The initiative, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy and coordinated by Assocalzaturifici, brings together industry organisations, educational institutions and regional stakeholders in a nationwide effort to preserve and promote the country’s shoemaking heritage.
Chaired by Giovanna Ceolini, President of Assocalzaturifici, the committee includes Museimpresa, Cercal and Politecnico Calzaturiero. Working alongside the Unesco Chair at Unitelma Sapienza University, the group will prepare the official nomination dossier while engaging companies, artisan communities, training institutions and Italy’s footwear districts, in line with the principles of Unesco’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Speaking at the event, Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, described footwear manufacturing as one of the country’s most recognisable industrial strengths.
“Italian footwear represents one of the most recognisable expressions of our productive system,” Urso said. “This initiative enhances a heritage of expertise rooted in our industrial districts and built on the combination of tradition, innovation and quality employment.”
The project also received strong backing from the education sector. Giuseppe Valditara, Minister of Education and Merit, stressed the importance of technical and vocational education in ensuring the transfer of specialist skills to future generations and strengthening the link between schools and industry.
Regional support was equally prominent. Italy’s leading footwear-producing regions—including Lombardy, Veneto, Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Campania and Puglia—endorsed the initiative, underlining its national significance and the broad geographical base of the country’s footwear manufacturing tradition.
According to Ceolini, the Unesco nomination is intended not only to preserve artisanal know-how but also to highlight the cultural and economic value of Italian shoemaking.
“Italian footwear combines technical expertise, local identities and the ability to evolve over time,” she said. “This is an opportunity to give international visibility to a body of knowledge that represents an essential part of Italy’s productive identity.”
The nomination process also received support from representatives of Confindustria, cultural institutions and academic experts, who highlighted the role of Italy’s footwear heritage in strengthening the country’s international reputation, attracting skilled talent and promoting industrial tourism.
If successful, the UNESCO recognition would acknowledge Italian footwear craftsmanship not simply as a manufacturing activity but as a living cultural tradition sustained by companies, artisan communities, educational institutions and regional production clusters. Industry leaders believe the designation would further reinforce the global prestige of Made in Italy while helping safeguard specialist knowledge for future generations.
