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 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 (from Emporio Armani to Fendi, Gucci, Chanel, Christian Dior and Prada, to name but a few).

In 2007, the cluster of the Riviera Brenta has 708 companies – 9.8% of the national total and 65.2% of the Veneto region.
The companies of the Venice province are 483 - equal to 68.2% of the total of the area - divided between

With over 12,000 employees (7,849 of whom are employed in companies in the Venice area) the sector represents 56.3% of the workers of this sector in Veneto and 14.9% of the entire national sector.

In 2007 the footwear sector of the Riviera del Brenta produced over 21.8 million pairs of shoes (56.3% of these were produced in the province of Venice), equal to 29.1% of Venetian production and 11% of Italian production, for an overall sales value of 1,928 million Euro – 52.4% of the sales of the entire footwear sector in the Veneto region and 15% 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.
In 2007, the provincial exports of footwear rose by 2.6% compared with 2006, recording an overall amount of almost 346 million Euro, representing the 3rd element of importance of Venice exports.
Germany is the first market for Venetian footwear, with an increase of 3.2% in 2007; France with a slight decrease of 10%, holds 2nd place while the Russia regains third place (+63.2%, compared with 2006) . Exports to USA have risen, with an increase of 2.5%, placing the country in 4th place on the list of main customers of the sector. These countries are followed by Switzerland (+2.9%), Netherlands (-2.5%), United Kingdom (-6%) and Japan which gains the 8th place (-8.3%) on the list.
The footwear system of the Riviera del Brenta is represented, in addition to the companies operating there, by:

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 Metadistretto Calzaturiero Veneto which brings together traditions, culture and the specific qualities of the different Veneto footwear areas and represents an essential benchmark for the world market of the sector. 1,500 companies have signed up to the Cluster Agreement and 639 of these belong to the province of Venice.
The planning skill identified for the implementation of the Agreement of the Veneto 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:

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.