What footwear will be consumed next summer?
Faced with an exceptional situation, where the pandemic determines the functioning of the markets, the chain that makes up the footwear industry is not exempt from this problem and the development of consumption will mark its destiny.
Based on various data collected in areas where the evolution of the sector is analyzed, such as business and industrial chambers, consultancy firms, market research entities and fashion forums, it can be concluded that the reduced consumption of footwear will continue in the immediate future, without reaching the levels it had in the pre-pandemic year.
This is due to the new scale of priorities imposed by the health crisis, which has privileged health, food and housing within family spending.
Footwear and clothing were temporarily postponed due to these circumstances.
The reversal of this trend will accelerate the more effective epidemiological control is.
Undoubtedly, the economy in general has been strongly affected by the pandemic. And in particular, family income in most social strata has suffered a noticeable decrease. In different segments, related to the labor force, there were layoffs, suspensions and definitive closures that have damaged the purchasing power of the population.
Thus, the direct consequence is a lower consumption of footwear, and a search for lower-priced products.
It is well known that the validity of the health crisis has installed a new system of life, of greater stay in homes, with confinement and isolation, with restricted mobility and a marked reduction in social activities.
For this reason, in addition to volume, footwear consumption significantly changed their preferences. The purchasing trend is for more comfortable and functional products for different areas of use.
The lower public exposure and the lack of social events weakened the consumption of fashionable footwear and all its dynamics, which functioned as a sales promoter.
Due to the aforementioned circumstances, there is a greater rationalization of the fashion value in footwear, which maintains updated guidelines within timeless aesthetic parameters, with the purpose of giving it greater validity over time.
The excess of luxury, accessories and ornamental complements are also relegated by a more basic and versatile modeling.
These new market and demand conditions, oriented towards the upcoming Spring-Summer season, allow forecasting a generalized use of comfortable and practical footwear, with a “rationalized aesthetic”, which include open and closed lines.
Among the former, flip flops and sandals will make up a diversified and voluminous offer, with a prevalence of flat models. The creative axis and visual change of the collections arises from the deep “restyling” to which well-known structures are subjected, based on new materials, textures, colors and their combinations.
In closed lines, an absolute predominance of sneakers is expected, with or without laces, which in textile and synthetic materials, with light and flexible soles, will also be imposed by the renewal of style, through original and new developments in designs.
The growing preference in the use of sneakers, in addition to reasons of comfort, functionality and aesthetics, is due to the meaning of sharing a current cultural code with profound changes, which dilutes formality in clothing, in order to revalue pleasure, freedom and diversity.
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