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WF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
REDESIGN FOR GDS
The organisers of the GDS footwear
exhibition, which next takes place in
Düsseldorf from March 14–16, have said
the event will be “more modern and
exquisite” this time around.
Summing up the changes, GDS
director Kirstin Deutelmoser said: “With
a new trade fair design and a white
cubes facelift we are also showing in
visual terms that we are the trendsetter
and pathfinder for a whole industry. The
preparations are going very well and we
are perfectly geared to receiving the
international shoe sector as it gets
together in Düsseldorf in March.”
New exhibitors will include Benson
Shoes, Via Roma, Dumond, Piedi Nudi,
Aerosoles and Barefooters. Showing for
the first time at the premium segment
are Jo Ghost, Kenzo, Paul &
Joe/Berthier, Santoni Club/Vestitus and
Ducanero.
For the first time fashion designer
Michael Michalsky will be exhibiting a
shoe collection at GDS in the white
cubes area. In the Urban area such
exhibitors as Nickelson, Panama Jack,
PLDM by Palladium, Shepherd,
Coqueterra, Moonboot by Tecnica, Hi-
Tec, Les Tropeziennes par M Belarbi,
Trifoglio and Umber celebrate their
debuts. And even in the Kids segment
there will be many exciting first-time
exhibitors such as Lea Lelo and Aster.
In all, more than 800 exhibitors from
more than 30 countries are expected at
GDS. They will be presenting their
latest shoe, bag and accessories
collections for the 2012-13 autumn-
winter season.
LEATHER FOOTWEAR
CENTRE OPENS IN
HYDERABAD, PAKISTAN
The Hyderabad Leather Footwear
Centre (HLFC) was inaugurated in
Pakistan on 26 January, to promote the
production of leather shoes locally and
to discourage imports of footwear.
The representatives of Small and
Medium Enterprises Development
Authority (SMEDA), Sindh Small
Industries Corporation (SSCI) and
Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (HCCI), jointly performed
the inauguration.
General manager of SMEDA, Muslim
Raza, said that Pakistan needs 40
million shoes and sandals per year.
Most of the local demand is currently
met through imports from China, Mr
Raza said.
“The local people have skills and
experience of manufacturing quality
footwear and they only needed to be
equipped with the proper equipment
to be able to produce the goods in the
required numbers,” he said.
Mr Raza said the HLFC was equipped
with machinery for manufacturing shoes
and hand-made small footwear
manufacturing units for training the staff.
Senior vice president of HCCI, Turab
Ali Khoja, said that the business
community was happy on the revival
of footwear industry in Hyderabad
after almost two decades. “It is an old
industry of Hyderabad but attention
was not given to its development
earlier,” he said.
The programme was attended by
Muhammad Junaid, project manager
at HLFC, Zeeshan Ahmed, project
director at HLFC, Syed Yawar Ali Shah
and Adnan Khan, members board of
directors at HLFC, Abdul Saleem
Arain, vice president of HCCI and
other businessmen.
6
WORLD FOOTWEAR | MARCH/APRIL 2012
Products
&
Services
VIBRAM WINS RECOGNITION FROM REI
TWO YEARS RUNNING
For the second year in a row, Italian brand Vibram, best known for its high
performance soles for outdoor, recreational, work and fashion footwear, has
been named by US outdoor retail co-operative REI as its Vendor Partner of
the Year.
The annual awards programme, established in 1993 by REI, recognises
three key vendors for divisional awards and one vendor as its overall Vendor
Partner of the Year. Companies are nominated by the co-op’s three
merchandising divisions, camping, action sports and outdoor, for their efforts
to build a strategic and successful relationship. REI retail employees vote to
determine the winners.
Angela Owen, senior vice-president of merchandising for REI, said on
announcing the result: “We recognise Vibram again as they continue to attract
consumers’ attention [with] new products. We value their extraordinary
commitment to our business partnership as demonstrated everyday through
their unparalleled service and support.”