420 brands that shape the footwear industry, will be brought together with more than 350 international buyers, with high potential of exports that came from 32 countries, at the fair in Turkey. The 63rd International Shoe Fashion Fair (AYMOD), which is the first physical fair of the shoe industry in the pandemic process, opened its doors in Istanbul today, taking all measures against the epidemic.

AYMOD, which was organized in cooperation with Shoe Manufacturers' Association of Turkey (TASD), Turkey Footwear Industry Research Development and Education Foundation (TASEV), along with KOSGEB’s support, launched with the aim of increasing exports.

While tens of exhibitors from countries such as Germany, Croatia, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Iraq, Kazakhstan and Israel are expected to visit, the fair is aimed to provide hundreds of millions of dollars of business connections with B2B meetings.

“We want to realize our last year's export target this year as well.”

Stating that there has been a decrease in exports due to the pandemic process compared to last year, TASD President Endican said, "We have entered a recovery process as an industry. If the course of the pandemic continues without increasing, we aim to reach our export figures of the previous year at the end of the year."

Emphasizing that they continue their activities to promote production in the Turkish shoe industry, increase exports and the effectiveness of the sector in the international arena, Endican explained that they held the physical fair despite the pandemic.

Organizing AYMOD online on 25-27 August and received positive signals from the participants, Endican stated that although physical fairs were only allowed by September 1, they managed to organize AYMOD on September 30 with intense work.

“We are exhibiting our newest models.”

Endican said that AYMOD, where new season products are exhibited, offers visitors the opportunity to see the latest models closely, and that product groups can be reached under the same roof and comparison can be made in line with needs.

Endican explained that AYMOD, the biggest international power of the Turkish shoe industry, hosts the newest trends of the industry and would address the shoe fashion of the following year.

“All measures taken against the epidemic.”

At the fair, where all measures were taken against the global epidemic, a series of special measures were implemented within the scope of the new return to normal criteria set by the state and the International Fairs Association (UFI), in order to ensure the health of the participants and visitors and to eliminate possible risks.

In this context, the entrance and exit points to the fair were rearranged. Body temperature control is also done at the fair entrances.

By using external air in ventilation systems, the air inside the venue is constantly kept clean. The number of people that were allowed in the fair area at the same time was limited to "1 visitor per 10 square meters".

HES (Life Fits Home) codes of exhibitors, visitors and officials are being questioned at the entrance to the fair.