With a degree in management, João Ferreira is at the helm of Paradigma, a 100% Portuguese brand owned by the second generation of a shoemaking family that has been in business since 1987
We spoke to Maria José Ferreira, Director of Research at CTCP and Coordinator of the BioShoes4All project. We discussed some of the current environmental issues affecting the footwear industry and how Portugal is positioning itself to address these sustainability challenges
We spoke to Paula Maestro, a researcher at AIMPLAS and of the ECOFAP project, which aims to solve the problem of recycling leather offcuts in footwear manufacturing. We talked about the projects’ objective, partnerships and anticipated impact on the sector
Carina Pereira has a degree in physiotherapy and has been working in the family business for 12 years. Founded in 2005, the Portuguese company Calçado Albano Pereira produces shoes for men, women and children
We spoke to Nikolai Christensen, Founder of MOVV, to learn more about his new minimalist and functional Scandinavian footwear venture. We talked about the company’s mission, challenges and recent initiatives
With a degree in product design from the School of Arts and Design and a specialisation in footwear design from the Lisbon School of Design, Osvaldo Mesquita is one of the new names to emerge in the Portuguese footwear sector. He recently launched his own brand, Liquito Mesquita
He appeared as a model at an early age and walked the world’s most important catwalks. Now, he is taking his first steps on the business side, with the opening of his new store on Fifth Avenue in New York. This is Armando Cabral
With a marketing degree and a past linked to the art world, Artur Cardoso has recently launched Wagwan, a Portuguese footwear brand that combines art and sport
We spoke to Katrin Ley, Managing Director at Fashion for Good, a global platform for innovation. Among other topics, we talked about how Fashion for Good is driving circularity in the fashion and footwear industries through a collaborative approach
We spoke to Sergio Dulio, President of the International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC), to learn more about the next UITIC Congress in late August and early September 2025 in Shanghai, China. During our interview, Dulio delves into the significance of the event, its theme and what attendees can look forward to
We spoke to Horacio Moschetto, who has headed the Chamber of the Footwear Industry from Buenos Aires since 2003. We discussed the current challenges and opportunities for Argentina’s footwear sector
We spoke to Florbela Silva, Head of Innovation and Digital Fabrication and CTCP FabLab, to find out more about the FAIST project, which aims to drive a significant reindustrialisation of the Portuguese footwear industry. During our interview, we discussed the project’s objectives, tools to be leveraged, partnerships and main outcomes
With a degree in Product Design, Eliana Barros is the founder of Ownever, a Portuguese leather goods brand focused on high-quality, sustainable products with a timeless design
With an academic background in accounting, Daniela Fernandes has been working for 15 years at the family-owned Daniela Shoes, a practical women’s footwear brand. Let's find out more
With a degree in Fashion Design, Inês is the second generation at the helm of Leal & Cª, which has just launched the MITIK brand. The goal is to reach new markets