EXPOCAIPIC: Keeping pace with the market
On Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th May, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., the 69th edition of EXPOCAIPIC, the traditional exhibition of Argentine suppliers for the footwear and manufactured goods industry, took place at the Costa Salguero exhibition center in Buenos Aires.
A total of 62 exhibitors occupied 140 stands within the 4,300 m2 Pavilion 5 of the fairground.
The main exhibited sectors included: Leather (7 stands); Materials and supplies (11); Components and accessories (16); Soles (10); Machinery (9); Press and services (7); and Institutions (2).
Out of 2,643 pre-accredited visitors, 2,442 people attended the fair, with 95% being local and the rest from abroad, particularly neighboring countries.
The second day of the fair was the most crowded, with 1,030 visitors, while the first day had an attendance of 603 people, and the last day had 809. The peak attendance hours were between 3:30 p.m and 7 p.m.
The event showcased proposals for the Spring-Summer 2023/24 season, which runs from September 21st, 2023, to March 21st, 2024.
Taking into account the characteristics of the season, the materials and components intended for open style aesthetically showcased a lot of color and design value. In terms of soles, in addition to new designs, innovative lightweight and flexible materials were presented, featuring ergonomic and comfortable details (anatomical insoles) that are adaptable to different lines of slides and sandals.
Overall, the soles maintained medium volumes, with a trend towards increasing heights in platforms and flats. A wide variety of soles for sneakers were also showcased.
This edition revealed a greater focus on rationalizing the development of molds, taking into account the current market conditions, allowing for the recreation of new models based on previous collections.
Injection-molded footwear, made of one or multiple pieces, gained significant momentum as an alternative to traditionally assembled products.
Despite a period of high inflation, the Argentine footwear sector continues to maintain good activity levels within a relatively stable consumer market. However, political and economic uncertainties hinder accurate projections for the immediate future. Most opinions agree on a state of permanent expectation, which generates a pragmatic and effective attitude towards day-to-day operations. Thus, the industry progresses according to market dictates.
The sector is well aware of entering a period of intense political discussions (election period) that influence the economy and consumer behavior. Caution and rationality have become the best insurance to navigate the upcoming change in government and await potential political shifts.
In the meantime, the industry remains committed to its core productions, and entrepreneurs show interest in the innovations presented at EXPOCAIPIC to continue planning their upcoming Spring-Summer collections.
Both suppliers and manufacturers considered the fair to be positive, particularly for providing a new impetus and enthusiasm to the sector in the face of a future that is difficult to predict.
The conference schedule, held at the Auditorium Hall, garnered good attendance and featured renowned professionals.
On May 9th, the first presentation was "Medieval mold making system in sustainable footwear design" by Pilar Puente Gregores, followed by two conferences on May 10th: "How to grow your footwear business" by Adrián Wright and "Spring-Summer 2023/24 trends" by Mariana Marrari.
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