Category: News

The surge in Brazilian footwear exports during the first two months of the year—more than 21 million pairs shipped, a 14.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024—is fueling optimism among footwear manufacturers ahead of the fourth edition of BFSHOW. Recognized as the biggest footwear trade show in Latin America in terms of both space and number of participating brands, the event will take place from May 19 to 21 at Distrito Anhembi, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Abicalçados’ Relationship and Business Manager, Letícia Sperb Masselli, emphasizes that the trade show has been attracting both domestic and, especially, international buyers seeking the excellence of Brazilian footwear. “Brazil is the leading footwear supplier outside Asia, combining quality and competitive pricing, particularly given the current exchange rate,” she explains. According to her, BFSHOW has already become an international reference for Brazilian footwear. “Since its first edition, the trade show has stood out for the opportunities and business generated for the international market. BFSHOW is the right place to win over international clients without leaving Brazil,” she adds.

Rico Azeredo, Head of New Business at NürnbergMesse Brasil, highlights the strong potential of the buyers registering for the event. “We already have confirmed buyers from key international markets, and we are seeing growing interest from the United States, Argentina, and European countries such as Spain, which in 2025 became the third-largest destination for Brazilian footwear abroad,” he notes. The organizer projects that the event will welcome more than 1,200 international buyers from all continents.

The prospect of boosting exports—or even kickstarting them—is one of the key reasons hundreds of companies participate in BFSHOW. Among them is Crep, a children's footwear manufacturer from São José dos Campos, São Paulo. The company’s CFO, Carla Crepaldi, shares that in November 2024, the brand secured its first international client at BFSHOW. “Since the second edition, we had been in talks with a major Peruvian wholesaler, but we had not yet formalized the export deal. Last November, we made our first international sale, and from now on, we plan to strengthen our presence in this market,” she says.

United States Sets Its Sights on Brazil
One of the confirmed international buyers is David Benzikry, CEO of Spring Footwear Corp., from the United States. Already working with Brazilian brands, he says this will be his first time attending BFSHOW. “We import more than US$50 million in footwear annually and are the largest national footwear distribution chain in the U.S. Brazilian footwear is a blend of fashion, functionality, and feeling,” he says. According to Benzikry, the company plans to establish new contacts at BFSHOW. “The tariffs between China and the U.S. are playing a key role in driving our search for new partners in Brazil,” he adds.

Summer Appeal in Spain
Another confirmed buyer at BFSHOW is Jose Antonio Albero, CEO of Nuez Moscada SL from Spain. With 400 stores across the country, the group already works with several Brazilian footwear companies and imports more than 20,000 pairs of Brazilian shoes annually. “Brazilian footwear is synonymous with vacations, leisure, and summer. For a country like Spain, where tourism is booming and summers are getting longer, Brazil offers the right product, combining competitive pricing with quality,” he says. At BFSHOW, Albero plans to visit existing suppliers and seek new manufacturers in the segment.

With a total area of over 32,000 square meters, the fourth edition of BFSHOW has already sold 93% of its exhibition spaces to Brazilian brands. Exhibitors interested in participating can visit the "QUERO EXPOR" section on the event’s website. Buyers can also use the same site to complete their pre-registration. www.bfshow.com.br. Neste mesmo site, compradores podem realizar o credenciamento antecipado.

SERVICE

4th BFSHOW
Date: May 19–21
Location: Distrito Anhembi (Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209, Santana, São Paulo, Brazil)

The rising domestic demand for footwear fueled the industry’s production growth in 2024. Data compiled by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), based on IBGE indexes, show that production grew by 3.5% compared to 2023. In total, 896.8 million pairs were produced, with 97.4 million destined for export.

Abicalçados’ executive president, Haroldo Ferreira, explains that production growth could have been even higher if not for the surge in imported footwear, particularly from Asia. Last year, imports increased by 26% compared to 2023, with about 90% of these imports coming from Asian countries, mainly Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. “Today, over 85% of our production is absorbed by the domestic market, which remained strong throughout 2024, with apparent consumption growing by 7.7%. However, a significant share of this positive domestic performance was captured by imports,” says Ferreira.

Close to Pre-Pandemic Levels
The 896.8 million pairs produced in 2024 nearly matched the volume recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, when production reached 898.8 million pairs—just 0.2% higher than last year. Looking ahead to 2025, despite ongoing challenges, particularly in the international market, the sector is expected to recover losses caused by the global pandemic crisis. “2025 will be a challenging year, but we remain optimistic. In May, with BFSHOW—the largest footwear trade show in Latin America, held in São Paulo—we will have a clearer gauge of market trends,” Ferreira projects.

BFSHOW
BFSHOW is set to host more than 350 Brazilian footwear brands, welcoming retailers and importers from around the world. Taking place from May 19 to 21 at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, the event will showcase Summer collections, which account for over 70% of the domestic footwear industry's sales. More information is available at www.bfshow.com.br. www.bfshow.com.br.

The leading footwear trade show in Latin America, BFSHOW, will be 30% bigger in its fourth edition. Taking place from May 19 to 21 at the Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, the event will cover a total area of 31,900 square meters, up from 22,500 square meters in May 2024. Organized by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) and NürnbergMesse Brasil, the upcoming edition has already sold over 80% of its available spaces.

Abicalçados’ Executive President, Haroldo Ferreira, points out that despite an uncertain scenario, especially in international markets, expectations for the trade show remain strong. “The Summer collections to be showcased at BFSHOW account for more than 70% of the Brazilian footwear industry’s annual sales. Both exhibitors and buyers recognize that this is the ideal moment to stock up for a year in which we anticipate a 2% increase in production, driven primarily by the domestic market,” says Ferreira.

Latin America’s Leading Trade Show
João Paulo Picolo, CEO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, highlights the event’s growth, as it solidifies its position as the region’s most important business platform for the footwear industry in both scale and exhibitor quality. “BFSHOW brings together all the leading Brazilian footwear brands, attracting a significant number of buyers from across the country and five continents,” says Picolo. The upcoming edition is expected to feature more than 350 Brazilian footwear brands, representing all industry segments and production hubs.

A Democratic Space
BFSHOW is an exclusive platform for showcasing Brazilian footwear manufacturers, whether or not they are Abicalçados members. Exhibit spaces are still available—companies can apply by filling out the form at the link https://bfshow.com.br/expositor/.

With the conclusion of its third edition, BFSHOW—organized by the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados) and NürnbergMesse Brasil—has established itself as the leading trade show dedicated to the footwear sector in Latin America. The event stood out for its strong industry representation, international reach, and impressive results. It was held at Distrito Anhembi, in São Paulo/Brazil, from November 11 to 13.

In November, the trade show brought together 330 brands and 238 exhibitors, covering 11,611 square meters of exhibition space within a total area of 25,000 square meters. Buyers from 51 countries—including Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Israel, Kuwait, Libya, Mozambique, Botswana, Portugal, Switzerland, and Slovenia—were in attendance, contributing to a total of 10,495 visitors over three days, 1,130 of whom were international. These numbers reflect BFSHOW’s growing reach and prestige. “BFSHOW reinforced the Brazilian footwear sector’s projections for more than 3% growth in 2024 and an additional 2% in 2025. It was a showcase of Brazilian footwear to the world and will continue to serve as a key indicator of an industry that is so relevant to Brazil,” says Letícia Sperb Masselli, Abicalçados’ Business and Relationship Manager.

Another highlight of the event was the Buyer Program, a partnership between Abicalçados, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), and NürnbergMesse Brasil, which brought in 638 buyers—478 from Brazil and 160 from international markets. “These figures speak volumes about the market’s potential. The trade show is still young, now in its third edition, with two of them already held in São Paulo. Moving the event to São Paulo was a strategic decision to further boost business opportunities and facilitate access for exhibitors and visitors alike,” adds Rico Azeredo, Head of New Business at NürnbergMesse Brasil. Beyond its strong numbers, BFSHOW has gained recognition for presenting the latest developments in the Brazilian footwear industry, reinforcing its role as a key hub for business, innovation, and strategic connections across the Latin American market.
Além dos números significativos, a BFSHOW tem se destacado por trazer o que há de mais atual na indústria calçadista brasileira, consolidando seu papel como referência para negócios, inovações e conexões estratégicas no setor latino-americano.

The next edition of the event will take place from May 19 to 21, 2025, at Distrito Anhembi. For more information, visit bfshow.com.br.

The 3rd edition of BFSHOW, footwear fair that brought together more than 330 brands between November 11 and 13, in the Anhembi District, in São Paulo/SP, registered record visitation and business. According to the organization, over the three days more than 10.4 thousand buyers passed through the pavilions of the event, which is twice as many as in November 2023. According to the Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), the deals took place in important volumes, which will be tabulated in the coming days.

The CEO of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, points out that BFSHOW will be decisive for the positive expectations of the sector. For 2024, the forecast for growth in production exceeds 3%, to more than 890 million pairs. By 2025, growth will be around 2%, causing the sector to recover losses from the pandemic and reach more than 900 million pairs produced. “We have here a great showcase of Brazilian footwear for the world. We gathered, in these three days, the main brands of the country and buyers from more than 60 countries”, evaluates the director, stressing that at the fair, significant business took place both in the domestic and international markets. "To attract buyers from abroad, BFSHOW worked together with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). With these projects alone, 160 importers and five international journalists were invited to promote our product abroad”, Ferreira lists.

According to the CEO of NürnbergMesse Brasil, João Paulo Picolo, with each edition, BFSHOW demonstrates its growth and, therefore, has consolidated itself so quickly as the main event of the Brazilian footwear sector. “The fair is already an indispensable meeting point for professionals and the partnership of NürnbergMesse Brasil with Abicalçados has been fundamental to this success”, he comments. The CEO also says that the results of the third edition exceeded all expectations. “We are confident that BFSHOW will continue to evolve and strengthen the national footwear market. No wonder it is already among the main events in the company's portfolio. For the next edition, in May 2025, we expect a growth of 20% when compared to the number of exhibitors and visitors”, he evaluates.

"Right place and right time”
For Marcos Huff, director of Killana, from Três Coroas / RS, BFSHOW is a consolidated fair as the main one in the Brazilian calendar. According to him, during the three days, the exhibition received national and international clients focused on business. “BFSHOW is in the right place and at the right time, with logistical facilities and a very clear positioning aimed at the business. It is very similar to the main fairs in Europe”, he evaluates. Huff also points out that the company, in addition to receiving traditional customers, has opened new markets in Latin America, North America and Europe. “We had much better results than the fair held in May. For the May 2025 edition, we are even more optimistic, " he adds. Currently, Killana has a production of about 13 thousand pairs per month, of which it exports 60%.

The fair was also very positive for Crep, children's footwear industry of São José dos Campos / SP. The company's financial director, Carla Crepaldi, says the company opened its first international client at BFSHOW. "Since the second edition, we've been talking to a large wholesaler from Peru, but we had not yet formalized the export. In this edition, we made our first international sale, a market that we will work harder on from now on”, she celebrates. With a production of 600 pairs per day, the company sees BFSHOW as an important sales and relationship platform with the national and international markets and has confirmed their presence for the May 2025 edition.

With a visitation “much higher than last May”, Di Valentini, from São João Batista/SC, was quite satisfied with BFSHOW. According to the director of the company, José Osterno Filho, the fair had customers focused on business. “We have acquired new clients both domestically and internationally – in Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, England and Guatemala,” he says. Producing 6.5 thousand pairs per day, Di Valentini exports about 12% of its production, mainly to South American markets.

Fidelis Ferreira, from the sales department at Calçados Maria Isabel, from Conceição do Coité/BA, says that he did good business at the event and left some others agreed upon for the post-fair. “I believe that we will have a growth between 20% and 30% in the business carried out here, in relation to the November 2023 fair, contact domestic and international market, from where we had visits from Canada and Argentina”, projects the shoemaker.

International
For the first time at BFSHOW, Arise buyer from Mozambique, Thembumenzi Souto, said that she has been buying premium Brazilian shoes since 2009, when she decided to exchange suppliers from Bulgaria for suppliers from Brazil. “When I met the Brazilian products, I realized that they had a much higher quality and variety. Currently, we work with seven brands from Brazil and BFSHOW is giving us the opportunity to expand our product mix here”, says the importer, stressing that the partnership of her network with the Brazilian footwear industry is very important for the company's growth.

National
Brazilian buyers were also positively surprised by the structure of the pavilions that hosted BFSHOW in the Anhembi District. Nostalgic for a time when large trade fairs took place on the site, before the renovation opened this year, shopkeepers stressed the quality of the renovation and the organization of the event. “I really liked the structure, with easy access and good distribution by segments”, evaluates the shopkeeper Vinícius Liessi dos Santos, from Calçado Franca, from Maringá/PR. According to him, the network closed deals and left many others agreed upon for the coming months.

The next edition of the BFSHOW will also take place in the Anhembi District, in São Paulo/SP, between May 19th and 21st, 2025.

Companies use recycled materials, green energy and reduce water waste

The footwear market is heated and is expected to reach the mark of 893 million pairs produced by the end of this year, an increase of 3.2% compared to 2023. This growth goes hand in hand with sustainability, a theme that has gotten prominence at BFSHOW, the main footwear fair in the country that was held between November 11 and 13 in the Anhembi District, in São Paulo. The fair featured the Arena Sustentabilidade space, an exhibition that presented products from ten companies, all of them developed with sustainable production practices and certified by Sustainable Origin.

Among the brands that stand out in the subject, is Pegada Calçados. At the fair, the company presented Pegada ECOSTEP, a footwear line with canvas upper and recycled cotton mesh, elastic PET yarn laces and recycled material soles. "ECOSTEP emerged as a way to communicate and consolidate our sustainability actions. Each pair is produced by reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded and adopting processes that reduce environmental impacts, bringing a new perspective to sustainable fashion, transforming recycled raw materials into modern and comfortable sneakers.", says Renata Scholles, Marketing Manager of the company.

“We observe a growing interest in topics such as sustainability and we know that this engagement reflects the trend of the Brazilian market, where more and more consumers prioritize products that combine environmental responsibility and durability. Therefore, we have further intensified our sustainable actions to meet this demand.", explains Renata. Pegada has received, in 2024, the Diamond level certification – the highest category - of the Sustainable Origin project, promoted by Abicalçados in partnership with Assintecal, which recognizes the best environmental, economic and social practices of the footwear industry. "This level indicates that we follow strict criteria in areas such as waste management, energy efficiency, traceability of raw materials and care for social responsibility, such as good working conditions and support for the communities where we operate,” she adds.

Modare Ultraconforto, from the Grupo Beira Rio S. A, also presents sustainable products at the fair, with the Bio-Nurture concept, which combines technology and nature, elevating women's self-care and sustainable well-being. The products are vegan and comfort-focused, meeting the growing demand for conscious and environmentally responsible choices. "Modare delivers comfort and care for the feet, as well as style at a much more affordable price than the competition. It reuses waste in the product and creates accessible store spaces, collaborating for the local economy throughout Brazil", explains Tiago Vicente, marketing advisor of the brand. The company also relies on zero water waste and the use of 98% green energy in its activities. 

Piccadilly is another company that values sustainable practices, operating with solar energy and zero landfill policies. Recognized for innovation and comfort technologies, Piccadilly has received, for the second time, the Diamond certification in Sustainable Origin. 

For the next season's collection, the brand launches the Gisa Doll shoe, with model's sole that incorporates 20% recycled waste, from the reuse of injection leftovers of the same material, which are ground and reintegrated into the production process. 

Actvitta and Olympikus brands brought their ambassadors to the BFSHOW, among them the golden duo Ana Patrícia and Duda Lisboa and the former marathon runner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima

Great Olympic athletes from Brazil visited BFSHOW, the largest footwear fair in the country, representing two brands that stand out for their support of national athletes. The first to pass through the corridors of the Anhembi District, in São Paulo/SP, were Lucas Mozela, from Paralympic swimming; and judoka William Lima, Olympic medalists in Paris 2024, both Actvitta ambassadors. 

William positively highlighted the experience of visiting the fair. “I have always been a lover of sneakers. So for me, it's a unique experience to be here. I want to go out and see the other exhibitors too”, said the judoka, who praised the partnership with the brand. "I have the brand in my day–to-day life, and it's indescribable to be an ambassador for a company that is so supportive of athletes-something we need very much.” sneakers. Então, para mim, é uma experiência única estar aqui. Quero sair e ver os outros expositores também”, contou o judoca, que enalteceu a parceria com a marca. “Tenho a marca no meu dia a dia, e é indescritível ser embaixador de uma empresa que apoia tanto os atletas – uma coisa que precisamos muito.”

Paralympic swimmer Lucas Mozela also highlighted the inclusive proposal of the new Calçados Beira Rio campaign. "Actvitta has also come to promote inclusion, reinforcing the image and further helping Paralympic sport gain visibility. I am very happy to be in this great event and next to this squad of great athletes”, he adds. squad de grandes atletas”, completa.

Ana Patrícia and Duda Lisboa, beach volleyball duo and gold medalists; and gymnast Arthur Nory, owner of a bronze medal, all from Paris 2024, closed the day at the Beira Rio stand. The trio also stars in the new Actvitta brand campaign. Ana Patrícia praised the duo's entry into the universe of fashion and footwear, and highlighted the good reception upon arrival at BFSHOW. “I am very happy to see the stand full of people to welcome us. It is an honor to be an ambassador for this brand that has believed in sport and has been giving us the opportunity to show our work.” Her partner Duda Lisboa, completes. “I am delighted to be alongside a company that supports sport but also values comfort and style.”

The welcoming reception from the audience also surprised Arthur Nory, also a bronze medalist on the solo at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. “When we came in, we were surprised. Look at all this recognition! I'm very grateful to be here, representing such a great brand, so good and comfortable, and who still believes in and encourages the sport.” 

Ambassador of the Olympikus Brand, former marathoner Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima also attended the event at the invitation of the Vulcabras group. A bronze medalist at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Vanderlei highlighted the opportunity to speak about the brand at the largest footwear event in Brazil. "Olympikus is a very important brand not only for sport, but for the Brazilian foot. I believe that the brand acts in a very democratic way, for people of all social conditions. It is a shoe made by Brazilians for Brazilians", finished the medalist. 

Moonbeam Grey, elected by Pantone as the shade of the coming year, already appears in the winter collections of bags and shoes

Every year, Pantone, the world's authority on color, identifies a trend that should dominate fashion in the coming months. For 2025, the company is betting on Moonbeam Gray – a lighter shade of gray, which refers to the clarity of a “moonbeam”. The color is already present among the collections presented at BFSHOW, the largest footwear fair in Brazil, which took place in the Anhembi District, in São Paulo/SP.

The brand Anacapri, from the Azzas 2154 group, sought in the European style the way to approach color in its new collection. According to the Marketing manager Marcelo Bohm Ferreira, the hue is a very strong bet on the brand's winter. “We put this gray in several models, especially in shoes inspired by the Lady Like style, " he says. The trend, with references to the fashion of the 40s, abuses of bows, lace and ruffles and comes strongly for the next season. “We saw a lot of both color and style in our research trips, and we brought this combination as a bet to Brazil. The color Moonbeam Grey takes on the role of the ”new basic" for winter, a new black that adds a different touch to the collection.” new black que dá um toque diferente para a coleção.”

Light gray brings light to a collection dominated by dark tones, as well as referencing the comfort of tailoring, which has always been marked by tonality. That's Jorge Bischoff's analysis. According to Peterson Rosa, the group's Multi-Brand Marketing Analyst, the tone, named “Alaska gray” by the brand, gives lightness to the bags and shoes of the season that, in general, are more geared towards earthy tones. “In winter, the biggest bet is always on strong tones, such as brown, black and red. This gray brings light to this darkness, referencing the transition from the beggining of the winter. It is a point of light inside the storefront of the shopkeepers”, he completes. 

Moonbeam Grey also appears in men's collections. Brands such as West Coast and Mormaii used the color to diversify the portfolio of dark shades, which always dominate men's shoes. “Our marketing and product teams are always attuned to trendy colors that will be on the rise in the coming years. We seek these novelties because we know that most bets on men's fashion are black and white. As a differential, we always bring one or two colors that will be a trend for our customers and consumers,” says Rafael Russo Rysdyk, Marketing Manager of Dilly Sports, owner of the brands. According to him, light gray shoes attracted visitors who were more attuned to fashion trends at the BFSHOW. “It was often the first shoe they picked up,” he concludes.