The 20th UITIC Congress, scheduled for the 16th to the 18th of May 2018, will be held in Porto and will be subject to the theme From Fashion to Factory: A New Technological Age.

According to the UITIC Executive Committee, APICCAPS (Portuguese Footwear, Components and Leather Goods Manufacturers' Association) and CTCP (Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre), gathered together in Milan today to present the next edition of the Congress, the theme was selected to "reflect the current moment of constant technological change impacting the worldwide industries and to reflect on its influence in the footwear industry".

In a moment when the footwear industry and the global markets are facing numerous challenges, it is key to reflect on the impacts of the transformation of consumer behaviour, on the influence of  modern digital technologies and on the changes created by the online business, withouth neglicting the constant emergence of new consumer trends and the growing importance of fashion in every market segment (security, sports,children, senior).

The next edition of the footwear technicians will take place in Porto, an important place for the Portuguese Footwear Industry as within 50 km from Porto we can find 90% of the footwear companies.

Important decision makers from the worldwide footwear industry are expected to gather in Porto from the 16th to the 18th of May 2018, at the Sheraton Hotel to reflect on some of the pressing issues impacting the industry, and also to network. As an added interest, visits to some of the most advanced footwear manufactureres in Portugal will be offered to those participating in the Congress. Given the interest to maximize the trip to Portugal, two extra days (14th and 15th of May) are also reserved for additional visits to factories.

For more information about the 20th edition of the UITIC Congress please refer to the event's website by following this link.

Established in 1972, the UITIC is the International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians, an organization focused on the development of technical knowledge in the footwear industry, in particularly by organizing international conferences on a regular basis and by promoting information exchange between its members in the field of technology. Its most visible activity is the congress, an International Technical Conference which covers the latest technical issues impacting the industry and covering topics such as: automatic sewing, computerised management, new materials, quality, training and design.