Chatting Shoes, FN PLATFORM with Leslie Gallin

Next week, the fashion industry will gather in Las Vegas for the bi-annual tradeshow, MAGIC! Known as the most comprehensive fashion marketplace, MAGIC offers the latest in apparel, footwear, accessories and even fashion manufacturing! As a shoe enthusiast, we were ecstatic when we had the chance to chat with Leslie Gallin, President of Footwear at UBM Fashion. During our chat she shared some exciting previews to the upcoming FN PLATFORM show along with her favorite trends that we’ll be spotting throughout the coming seasons.

Here are some of our top takeaways from the chat:
Made In Portugal – Some of the industry’s hottest designers and styles are coming out of Portugal! This year, FN PLATFORM has a huge initiative around ‘Made In Portugal’ brands and designers. The show has partnered with Portuguese footwear association, APICCAPS and apparel trade association, Anivec, to showcase nearly 20 men’s and women’s Portuguese footwear brands.
The Future of Fashion – A robot creating footwear sounds like something out of a movie, right? This August, it will be a reality at FN PLATFORM. KEEN will bring their UNEEKBOT robot to create custom shoes on the show site. The robot can create up to 6 shoes an hour and is disrupting the footwear manufacturing industry!
Famous Faces – The MAGIC show wouldn’t be complete without some famous faces making an appearance. This show, expect to see Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers, at the Lauren Lorraine booth. There will likely be a few more surprises that MAGIC attendees will need to keep their eyes peeled!
Emerging Talent – FN PLATFORM has always nurtured emerging designers and this year will be no different.

There are several areas supporting the fresh faces in footwear:
PENSOLE Footwear Design Academy
#21daysofdesign is a daily sketching contest created to empower aspiring designers to show their dedication and commitment to their goal of becoming a professional footwear designer. Help decide who will win the scholarship to attend PNCA@PENSOLE, a 12-week intensive design program created to teach aspiring designers the Product Creation Process through the lens of Footwear, Apparel & Accessories and Color 8 Materials. The winner will also have a chance to see their sketch made and sold at retail! BOOTH #82500
FIDM SCHOLORSHIP x AWARDS
Current footwear design students at FIDM will showcase their designs at the front of ON POINT, South Hall, Level 2 – in an effort to win a scholarship. Awards will be given on Monday at 3pm in the ON POINT lounge in the center of the hall.
Trends to Watch – Now for the tips we’ve all been waiting for, below are Leslie’s favorite footwear trends to come for 2018-19:

MULES
The mule trend continues to reign supreme! Beloved for its comfort and versatility, the classic mule can be found in a variety of styles – heeled and flat, open-toe or pointed – making it the perfect fashionista-approved shoe for just about any climate.

BESPOKE SNEAKERS
Looking to blend comfort and style? This trend offers a sophisticated take on the chunky athletic sneaker sported by your “Average Joe”. Bespoke sneakers for men can be worn from day-to-night and give a laid-back vibe that’s still buttoned up!

SOCK BOOTS
If there’s one trend that really has legs (pun-intended), it’s the sock boot! The ankle-hugging style has been spotted on the runway and the streets and has showed no signs of slipping away! Found with both chunky or stiletto heels, the sock boot offers a slimming effect that can be dressed up or down!

TECH MADE FOOTWEAR
Footwear made by robots sounds like something out of a movie, but, it’s an industry trend that is growing in popularity! From 3-D printing to robots handmaking shoes, the future of fashion is looking to tech-made products for efficiency and style!

SEE THROUGH SHOES
Call this your new neutral, see through shoes are having a moment! When it comes to adding instant edge to any look – the choice is clear!

[disclaimer: i received compensation for this sponsored post]