Futurmoda brings together 171 exhibitors and nearly 3,800 visitors in its latest edition
Spanish suppliers to the footwear and leather goods industry showcased their collections for autumn/winter 2027/2028 in Elche. The 56th edition of Futurmoda brought together nearly 3,800 people over its two days of activity. The trade show was held on October 14 and 15 at the IFA-Fira Alacant venue.
A total of 171 companies exhibited at this edition, including ten participating for the first time. Their offerings ranged from leather and fabrics to components and machinery. The fair is organised by the Spanish Association of Footwear Component Companies (AEC).
Attendance, which includes both professionals and the general public, came close to the organisation's target without quite meeting it. “We had set expectations of over 4,000 visitors and we have practically reached that number,” explained Álvaro Sánchez Concellón, director general of AEC, in a statement. He nevertheless described the result as “very satisfactory”.
The director highlighted the international profile of the attendees. In addition to European visitors, the fair welcomed buyers from North Africa, the US, and Asia who were looking to discover the offerings of Spanish firms. “We are satisfied with the results the companies have achieved,” he added.
Beyond the stands, the agenda revolved around three key issues: how to protect design and intellectual property; the sector's competitiveness; and the integration of artificial intelligence into business management. These topics were discussed in the Expert Forum. The Trend Forum, which includes the Futurmoda Green Planet space, organised exhibitors' new products by trend. On Wednesday afternoon, eight finalists competed in the final of the Footwear Design Jam 2026, a footwear design competition promoted by 3DSoul and the FICIA Foundation.
AEC is already preparing for the March 2027 edition. According to Sánchez Concellón, discussions with future exhibitors began on-site during this fair. The next event will feature machinery manufacturers and other relevant companies that have shown interest in participating. “We hope to maintain the same level of participation and even exceed it,” he noted.
Before that, on October 20, the association will unveil the spring/summer 2028 trends with the consultancy Trendstop. The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 7:00 pm at the Elche Congress Centre.