Footwear is one of the most important productive specialisations of the Veneto Region. The Riviera del Brenta, which extends over an area between the provinces of Venice and Padua which includes the municipalities of Stra, Fiesso d’Artico, Fossò and Vigonovo for the first and Vigonza, Noventa Padovana and Saonara for the second, excels in this sector.
The footwear cluster of the Riviera del Brenta, which had its full development in the late 19th century, is characterised by the production of luxury footwear - for both men and women- in addition to the design, manufacture and marketing of almost all the “designer label” footwear available on the world market.

In 2009 the cluster of the Riviera Brenta had 710 companies , that was 9.9% of the national total and 66.1% of the Veneto Region.
The companies of the province of Venice were 493 - equal to 69.4% of the total of the area - divided between

• 112  footwear factories
• 297 manufacturers of footwear components
• 49 designers
• 35 commercial firms.

With 11,947 employees (7,606 of these are employed in companies in the Venice area) the sector represents 57.9% of the workers of this field in the Veneto Region, and 13.8% in Italy.

In 2009 the footwear sector of the Riviera del Brenta produced over 20 million pairs of shoes (45.65% of these were produced in the province of Venice), equal to 28.1% of Venetian production and 9.5% of Italian production, for an overall sales value of 1,728.26 million Euro (48.8% of the sales of the entire footwear sector in the Veneto Region, and 13.2% of the national one).
In addition to leather footwear production, mainly luxury and female footwear, the sector is characterised by companies producing footwear accessories and components: soles, heels, uppers, etc. which complete the cycle of the productive sector. There are also companies producing footwear for men and children.
Also 90% of the overall sales of the area is destined for export, demonstrating the strong inclination of the area to international marketing of its own products.
Due to the global economic crisis, in 2009, the provincial exports of footwear showed a decrease of 21.6% compared with 2008, recording an overall amount of 278 million Euro, and still representing the most important sector of the province’s exports.
The footwear system of the Riviera del Brenta is represented, in addition to the companies operating there, by:

• A.C.Ri.B. - Footwear Association of the Riviera del Brenta, which is a member of Confindustria. Established in December 1961, it represents the footwear companies of the area.
• A.C.Ri.B. Servizi srl - Company that offers specialist services in favour of the footwear sector.
• Consorzio Maestri Calzaturieri del Brenta, which was set up in 1976 to promote the footwear sector worldwide. The logo, depicting the ancient seal of the Venetian Confraternity of the Calegheri, dating back to the 13th century and which is used by the associated footwear companies is well-known: on 31st December 2009, some 77 companies were members of the Consortium, 52 belonging to the province of Venice.
• School of Footwear Designers of the Riviera del Brenta, today Politecnico Calzaturiero  – The school, set up in 1923, offers courses for designers, product technicians, CAD operators, computer graphics, I.T. and other. Besides, the school also hosts a research and technological innovation centre for the whole sector, and a laboratory for quality tests and analysis on materials as well as fast prototyping.

In 2003, on the basis of Regional Law no. 8 “Regulations governing the Clusters and local industrial policy interventions” and subsequent amendments, the Regional Council of Veneto recognised the Agreement for the development of the Distretto della calzatura della Riviera del Brenta/Footwear Cluster in the Riviera del Brenta which fosters tradition, culture and the specific qualities of the sector, representing an essential benchmark for the world market.
The planning skill identified for the implementation of the Agreement of the Footwear Cluster highlights the quality and specialisation of the sector: for this purpose we also recall the plans for the “Creation of an Observatory and a Portal of the Cluster“ which have also been supported by the Venice Chamber of Commerce.

The launch of strong innovative projects and their impact such as the following are also remembered:

• “SA 8000” certification (project supported by the Venice Chamber of commerce) which guarantees that production processes do not exploit underage employment and the fulfilment of ethical principles of social responsibility:
• the opening of the New York and Beijing showrooms,
• the participation in exhibitions worldwide as well as the organisation of the biggest group stand at the Düsseldorf’s Fair ;
• “Innobrenta”-Project for the protection of intellectual property: a service providing both assistance and consulting by the Chambers of Commerce of Venice and of Padua to promote the innovation of the footwear companies of the area.

Finally, the particular attention and sensitivity, which has always been reserved for the historical revival of the footwear tradition and knowledge, which associates culture with the activity of animation on the territory is highlighted. As an example we can recall:

• the exhibition entitled  “The fashion trades in Venice – from 13th to 18th century”     (“I mestieri della moda a Venezia – dal 13° al 18° secolo”) – mounted successfully in Venice, Berlin, New York, London, Beijing and St. Petersburg.  This iconographic exhibition showed original items such as clothes, fashion accessories, paintings, documents and tools. They were typical for the over 50 handicrafts existing in Venice at the time of the “Serenissima Repubblica”, and are still the testimony of the cultural background, the quality and the style featuring today’s production;
• the “Venetian Reflections” (“Riflessi Veneziani”) show, staged in Berlin, New York, London, Warsaw, Beijing and Moscow. In a historical and cultural setting this show represents the fashion and footwear system of the Riviera del Brenta and Italy;
• “Golden Shoe” (“Scarpetta d’Oro”), the International Prize of Illustration for Children. This is an annual event that began in 1995 which, through the collaboration between illustrators and children, highlights the role of illustration as a two-directional communication tool and at the same time makes the history and real life of footwear production which characterises the Riviera del Brenta known and loved above all by younger generations;
• the “Small steps” collection (collezione “Piccoli Passi”) by Pietro Martello – presented successfully in many European and non-European countries - includes over 1000 unique pieces of footwear varying in size - from 4 cm to 10 cm in length – shape, history and culture.