact with professionals, in the hope of reconnecting with the Italian and international public.

The main characteristic of a Spanish presence in Milan is that the offer is very wide, covering all types of footwear, from the most sophisticated to the most sporty women’s shoes, including espadrilles, men’s dress shoes, casual shoes, etc. product is evolving through greater use of sustainable and biodegradable materials, which visitors will see for themselves.

Fairchild Studio: What’s next for ICEX and its mission to promote Spanish brands in the footwear space?

computer : We believe that participation in events and trade shows in the coming months will be further limited. It seems more likely that in Europe we will be able to continue to travel, but in the Asian and American markets the restrictions will continue, so it will be necessary to continue to promote the presence of brands through platforms and online channels. We are currently organizing an online event called Passport to Spain Fashion with the JOOR platform, in which more than 40 Spanish companies participate.

We believe that the pandemic has also helped us to think about and become more aware of the products we consume and the values ​​of those products, and in this context, we have noticed that the market is placing more and more importance on many values ​​of our industry, artisanal and Mediterranean products, which increasingly use sustainable materials and fabrics – with a strong component of design and creativity.

To follow @thisisspainfashion for the latest updates on events and trends in Spanish footwear.