07-03-2010 | Posted by: Lonneke Engel
Micam, the Shoe Event, Milano
Tags: micam | shoes | vic matie | timberland | united nude |

Twice a year you can find a big event happening at the Fieramilano, the Micam fair!

A shoelovers heaven, this fair brings shoe retailers, shoe agents and shoe producers together. Shoe producers show their collection for the next season, shoe agents just look at what trend is happening next season, and shoe retailers buy their next collection.

There seems to be thousands and thousands of stands! Some with nice shoes, some with shoes for your grandma, but lots of them!

As I have the perfect sample size feet, size 37 ( I really have size 38 but for this occasion I have size 37!) I went there to help my boyfriend Bas pick out his new collection. It is really fun, as I chose some shoes and tried them on. I tried on many, many shoes! After a few days walking by all the stands, my feet were sore, my back ached, but it was so worth it!

I chose one pair I need to have ( from Vic Matie) And I tried to persuade my boyfriend to buy eco friendly and sustainable shoebrand's collections, but he was right: Most of those brands have not succeeded in making fashionable looking shoes. Most of them are still a bit alternative to put it mildly. I hope this will change in the future! And the more we support these brands, the more they will succeed and more brands will become organic, sustainable or even vegan!

But an exception is Timberland. They are starting to incorporate more sustainable practices within their production, and start using more recycled rubber made from tires. The collection in which they do that is called: Earthkeepers. As one of the new trends next season is baggy jeans, or skinny jeans in high boots with laces, I think it is a nice brand to focus on!

A collection I loved was from United Nude,designed together with dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, but they were at the International Visitor's stand, and they make a lot of plastic shoes. For vegans a really nice option. I will write more about this brand in the future.

New trends I saw for Fall-Winter 2010-2011, were: The studs are still here, maybe even shoes with chains, ankle boots with laces with or without heels, a bit of cowboy inspired boots, "boyfriend" boots with laces, suede,colors are grey, black, blue, beige. Wedges and over-the-knee boots. Also I saw shoes that had leather that had studs that looked like (under the skin) studs.

I am excited for next season!
www.micam.com
www.unitednude.com
www.timberland.com