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• 03/10/2008

  Modacalzado puts best foot forward

  • 

    Leisure area

• FACT FILE

  Spanish exhibitors: 407

  Total net surface area: 72.000 sq mt

  Location: Feria de Madrid

   

  CONTACT

  Feria de Madrid (IFEMA)
  28042 Madrid
  Tel.: (+34) 91 772 30 00
  modacalzado@ifema.es

   

  http://www.semanapiel.ifema.es

   

  NEXT SHOW DATES

  25-27 September 2008

Risk, trend, comfort, cutting-edge and original: these were the watchwords at the Feria de Madrid convention centre March 7-9, 2008, when it welcomed exhibitors to the latest edition of the international footwear and leather goods fairs Modacalzado and Iberpiel. A total of 550 companies – 407 of them Spanish - displayed their autumn/winter 2008/09 collections over the 72,000sq m of exhibition area.

The reign of elegance
The “Glamour” section was the place to find top designer brands like Castañer, Pedro García and Mascaró, some of Spain’s leading international names. Patent was decidedly in, as was exotic leather like crocodile, and ankle-boots are also still a hit.

The most exclusive brands have also looked to the timeless salon shoe. Magrit ’s version sported turquoise satin and multi-coloured strips. Paco Gil went for a fine toe and tan snakeskin, while Casadei chose the same material in burgundy. Designer Chie Mihara produced her most glam version yet in cherry red and violet with coloured heelpieces. Sacha London went for stylish suede and patent combinations which contrasted with his flatter, more comfortable Sachelle line.

In a class of her own was designer Pura López, with sensual patent pumps and nude aged leather. Satin and gathering spiced up her party line, while the rest of the collection used buckles and pinking. The designer has turned forest green and stone grey into her new basics.

The ankle-boot, a classic on the edge
Virtually everybody in the Glamour section found space for ankle-boots. They appeared in a sweet rustic version in the Biviel collection, always in natural shades, and in Sinela Gallery as two-toned Oxford style in white and stone grey with unexpected openings on the instep. The Hispanitas ankle-boot had something of the musketeer about it, with a horn heel, buckles and backstitching. Paco Herrero again went in for a patent effect, this time the colour of champagne and knotted at the ankle. Also two-toned were Patricia’s “scraped”-finish version with a medium wedge.

High boots were the Pons Quintana choice, with the brand’s trademark plaits in black patent leather. Unisa went for ultra-high sensuality with slight platforms in contrasting colours. For an elegant note, there were solid boots with stone-grey strips from Ferrerias, while Pepe Castell went for extra-long legs that covered the knee. Looky combined laced-up gaiters with suede and metallic materials for a retrofuturistic effect. Homers went for a close-fitting wedge boot in tan or beige. The company has positioned itself on the edge with its soft, easy-wear Saqueto line, which offers sandals and shoes as well as boots.

Alima offered its Rain Boots collection, in bright colours with a slightly raised toe, side buckle and rubber tread. It also had original patent street boots with a pointed neck. Its colourful young sister brand Ras went for comfy stretch-fit ballet pumps in pastel shads with bulky bows on the instep. Right on the cutting edge was Balearic brand Farrutx with patent-leather Mary Janes updates, raised on oversized suede platforms.

Luxury for him
Yanko was back with its premium materials (Morocco leather, boxcalf, Varik...) for its traditional male designs, some plain, some discreetly stitched down, but all in black leather. Another classic is Barrats, whose die-cut moccasins are adorned with buckles.

Magnanni goes for men’s hand-stitched shoes with a new line made from foal leather. Pertini chooses classical shapes, like Oxfords, but is bold on colour (reds, whites) and mixing textures.

Comfort for youngsters
The Niños Casual section is for children’s and outdoor brands. Cienta is a kids’ brand that offers cotton and wool to create predominantly houndstooth designs. For a splash of colour, Xti offers a patent effect and Gioseppo sneakers, while Mariquita Pérez adds the sweetness of the doll from which it got its name.

For a more cutting edge take on children’s shoes, Gorila offered its “off-roader ” school designs. It also debuted Murciélago, a new sportier shoe.

Footwear + technology
Another Hergar group brand is Callaghan, which offered sporty shoes inspired by Formula 1, or others in a lumberjack look or reminiscent of the Argentine Amazon in the Fifties. Panama Jack offered its new clog Life, and Fluchos, urban designs using sporty technology for the most technical approach we saw at this event.

Martinelli had an extensive stand beside sister brand, Pikolinos. Based on the slogan "Find the beauty", it placed the emphasis on accessories with tan-coloured doctor bags coordinated with moccasins, and cocktail designs in patent and natural leather, antik and quilt. The new Pikolinos women’s collection is elegantly minimalist, with straight, clean-cut lines. The brand has paid special attention to inner soles with linings made from a single piece of leather for maximum comfort. Its first line in salon shoes and wedges, which goes by the name of Cuba, emphasises the sophistication of this brand for women. For him, it has updated casual shoe Catania and launched a more formal version called Philadelphia, which retains the extra comfort of sports soles.

Calzados Nuevo Milenio showed how new trends can be used in classic shoes like its Victoria pumps, with houndstooth contrasted with pastel shades and wrinkle metallic finishes in silver and violet. The brand will soon be renewing its partnerships with young designers, having worked with duo Luxoir for several seasons.

Footwear cool
There was also room at Modacalzado for less conventional footwear in a fresh and carefree style. Vienty had an original stand in pastel shades. Its most exclusive line, Pure Vienty, looks to crinkled patent, velvet and zips, mixtures of pink, buckles and rustic looking leather in Vintage.

Metallic materials and textile prints are a favourite with KTW, whose salon shoes sport bright red soles and ultra-high heels and whose sneakers feature Liberty print and Vichy check. Its stand came with a DJ and was one of the liveliest at the event. Close by was the Gioseppo stand with graffiti-look sneakers and lace-up sports boots.

The glitter effect was represented by Destroy, with its soft-legged boots and ankle-boots, either plain or with flaps. New Rock offered high, heavy platforms in white and colour adorned with a profusion of buckles.

Iberpiel’s edgy accessories
Accessories for autumn-winter 2008/09 were on show at Iberpiel. Olimpo went for classic earth-toned briefcases and elegant belts with impeccable backstitching. The firm’s freshest line was a set of colourful belts in bright reds and sky-blue. Miguel Bellido, which is part of the same group, offered feminine patent-leather belts with round buckles in the same shades of red or black.

Puntotres brought its collection of bags and accessories combining crocodile with leather in unusual colours like violet. Its young–looking bandoleers and briefcases with appliqué and black-nickel buckles. Cats has also gone for crocodile, one of the star materials of this Modacalzado. It uses a metallic version in big bags, some of which are made in crinkle patent. Dimoni has gone for quilted doctor bags in earthy shades with luxury detail like gold chains. Drap also went for plenty of sparkle with wallets and baguette bags decorated with strass.