Shanghai Shoe Expo – Shanghai International Footwear Exhibition

The 21st Shanghai International Shoe Expo (SISE) 2025 was successfully held from June 29 to July 1, 2025, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. This edition of the expo was approved by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and organized by the Shanghai Leather Technology Association and Shanghai Yahui Exhibition Co., Ltd., with joint support from the Guangdong Leather Association, the Guangzhou Footwear Chamber of Commerce, the Ningbo Leather Industry Association, and numerous other institutions. It stands as the flagship annual event for the footwear market in East China.

In terms of scale, this year’s show exceeded 20,000 square meters of exhibition space, bringing together 380 exhibiting companies from South Korea, Italy, Japan, Wenzhou, Guangzhou, Fujian, and other regions, while attracting between 20,000 and 30,000 professional visitors. Over the three-day period, the event drew more than 30,000 professional buyers, who explored over 100,000 new, innovative, stylish, and high‑quality footwear products, materials, and manufacturing equipment, thus writing a comprehensive chapter of excellence in the footwear industry.

This year’s expo featured an impressive lineup of renowned brands. Well‑known domestic footwear manufacturers such as Yierkang, Xiongda Xing, Shunfeng, Qiaomu, Langhao, Yanming, Jian’er, Yiguo, Damohuyang, Conglinmao, Longfeng, Xiuer, Qimei, Sanshui Yisheng, Hongmin Group, Liming, Ruixiangyu, Habibear, Fuyu, and many others were all present. The exhibits spanned the entire value chain—from finished footwear and raw materials to shoe‑making machinery—covering 12 major product categories, including men’s, women’s, children’s, casual, sports, functional, and slippers, as well as related components such as leather and synthetic materials, lasts and molds, and production equipment.

Specialized zones and concurrent events proved to be key highlights. Alongside the main exhibition, the event hosted several high‑level forums, including the Global Footwear Industry Development Summit and the Footwear Culture Innovation Forum, inviting leaders of international footwear organizations and brand executives to discuss “industrial restructuring in the post‑pandemic era” and share cutting‑edge case studies on smart manufacturing and green supply chains. A dedicated “Footwear Culture Journey” IP was also introduced, with the Jinfuxiang Shoe Culture Museum presenting over a thousand artifacts, such as Han‑dynasty leather shoes and Republic‑era embroidered footwear, brought to life through AR technology to recreate traditional crafting techniques. Additionally, a hands‑on shoemaking workshop allowed attendees to experience processes like stitching soles and carving decorative patterns.

The professional audience was robust, with clear purchasing objectives. The visitor base consisted primarily of channel distributors, retailers, and online e‑commerce players, with procurement delegations arriving from across the country. During the event, more than 20,000 visitors attended, resulting in transactions totaling approximately RMB 600 million and preliminary agreements worth over RMB 2 billion, cementing the expo’s reputation as a trusted platform for both exhibitors and attendees. Exhibiting companies unanimously reported that the event met or exceeded expectations, with highly qualified attendees providing an efficient gateway for expanding into the East China market.

Outcomes and industry response were overwhelmingly positive. Attendees widely agreed that the Shanghai Shoe Expo is not only an excellent platform for brand exposure and business matchmaking but also a pivotal hub for gaining insights into industry trends and exploring new growth pathways. By effectively connecting upstream and downstream stakeholders within the footwear value chain, the expo has provided exhibitors with a vital window to expand markets, access resources, and stay abreast of evolving industry dynamics, further solidifying its position as a leading regional benchmark for the Asian footwear sector.