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Weekly Footwear & Leather News Roundup: Oct 25 – Oct 31, 2025
Welcome to this week’s footwear news 2025! Global events and innovations are highlighted, with a spotlight on Asia’s key developments, excluding new launches. Curated for industry pros and enthusiasts, these updates focus on trends shaping the leather and shoe sectors, featuring minimalist AI visuals.
US Tariffs Slam India’s Leather Exports, Forecasting 10-12% Revenue Dip
US tariffs on Indian leather products trigger a projected 10-12% revenue decline for the $6.4 billion industry this fiscal year, with exports expected to drop 14-16% to $3.9-4 billion. Exporters, who rely on the US for 22% of shipments, now scramble to offset losses through domestic sales and alternative markets in footwear news 2025.
Kolkata Exporters Pivot to South America and Russia Amid Tariff Storm
Kolkata’s leather producers, via the Indian Leather Products Association, launch expansion drives into South America and Russia to counter US tariff hits. Representing over 200 firms, they double recent shipments to Europe while hosting a sustainability-focused fair October 28-30, bolstering shoe trends 2025 resilience.
Mexico’s Shoe Makers Stymied by Internal Barriers Despite Tariff Edge
Mexican footwear firms fail to capitalize on USMCA’s tariff-free access due to corrupt IMMEX program misuse and Chinese dumping, slashing production 37% to 134 million pairs. Operating at 55% capacity with 4,411 job losses since last year, the ninth-largest global producer urges policy reforms in footwear news 2025.
US-China Deal Eases Tariffs but Hikes Overall Shoe Duties to $5.75 Billion
The US-China trade pact caps footwear tariffs at 20-27%, matching Vietnam’s rates, yet total duties soar 70-78% to $5.75 billion in 2025. Brands gain sourcing stability, but persistent costs force supply chain tweaks across global footwear news 2025 landscapes.
Prada Group Logs 9% Retail Surge, Fueling Leather Goods Momentum
Prada Group posts 9% net revenue growth to €4.07 billion for nine months ending September 2025, with retail at €3.65 billion from full-price sales. Miu Miu’s 41% year-to-date jump underscores luxury leather demand, shaping upscale shoe trends 2025.
Footwear Tradeshows Gear Up for July-December Innovations
Over 30 global footwear tradeshows from the US to China spotlight sustainability and design through December 2025, drawing industry innovators. Events in Vietnam and Italy promise networking boosts, aligning with emerging shoe trends 2025.
October Retail Trends Reshape Footwear Consumer Behaviors
October 2025 retail shifts emphasize tech integration and cultural ties, with 65 trends redefining footwear shopping experiences worldwide. Physical stores evolve, blending digital tools to drive leather accessory sales in this footwear news 2025 era.
Weekly Leather Highlights Stress EUDR and Sustainability Push
Leather news for October 25 spotlights EU Deforestation Regulation compliance and raw material innovations, urging global supply chain audits. Stakeholders prioritize eco-practices, influencing ethical shoe trends 2025 across borders.
PACT raises £16m to industrialise collagen-coated canvas
Cambridge biomaterials firm PACT closed a £16m Series A to scale its collagen-coated canvas (Oval) and commission pilot roll-to-roll production to supply fashion and potential footwear OEMs; the company plans supplier qualification across Europe and Asia and expects early trials with brands to start during pilot runs, signaling a near-term opportunity for brands to run durability and finish tests before larger adoption.
ALPA warns Bengal leather exports may fall ~5%; AILPA Kolkata fair runs 28–30 Oct
The Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA) warned of an approximate 5% near-term decline in Bengal leather exports amid tariff headwinds while AILPA’s Kolkata B2B fair (28–30 Oct) focused on matching exporters to buyers in Japan, Korea and the UK and showcasing compliance upgrades such as eco-tanning and traceability to secure new smaller-volume orders.
Image prompt: Busy Kolkata trade fair with buyers inspecting leather bags at indoor booths.
Alt text: Buyers examining leather goods at a Kolkata trade fair
Vietnam Autumn Fair & export activity
Vietnam’s Autumn Fair (opened 25 Oct) and associated workshops emphasised rules-of-origin, supplier–buyer matchmaking and export promotion, with provinces such as Thanh Hóa highlighting new footwear/garment projects and logistics capacity improvements to speed sample and small-batch export flows for international buyers.
Trade & business survey invites industry input — WorldFootwear Business Conditions Survey
WorldFootwear launched its 13th Business Conditions Survey (published 29 Oct 2025) asking footwear industry professionals to report on order books, lead times and price pressures — a useful pulse measure for procurement planners and executives making sourcing decisions into Q1 2026. The survey results later help benchmark sector sentiment across regions and product categories.
Asia Spotlight
Bangladesh Gains Edge with 14.45% Export Rise to $1.7 Billion
Bangladesh leather and footwear exports jumped 14.45% in FY25, fueled by lower US tariffs versus rivals, positioning it for further US gains.
India Footwear Lags Vietnam’s Surge in Global Shares
India’s footwear exports trail as Vietnam captures more market, with NITI Aayog urging tariff cuts and R&D to reclaim position in 2025.
Vietnam’s Export Boom Erodes India’s Leather Dominance
Vietnam footwear shipments explode, cutting into India’s share amid competitive FTAs, highlighting Asia’s shifting dynamics this week.
China Faces 30% US Tariffs, Straining Leather Flows
Higher US duties on Chinese leather prompt supply rerouting, impacting $4.1 billion annual exports and Asia-Pacific trade balances.
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