Ricoh Arena has announced that it will be hosting a new national footwear trade show.
Sole Fashion launches on 16-17 February, and will be showcasing Autumn/Winter 2020 footwear ranges. The show will return to the venue from 9-10 August 2020 for the Spring/Summer 2021 season.
The show is being launched by Penny Robinson, who has 20 years of experience in fashion events, and will see retailers from across the UK and Ireland viewing the latest male and female footwear collections from around 40 brands.
Robinson said: “Sole Fashion is all about reflecting what the industry wants – a commercial event that enables footwear labels and retailers to collaborate and do business in a productive and efficient environment.
“We’ve had a huge vote of confidence in our first event from some major footwear brands such as Rieker, Josef Seibel, Bugatti, Mephisto and Remonte that are exclusively exhibiting at Sole Fashion.
“Despite the time-pressured digital world we are in, the brands and retailers still want face-to-face interaction, and it’s incredibly satisfying to see our attempts at providing a more industry-aligned approach and new two-day format being so well received.
“Ricoh Arena not only has the capacity to accommodate the UK’s footwear industry, but allows for future expansion into other sectors such as fashion and accessories.
“With Sole Fashion being a new show, it’s so important that we make it as easy as possible for exhibitors and visitors to get there, and Ricoh Arena was the ideal fit being a two-hour drive within 75 per cent of the UK and less than 20 minutes down the road from Birmingham Airport.
“This show marks an exciting new chapter for the UK’s footwear industry which will be driven by those in attendance. I’ve already had some positive conversations with interested fashion brands and I’m really eager to see how it will evolve over the coming years.”
