Portuguese footwear has made a strong return to international runways, embarking on a truly global journey through a series of strategic partnerships with some of the most relevant names in international fashion.
From New York to London and Paris, Portuguese companies are working directly with international designers, placing the know-how, manufacturing capabilities and technical excellence of the Portuguese industry at the service of creativity.
New York: New Collaborations on the Runway
At New York Fashion Week, the Portuguese footwear industry was once again in the spotlight through exclusive collaborations with Campillo, Daniella Kallmeyer and Libertine, who presented designs developed in partnership with Mariano, JJ Heitor and Helena Mar, respectively.
One of the major highlights of this edition was the debut collaboration between Henry Zankov and Luís Onofre. The designer, currently Creative Director of Diane von Furstenberg, joined forces with the Portuguese brand for the first time to develop an exclusive footwear proposal.
London: A Strategic Partnership with London College of Fashion
Following New York, Portuguese footwear continued to strengthen its presence in the world’s leading fashion capitals, this time in London, through a partnership with London College of Fashion (LCF), University of the Arts London (UAL).
Launched in 2025, the collaboration gained further momentum this year with a masterclass dedicated to Portuguese footwear, held as part of the BioShoes4All project. Aimed at master’s students, the initiative brought together experts from the Portuguese footwear industry and designer Saul Nash, giving students closer insight into the manufacturing, technological and creative landscape of the sector in Portugal.
This was followed by the second edition of the Portuguese Footwear and Accessories Design Award, created to support emerging talent in footwear and accessories design while building bridges between a new generation of international creatives and the Portuguese industry.
The award was presented to Pranav Sudhir, a graduate of BA (Hons) LCF Cordwainers Footwear, in recognition of his "striking three-dimensional experimentation” and "the way he developed his ideas through hands-on experimentation, allowing a natural flow to emerge from the manipulation of materials”.
As the winner, Pranav Sudhir is now developing a collection in collaboration with Portuguese company PC Footwear, with the possibility of his work being featured in future initiatives promoted by APICCAPS.
"I expected to finish university and spend the summer looking for work, so being able to start developing a collection immediately after graduating is something I feel extremely privileged to do,” says Pranav Sudhir. "The opportunity to produce samples and gain visibility within the industry represents a huge boost for my career.”
Faced with what the organisation described as an "exceptional” standard of entries, the jury also decided to award Yevheniia Mizevych an Honourable Mention. Her work was repeatedly highlighted as one of the strongest projects submitted and was described as "appealing and visually impactful, underpinned by an aesthetic that remains credible and wearable”. The young designer will develop her collection in collaboration with Portuguese company JJ Heitor.
As part of the collaboration between APICCAPS and London College of Fashion, the designers also travelled to Portugal to experience the country’s manufacturing ecosystem first-hand, engage directly with companies and establish relationships with the manufacturers who will transform their creative proposals into finished products.
From London to Milan
Moving on to Milan, London-based designer Saul Nash presented a footwear design developed in partnership with Portuguese brand TOWORKFOR in June, as part of his Spring/Summer 2027 collection, STANCE.
Known for a creative approach centred on movement and for blending sportswear with tailoring, Saul Nash brought the same language to footwear, reinterpreting the classic boat shoe. Entirely made in Portugal, the design combines a mesh and suede upper with a drawstring-inspired lacing system, bringing together the designer’s creative vision and the expertise of the Portuguese footwear industry.
For Saul Nash, the appeal of working with Portugal was immediate. "I’m drawn to the quality and specialist expertise of Portuguese footwear. I was genuinely surprised to discover that even shoes designed for work and safety feature hand-stitched uppers,” says the designer.
Developed in partnership with TOWORKFOR, a Portuguese brand recognised for its expertise in professional and safety footwear, the design highlights the versatility of the Portuguese industry and its ability to respond to demanding creative challenges by combining technical knowledge, innovation and manufacturing excellence.
"Working with TOWORKFOR was particularly interesting. The brand is primarily known for safety and protective footwear designed for demanding working environments. It was very exciting to take one of its classic silhouettes and reinterpret it through lightweight materials and a language that represents our brand’s DNA,” Saul Nash adds.
The design was unveiled at the STANCE show during Milan Fashion Week, at Forza e Coraggio, one of the city’s oldest sports clubs, marking the second footwear design created by Saul Nash.
Debut Collaboration with Alain Paul in Paris
In Paris, Portuguese footwear takes another step forward in its international strategy with the debut of a collaboration with Alain Paul. For the first time, the brand is presenting a footwear collection developed in partnership with Portuguese company PC Footwear.
The collaboration brings Portuguese manufacturing expertise to yet another of the world’s leading fashion capitals, strengthening the industry’s connections with a new generation of international designers.
From the Runway to Industry
These partnerships form part of APICCAPS’ strategy to bring the Portuguese footwear industry closer to the world’s leading centres of creativity and to place the country’s technical excellence, know-how and manufacturing capabilities at the service of some of today’s most relevant designers.
More than a traditional sponsorship model, these collaborations are based on a genuine process of co-creation. APICCAPS brings designers and Portuguese companies together, creating the conditions for the development of new product categories while providing access to specialised know-how, technical resources and manufacturing capabilities, always respecting each designer’s identity and creative vision.
"We remain strongly committed to investing in emerging international talent and creating meaningful connections between creativity and industry,” says Cláudia Pinto, Communications Director at APICCAPS. "Portugal offers world-class manufacturing capabilities, technical know-how, innovation and a growing commitment to sustainability and technology. By connecting these strengths with the vision and ambition of young designers, we can help shape a new generation of products, brands and ideas.”
"The materials used in the collections were developed within the BioShoes4All project, reinforcing the association’s commitment to research, innovation and the development of more sustainable solutions for the sector. The close relationship established with the designers throughout the creative and collection-development process makes it possible to transform distinctive concepts into high-quality products, designed to meet market demands and stand the test of time.”
The Portuguese footwear industry exports more than 90% of its production and is increasingly recognised internationally for its precision, innovation and craftsmanship heritage.
The objective, however, is to go beyond the runway. The ambition is to build on these collaborations, explore their commercial potential and create long-term relationships between Portuguese companies and international designers.
In this way, each partnership represents not only an opportunity for international promotion, but also a gateway to new projects, new products and new business opportunities for the Portuguese footwear industry.