By Elena Castro
Tenacity and constancy define the most important footwear and leather goods exhibition in Latin America. Since 1974, SAPICA has been evolving and in constant movement. This year marks its forty-eighth anniversary and is ready to live new experiences in this eighty-seventh edition, August 23-25, 2022.
The International Footwear and Leather Goods Fair brings together almost 3,000 companies from 30 countries and in this edition has more than 2,000 stands. Here we tell you how it has grown over time: its first steps were in 1974 with a fair that brought together 150 exhibitors and was only held annually, unlike today when it is held twice a year. In 1979 it moved to the Centro de Exposiciones y Convenciones, today known as Poliforum. That same year also saw the first international supplier show, what we know today as ANPIC. In 1982 the SAPICA board decided that the Fair would be held twice a year, once to show the fall-winter collections and trends and the second for spring-summer.
SAPICA is a reflection of the work of the people of Guanajuato and the footwear and leather goods industry. It is an industry that, despite the adversities and challenges resulting from the worst health and economic crisis that paralyzed the world, did not stop. It continued with a lively, active industry, full of energy to keep moving forward.
For this year’s edition, the organizers are convinced that the way to growth and evolution is resilience. We are living a dynamic process of change and we continue to adapt, recognizing that the greatness of our industry is due to the talent of our people.
SAPICA, our largest business meeting, will showcase the best of Mexican footwear and leather goods. It will be the opportunity for more than 350 exhibitors and more than 2,400 unique national and international marketing companies to do business, generate alliances, and trigger innovation in new companies, providing welfare to the thousands of families that depend on this industry.
SAPICA detonates the economic reactivation of this sector and also injects energy to sectors such as the hotel, restaurant, and commercial economies. SAPICA is a footwear fair and a city event—a great celebration of Leon and Guanajuato as we become hosts to receive our national and international buyers.
During the pandemic, we did not remain static—we carried out our editions in a hybrid way: virtual plus in-person; today our event is 100 percent in-person and we offer an SAPICA Directory, as a 24/7 platform to generate business opportunities between our exhibitors and buyers.
The footwear and leather goods industry needs this face-to-face meeting between marketers and manufacturers—for this reason, we seek to generate a safe environment for business by implementing our Health, Safety and Prevention Protocol designed especially for the exhibition.
*This excerpt was published with authorization, to keep reading please search for the link to Mexico Industry: https://mexicoindustry.com/noticia/llega-sapica-la-feria-de-la-industria-del-calzado-y-marroquineria
