About us
Assocalzaturifici is the national association representing industrial shoemakers in Italy. It has about 500 member companies and represents the excellence of Italian footwear. The footwear sector as a whole employs over 72,000 people and exports 85% of its production, with an annual turnover of 14.5 billion euros (2022 data).
Assocalzaturifici is a member of the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry and an active member of Confindustria.
It pursues its Mission by participating in the development of Italian society, contributing to the rise of an innovative, international, sustainable business model capable of promoting economic, social, civil and cultural growth and development in Italy. The association is active in a number of arenas at the national and international levels, supplying strategic and innovative Services.
Assocalzaturifici is a member of Confindustria Moda, a federation bringing together textiles, fashion and accessories companies to act as ambassadors of the excellence of Italian manufacturing industry, reinforcing the specific mission of each of its member associations by offering cross-cutting services such as legal consultancy, management of industrial relations and a study office, with a focus on issues of specific interest such as prevention of copyright infringement, distribution, and trade union relations.
Assocalzaturifici's history
The Association’s steps through the presidential terms
Italian footwear sector
In the year of the recovery after the heavy downturns induced by the pandemic, Italy was confirmed by far as the the leading shoe manufacturing country in the European Union (with 148.8 million pairs produced). Holds thirteenth place amongst world-wide footwear manufacturing countries in volume terms.
It is the eighth exporting country in the world in volume, but the third in terms of value (and has returned to second place in value, behind China, with reference to footwear with leather uppers, overtaking Vietnam) [2021 data, WorldFootwearYearbook 2022 edition].
Italy has always been the undisputed leader among manufacturers of luxury and high level shoes having a high fashion content.
European Footwear Confederation
C.E.C. – European Footwear Confederation – is the organization that officially represents the footwear industry in the European Union, promoting its interests and values.
A sector with 19,856 companies, 260 thousand direct employees and a turnover of 27.55 billion euros (2018 data).
