NEWS We are looking forward to returning back to the previous halls where the


logistics of setting up/breaking down are more workable. I would like to thank all the buyers that ventured out and attended the show despite all the external pressures we currently face.” Russell Galliven. Galliven Agencies Ltd.


“This year is a muddle and the weather hasn’t helped. Micam changed


their dates so everyone had to rejig theirs knowing the biggest buyers head out to Italy. It was unfair. Shows should network, put dates in the diary and stick to them. It needs far earlier shows for both seasons, as the majority of agents were almost at the end of their selling journey.


It would help to get


more children’s brands and retailers there prior to back-to-school. There isn’t enough meat on the bone for two shows, but far too few


retailers attending. There’s no excuse. Every shop could be there one of the days to see what’s new, where is the buzz – or even have a moan to the people at the top.


Sole Fashion at the Ricoh Centre in Coventry was beautifully organised


with gracious host Penny and attentive professional staff. As it was the first one and couldn’t have been a worse weekend in terms of timing due to MICAM, Gatwick stockroom, appalling weather and the coronavirus, it had everything against it, but there was still a good vibe and exhibitors were


s.Oliver Shoes launches WE CARE sustainability capsule


The s.Oliver Group has been implementing numerous sustainability measures and initiatives under the claim “WE CARE – for PEOPLE, the PLANET and the FUTURE” since 2019. Many of the activities have been an integral part of the corporate philosophy for many years now, while the company is increasing its commitment in the product and communication fields. As a licensee for the s.Oliver shoe collection, shoe.com GmbH & Co. KG,


subsidiary of the Wortmann-Group in Germany, is also involved in the sustainability program. A WE CARE capsule collection has now been developed for the Autumn/Winter 2020 collection, including high-top sneakers and lace-up, hiking and biker boots produced from recycled materials. Their production uses exclusively polyurethanes and water-based adhesives produced without solvents. The products are marked with a WE CARE hangtag and supplied in shoe boxes made from certified recycled materials. Heiko Hüdepohl, Managing Director of shoe.com: “Sustainability and


environmental awareness are becoming ever more important to our customers. With the WE CARE program, s.Oliver is setting a very high standard in the textiles industry, giving us the opportunity to enter into professional and successful communication with the end consumer. Our ambition and goal is to also implement these standards for the shoe product, which comprises multiple components. We will continue to enhance our level of sustainability and thus expand our network of certified partner suppliers.” Further information on the sustainability activities of the s.Oliver Group at


www.soliver-group.com/wecare. The Wortmann Group, Detmold, is one of Europe’s largest shoe


production and sales companies and is considered a market leader in fashionable women’s shoes. The collection is offered in more than 15,000 shoe shops in more than 70 countries.


upbeat. A breakfast and hot beverages were provided which was a nice touch, and you could buy other refreshments easily and cheaply.


MODA attendance was better than the previous seasons and a great buzz.


Complaints were - lack of restaurant, NEC jobsworths (there was high security for attendees but none for exhibitors and whereas trucks were allowed into the halls to offload, cars were not), the layout was confusing, and the big stands needed ‘air’ around them whilst keeping the friendlier feel of the smaller stands. Tuesday continues to be a quiet day. Why not open to the public to showcase new and sell off old stock, or agents reduce stockrooms and arrange selling appointments there, or perhaps a retailer seminar networking event?


We need to keep a show and retailers need to attend.” Laura West, Secretary, The Society Of Shoe Fitters.


Finally, a comment from an independent footwear retailer: “We find the shows very helpful, we attended Micam and Moda this season


and submitted orders with all the brands we had planned to see while at the show. It is so much easier having them all in one place, as this reduces the time we need to take out of our business to buy the new collections.” Faye Clark, Finale Shoes, Cumbria.


CAPRICE best women’s shoe brand in Poland & UK for the second time in a row


For the second year in a row, the Pirmasens-based shoe manufacturer CAPRICE wins one of the prestigious prizes of the consumer platform Dobra Marka with the award “Best women's shoe brand”. The Polish award is a nationwide programme which has been organised


for eleven years now. Over a period of one year, the platform, in cooperation with the Polish business magazine Forum Biznesu and the Polish daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita, identifies the brands with the best reputation among Polish consumers. By means of online and telephone surveys, randomly selected


participants were asked to name companies and brands that they associate with the respective industry in various categories. These results were


evaluated in terms of product quality, prestige and trust in the brand. CAPRICE received an excellent rating in the women’s footwear category


and achieved the highest number of mentions. CAPRICE managing director Jürgen Cölsch was delighted about the


renewed award. This underlines the successful path taken in Poland, but at the same time serves as an incentive and obligation to continue this way consistently and to further intensify the commitment to customers and the development of the Pirmasens shoe brand in Poland. Caprice also won the Ladies Footwear Brand Of The Year Award in the


UK Footwear Industry Awards two years running, in February 2019 and February 2020!


Hotter R&D appointment set to revolutionise brand’s comfort DNA


Hotter has appointed Giles Coulson as its first Head of Product Development and Research with the remit of revolutionising the brand’s comfort DNA. “Giles is a key appointment to our product team, his exceptional


international shoe making experience is integral to our plan to move products forward at speed,” commented Ian Watson, Hotter CEO. “Giles has been with us for just three weeks and has already implemented a raft of new product developments; I’m certain he is going catapult our comfort DNA to the next level.” Giles, who most recently worked at Hudson Shoes


s.Oliver Women_25424_500 10 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • MARCH/APRIL 2020 s.Oliver Women_25424_601


in Sri Lanka, has worked in the USA for Rocky Brands, as well as spending time at Clarks and Dr Martens. His 31 year career in product development, sourcing and management of footwear, apparel and accessories began at SATRA, where he started as a Footwear Technologist.


www.footweartoday.co.uk


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