Portuguese Footwear Pushes Digital, Challenging Marche's Craft Model

The Portuguese Footwear Association, APICCAPS, convened brand leaders and business professionals for a Digi4Fashion event in Porto on June 4, according to the Business of Fashion. The day-long summit focused on digital opportunities for the footwear industry, signaling a strategic pivot toward technology adoption among Portuguese manufacturers.

The gathering reflects a broader shift in European footwear production. Portugal, which has emerged as a significant manufacturer over the past two decades, is now positioning itself as a technology-forward alternative to traditional shoemaking centers. The move carries implications for Marche, Italy's dominant footwear cluster, where small and medium-sized family firms have long relied on craft expertise and design heritage.

Marche accounts for roughly one-third of Italian shoe production and a significant share of European output. The region's competitive advantage has historically rested on artisanal skill, design innovation and the concentration of specialized suppliers—tanneries, component makers, finishing specialists—within a compact geographic area. Digital transformation presents both opportunity and risk for this model.