The Italian footwear sector

Despite the negative economic situation in 2024, Italy confirmed itself as by far the leading footwear producer in the European Union (with 125.1 million pairs produced, just under 30% of the total).
Holds thirteenth place amongst world-wide footwear manufacturing countries in volume terms.
It is the tenth exporting country in the world in volume, but the third in terms of value behind China and Vietnam and the second in value, behind Vietnam, with reference only to footwear with leather uppers [2024 data, WorldFootwearYearbook, 2025 edition].
Italy has always been the undisputed leader among manufacturers of luxury and high level shoes having a high fashion content.

The Italian footwear sector is one of the pillars of the Fashion System.
It has approximately 3,200 companies and 68,300 employees, with a trade balance that has always been active (€4.84 billion in 2025).

As illustrated by data processed for Assocalzaturifici by the Research Centre of Confindustria Accessori Moda, the year 2025 was marked by an unfavorable economic climate, heavily impacted by the international economic and geopolitical landscape.
Annual sector turnover stood at €12.84 billion (a decrease of €365 million, or 2.8%, compared to the previous year), with €11.57 billion generated by exports (down 0.7%), including pure trading operations. Significant contractions in demand were observed in several areas, particularly outside the European Union.
On the domestic front – traditionally sluggish – 2025 brought signs of less strain compared to the recent past. The decline in Italian household purchasing seen over the preceding two years came to a halt: final figures from Sita Ricerca show virtually no change in either volume (-0.1%) or expenditure (+0.5%) compared to 2024.
National production is estimated to have fallen to 118.4 million pairs (down 5.4% in volume and 4.5% in value), 80.4 million of which featured leather uppers.

The footwear sector represents a reality of extreme qualitative and quantitative importance in the Italian economy.
The success of the sector in Italy is linked to the lively entrepreneurial spirit and to the typical structure of the sector, which is part of a “supply chain”, an operational system consisting of sub-suppliers of raw materials, tanneries, components, accessories, machinery manufacturers, model makers and stylists.

This has resulted in a territorial concentration of companies and the formation of shoe manufacturing districts. The main districts are located in the following regions: Marches, Tuscany, Veneto, Campania, Lombardy, Apulia and Emilia Romagna and cover 23 provinces.

The leading position of the Italian shoe industry on the International markets is due to the sector’s high level of competitiveness based on the superior quality of the product and an elevated capacity for innovation.

The characteristics that distinguish Italian production in the footwear sector are: creative talent, innovation of traditional manufacturing methods and skilled labour thanks also to the existence of professional training schools; raw materials, accessories and components that are in the forefront for technology and design; flexibility, thanks to the territorial concentration and size of the companies; a wide range of designs to suit current trends and satisfy customer demands; customer service and the “Made in Italy” image.

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