L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano LIFESTYLE FASHION FOOD ARTS DESIGN C reative footwear is an essential part of designer collections in Milan. As a shoe obsessive, I attended M icam, Europe's bigges t footw ear trade s how held at Fiera Milano Rho few days ago. The 87th edition attracted approximately 45,000 visitors throughout the three-day event. By far the largest proportion of guests were from Italy, and from France and Switzerland, the two most important markets in the world for Italian shoes. However, this year the exhibit promoted by Assocalzaturifici Italiani (the Association of Ital- ian Footwear Manufacturers) recorded a boom in visitors from the United States (+35%) and Canada (+38%). US and Canada are demon- s trating grow ing interes t in European footwear, even though important competing trade fairs were held on the same dates in North America. In the US there is a great potential for Italian shoes: the first 10 months of 2018, exports to North America rose 7.6 percent from a year ear- lier in volume, and 0.8 percent in value, w ith a 5.8 percent increase in the number of items sold in the US and Canada. Three strong footwear themes emerged in the new collections for the Fall/Winter season 2019- 2020 and they are "P urpos e Full," "Light Magic" and "Free Style." Those upcoming trends will be big in few months. Both w omen's and men's shoes from the "Purpose Full" trend are infused with looks inspired by the sartorial ele- ments of vintage styles mixed with more modern design fea- tures , and even a futuris tic update in some cases. They are cool, arty shoes made of eco- sustainable materials which are good for people and good for the earth. The colors have a retro vibe, but are contemporary at the same time and rich in symbol- ism. The very trendy hues are blues (light navy, aqua, turquoise and teal) purples, peri- winkles, all nuances of yellows and browns. The tasteful color palettes further enhance the shoes' beauty and has a renewed power to grab our attention. Men's collections hues are softer and are inspired by mid- century Bakelite designs, with color gradients ranging from brown to red. The "Light M agic" trend draws inspiration from mysti- cism and spirituality and propos- es a series of gothic, mythologi- cal and fairy tale designs that mix surfaces, juxtaposing matte and shine with leather and other textiles. The use of materials is what gives the monochromatic look a more textural dimension. I l o v e d t h o s e c o l l e c t i o n s . Here, designers and brands felt empowered to use ultra violet and black to inspire and influ- ence. Mystic violet communi- cates visionary thinking that p o i n t s u s t o w a r d t h e f u t u r e . Complex and contemplative, it is a color that suggests the myster- ies of the cosmos and symbol- izes experimentation and non- conformity, spurring consumers to imagine their unique mark on the world. But, from the major brands, the message is also one of spirituality, renewal and inspi- ration in our fractured times. The influence of experimental organic characteristics on the men's collection is unmistakable. The tints range from black to a deep purple, then arriving in bright pastel and more neutral s h a d e s : i t i s a c o l o r p a l e t t e focused on purple and white that evokes a sense of instability. I loved the reds and tealeaf color in several of those shoes that give dynamic and more sporty accents to the collection. Lastly, the "Free Style" trend celebrates freedom of expression and puts comfort as top priority. Free style women's shoes are playful, effortless, ready to go. A fluid vision of traditional styling, designs and nuances are the par- ticularities that give a new, care- free yet feminine look. The col- o r s a r e v i v i d , v i b r a n t a n d intense. Those are shoes that every relaxed woman is happy to wear. For men, "Free Style" coin- cides with refined street style created by white and multicolor leather sneakers for a contempo- rary, informal luxe style, result- ing in a celebration of individu- ality through new designs and new construction methods. N o n - I t a l i a n v i s i t o r s w e r e mesmerized by the beauty of the m o d e l s p r o d u c e d b y I t a l i a n brands. In terms of making shoes, do Italians "do it better"? Italian shoes are a work of art, designed for the distinctive fit and individual taste of a fash- ion-conscious person. With Italian shoes you never sacrifice style, quality, proper fit or comfort. Italy is still a very important shoe country with a production chain stretching from artisans to design and materials that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world. " W e a r e c l o s i n g t h e 8 7 t h M I C A M a w a r e t h a t w e h a v e transformed our event into a f a s h i o n i n c u b a t o r , a l w a y s responding to the demands of the market," said Assocalzaturifici Chair Annarita Pilotti. "Not only the event is an essential business trade show for companies, but also an aggregator of trends and new consumption habits." "We now find the world's top footwear suppliers at Micam, thanks to the presence of presti- gious manufacturers from five continents," she says. "A thou- sand different interpretations of style and quality is at the dispos- al of international buyers looking for trendy products." B u t c u l t u r a l i d e n t i t y , t o p quality materials and elegant designs are what make Italian shoes stand out from the rest. The bi-annual event will be back at Fiera Milano Rho next S e p t e m b e r t o s h o w c a s e t h e Spring/Summer 2020 collections which will focus on the virtues of beauty. Creativity and art are mixed in this collection by Fiorangelo inspired by nature. Photo courtesy of ASSOCALZATURIFICI A playful yet elegant sandal by Andrea Mondin. Photo courtesy of ASSOCALZATURIFICI Baldinini's décoltée, enriched by Swarosky crystals: a luxury worth more than 8000 USD. Photo courtesy of ASSOCALZATURIFICI Geometric heels inspired by architecture, by Annie Gestroemi. Photo courtesy of ASSOCALZATU- RIFICI MARIELLA RADAELLI Micam, the miraculous beauty of Italian shoes

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