From 19 to 22 September, the Fiero Milano Rho Exhibition Centre in the city of Milan will be, for the second time this year, welcoming the prestigious MICAM footwear exhibition which will preview the upcoming spring/summer 2011 collections.

MICAM is to take place at what is the greatest international exhibition hall in its sector, thanks to its extensive offering led by maximum quality, design and innovation. The trade fair, which covers an area of more than 70,000 m2, will be the showground for some 1,900 exhibitors, of which nearly 40% originate from 30 different countries. Half of the 40,000 visitors of the fair come from outside of Italy.

As has now become customary, Spanish exhibitors now only come second to their Italian counterparts in number. This year, 71 companies will be in attendance, representing more than 102 footwear brands.

Collections which will certainly attract the most interest in what is now considered to be the greatest international showcase of footwear trends include Callaghan, which uses cutting-edge technology in its footwork; the vintage designs of Chie Mihara; Eli’s children’s footwear; the now unmistakable collection of Victoria and the high-end offerings of Jaime Mascaró, Magnanni, Magrit and Pedro García.

Italy is the second largest buyer of Spanish footwear after France, accounting for 11% of all exports in 2009 which amounts to 149.5 million euros, reflecting growth of 8%.

See list of Spanish exhibitors

On August 29, Sita Murt appeared to a packed house at Taipei In Style, one of Asia's leading catwalks.

Intended as a platform for new Asian talent in the design world, it also features leading international designers at every edition. Sita Murt joins the list of big names that have taken part in the event, including Issey Mikaye and Michel Kleing.

Taipei in Style was held in the Taiwanese capital from August 27 to 29, and Sita Murt presented the autumn-winter 2010/11 collection that made its debut at the 51st Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week. For the coming season, the Spanish designer has taken knitwear to its apex of sophistication, with original optical effects, reinforced shoulders and a colour palette dominated by lead blue and grey with hints of mustard.

Sita Murt hopes, in this way, to boost her expansion in the Asian market, where she already sells through stores like Harvey Nichols, Seibu, Hangzhou and Plaza House.

The designer, who has 20 shops in Spain and 1,900 POS all over the world, opened a stand alone in the Paris district of Marais last spring. Her brand first began its global venture with two shop-in-shops in the famous department store, Galeries Lafayette.

Sita Murt, autumn-winter 2010/11
Sita Murt in Paris
Interview with Sita Murt

Three regional Spanish capitals have been chosen for openings by Luxenter and Nice Things, which have opened three delightful new boutiques.

After the success of its standalones in Madrid, Luxenter has taken another step in its growth strategy with its first boutique in Barcelona. Located at 110, Rambla de Cataluña, in the heart of the city, it has an area of 85 square metres, spread over three floors.

The brand’s signature blue and white colours dress up the shop interior in a warm and welcoming way, and to elegant effect. The lighting and the use of mirrors are the key for putting the jewellery designs firmly on centre stage.

The 2010-2011 autumn-winter collection has a privileged place in the new shop. The new line will brighten up the darker shades typical of the coming season with a variety of colours, combining silver with hydrothermal quartz, tiger’s eye, blue aventurine and sunstones.

Its collection of charms for men and women was another one of the new products presented at the opening. These little pieces are versatile, carefully designed and ideal for gifts.

For its part, Nice Things continues to expand in Spain with more standalones. On this occasion, it strengthens its retail network with two new boutiques in Vitoria and Palma de Mallorca.

The Vitoria shop is at 28, Calle Eduardo Dato, and the Palma de Mallorca boutique is at 10, Calle Peraires. Both share the delicately feminine look typical of the brand, and feature its signature lampshades made from teapots and plates and its colourful wallpaper.

With the two new shops the Nice Things now has a total of 35 stores in Spain. Globally, the brand operates mainly in Portugal, where it has eight boutiques, as well as in France, where it has four, Greece where it has three and Switzerland and Andorra which have two apiece. Abroad, its shops are currently operating on a franchise basis, although the brand’s international expansion strategy considers the possibility of opening its own shops.

Nice Things opens flagship store in Madrid
Luxenter continues global expansion

Spanish womenswear, footwear and accessories chain Hakei has just announced its arrival in France next spring. Its global venture will commence with shop-in-shops and at multi-brand retailers.

The deal reached with Galeries Lafayette — the brand’s first international destination — includes three areas inside the famous Parisian department store which is already home to other Spanish brands like Hoss Intropia, Adolfo Domínguez and Pura López.

Launched in 2004 and controlled by the Bilbao family, Hakei has eight standalones in Spain — of which four are in Madrid and Pamplona, San Sebastián, Barcelona and Albacete each have one — as well as two shop-in-shops in the Madrid Corte Inglés department store at Serrano and Pozuelo.

In conjunction with its international growth, Hakei also plans to open two or three shops of its own in cities such as Murcia and Barcelona before the end of the year.

The company is also preparing the launch of its online platform, a project that will come to fruition next spring, coinciding with the opening of the shop-in-shops at Galeries Lafayette.

For the year ending 31 July 2010, the company had set itself the target of EUR 20 million. in turnover. This would triple the EUR 7 million it reached in 2009.

Hakei is now negotiating increasing its capital in order to finance growth for the period leading up to 2014. The six potential investors which could become partners in the company where the Bilbao family will retain its holding, include venture capital groups and other kinds of investors.

Based on a dynamic shop concept, Hakei is continually renewing its collections, which share a romantic, delicate style in a harmonious combination of the classical and the contemporary. Of the approximately 2,000 product references it launches each year, textiles account for 50%, whilst footwear and accessories make up the remainder.

Shopping in Opéra-Châtelet

Prestigious Spanish leather brand Loewe has joined in the celebrations for the centennial of one of Madrid’s most historic shopping streets, the Gran Vía, with an exhibition of key pieces from the Loewe Museum.

A selection of 75 creations chosen from among the 4,000 that make up the luxury brand’s heritage have gone on show in the famous Loewe shop at 8, Gran Vía. The passage of time is reflected in the art-deco stairway mirrors that take us back to other eras, when writers like Ernest Hemingway chose the best gifts for Hollywood divas like Ava Gardner.

Crocodile and box leather or snakeskin creations more than a century old, including a 1902 vanity case, handbags from the golden age of the 40s, 50s and 60s, iconic items such as the first Amazona and some of the best designs from the Eighties are a must-see on this tour of the brand’s creative legacy and craftsmanship.

From October 12, the exhibition will travel to Beijing and Tokyo to showcase the savoir faire of one of Spain’s most traditional brands. It has been described by the brand’s heir and Chairman of the Loewe Foundation Enrique Loewe as “a space in which to contemplate Loewe’s history, because all brands need to look to the past to be able to continue in the future”.

Today, Loewe is still Spain’s leading luxury ambassador and has more than 150 shops in 34 countries.

Loewe updates its classics
Siete, the new men’s fragrance by Loewe
Loewe catwalk at Paris Fashion Week
Gran Vía: a century of fashion