意大利加达国际鞋类展览会（Expo Riva Schuh）是全球最大的、最专业的鞋及配件、皮具手袋类贸易展览会之一，经过多年的发展现成为世界鞋业界的知名展会，自1972年以来，每年两届，分冬季展与夏季展，在意大利里瓦德尔加尔达会展中心（Riva del Garda Fierecongressi）举行。该展也是意大利服装及鞋类大型展览会之一，每年一月、六月分别举行冬夏两季展，为期四天的展览贸易活动，汇聚全球各地的贸易商、厂商在一起共享行业盛会。
Expo Riva Schuh鞋展在意大利里瓦德尔加尔达城举办，它是一个气候适宜的传统旅游盛地。坐落在意大利北部美丽的加尔达湖畔。它是连接意大利及德国的重要通道，它与意大利的几个重要城市相接近：如维罗纳（Verona）、威尼斯（Venice）、米兰（Milan）。
Expo Riva Schuh鞋展不同于其他鞋展的特性是：它定位准确，是欧洲唯一一个定位于低端及中端鞋类产品市场（低于80欧元的产品）的展览。它并不是一个对于高档品牌零售商的展会，但却抓住了一月及六月中低端鞋类换季订货期。它40多年来积累了几乎全部欧州地区的批发商及批量进口商。对于接大单的生产商来说展期最适宜，因为它提供了一个足够新款投入市场的尝试期。时效性及多样性使“加达鞋展”成为鞋业界同仁不可措失的选择。也只有“加达鞋展”当之无愧地称为欧洲中低端鞋类的贸易基地。它不是一个宣传品牌的展览，但确是个实实在在做大货生意的展览。
Expo Riva Schuh鞋展规模约有13000多个参观商（4000个重要购买商）中，除意大利本土的专业人士及欧盟国家（特别是北欧，英国，德国，西班牙，法国，比利时，荷兰，奥地利等）业界人员外，也有大批来自俄罗斯（东欧国家）、美国、加拿大等地的专业买家。除此之外，加大组委会倾力引入TOP FASHION CHINA的概念至新C4馆, 云集了中国时尚品牌鞋企，反响热烈，效果卓越。
展品范围(Show Products):
男鞋、女鞋、童鞋、运动鞋/体育用品、时装鞋、沙滩鞋、室内鞋、休闲鞋、拖鞋、电热鞋、靴子、凉鞋、布鞋、舒适鞋、增高鞋、劳保鞋、保暖鞋、暴走鞋、特殊功能鞋、箱包、皮具、手袋等。
展会报告(Show Reports):
The Startup Competition at Innovation Village Retail, an exhibition space dedicated to technology, emerging trends, and solutions that can transform the sector, was organised by Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags in collaboration with Retail Hub. Solaya stood out among the selected international start-ups and was proclaimed the winner of the first 2026 edition by a jury of industry experts.
The competition showcased state-of-the-art technological solutions from Italy, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel and China, further solidifying Innovation Village Retail's position as a pivotal hub for identifying the technologies that are reshaping the retail landscape.
Solaya: high-quality shooting at your fingertips. Here is the winning start-up
It is an AI platform that enables e-commerce brands to produce professional visuals using smartphones and advanced 3D modelling. Solaya enables you to instantly and consistently generate product photos, lifestyle imagery and advertising creatives that align with your brand identity, thereby reducing costs and accelerating omnichannel content production.
A global innovation laboratory
The nine young entrepreneurial companies that presented their projects to the international jury represent the best of the new generation of AI-based solutions, intelligent platforms, phygital tools, and advanced content models. This selection confirms the global vocation of Retail Hub, a tech company that has been helping brands and retailers discover the most revolutionary sector-specific technologies for years.
The solutions presented ranged from AI- and 3D-based personalised clothing and footwear fittings, to advanced demand forecasting and inventory optimisation. Other solutions included circular waste management and ESG processes, product protection against counterfeiting, automated visual content production and the creation of tailor-made sound identities for retail spaces, as well as the structured collection of feedback on the in-store experience. This set of complementary technologies offers retailers the concrete tools they need to improve performance, sustainability and customer experience in a context of profound market transformation.
The big news this year was the Investor Simulator. Each judge was given a virtual budget of €150,000 to invest, and had to decide how to allocate it between the competing start-ups during the pitches and in the final. This mechanism simulated the decision-making process of real investors, making the competition more dynamic and engaging, and bringing it closer to market logic. Solaya raised €505,000.
“The Innovation Village Retail Startup Competition was created to connect start-ups, brands and retailers, offering visibility and real opportunities to the most innovative technologies,” comments Massimo Volpe, founder of Retail Hub. “The quality of the projects presented this year confirms how rapidly innovation in retail is evolving, especially thanks to AI-based, sustainable and new production solutions.”
Alessandra Albarelli, General Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, the organiser of Expo Riva Schuh and Gadabags, shares this view. “With Innovation Village Retail, we aim to provide a tangible platform for dialogue between start-ups and industry leaders, where innovation is not just discussed, but experienced. Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags are business hubs, but also dynamic laboratories where trends are anticipated and the future of retail is shaped.”
The Innovation Village Retail confirms its position as a space for discussion and experimentation. It is capable of generating value for the entire supply chain and identifying the technologies that will shape the future of the sector.
UPCOMING EDITIONS: 105th edition 13 - 16 JUNE 2026 , 106th edition 9 - 12 JANUARY 2027
