At least something is happening in the colour palette. After the overwhelming dominance of natural and especially brown tones, it was clear in Milan that other colours are coming into focus: delicate pastels from the ice cream spectrum on the one hand, but also bold colours such as orange, green, and yellow, which, incidentally, can be combined excellently with natural tones. And that’s not all: whether it’s due to Pantone’s colour of the year 2026 or not, white and white-like shades are making a comeback, bringing clarity and elegance into play. “How many customers will actually buy the green shoe in the end remains to be seen,” explained Ralf Wolter, managing director of shoe manufacturer Finn Comfort, in an interview with STT. “But we need highlights in our collections. After all, you can get basics anywhere.” Sofie Müller, authorised signatory at leather supplier Jacobs GmbH, was particularly pleased about a shift towards more classic shoe models: “It’s a very good development that sneakers are no longer the all-dominant theme.” The trend away from overly casual outfits towards blazers and loafers is promising, according to Müller. This has brought not only shoes but also accessories such as belts into sharper focus. Speaking of focus and colour: during the first day of the trade fair, the exhibition grounds filled with people dressed in orange. They had come as fans of the Dutch speed skaters, whose 1,000-metre competition took place on the evening of February 11 in the halls of Fiera Milano.
