At MICAM, the First AI-Generated Trend Guide Debuts to Reduce Unsold Inventory.

12 talents selected for the eighth edition of the ‘Emerging Designers’ project.

At MICAM, the first trend guide generated by artificial intelligence debuts, enabling visitors to optimize their purchases by reducing unsold inventory and improving both commercial and environmental impact. MICAM is the first international trade show to offer this exclusive service, developed in collaboration with Livetrend, a cutting-edge startup specializing in trend and market analysis.

This innovative digital solution analyzes millions of images and data from Instagram, e-commerce platforms, fashion shows, and consumer interest, all used to support trend forecasting.

The analysis used to identify next season’s trends starts from the present—a time marked by environmental instability, social division, and digital fatigue. In this context, fashion responds with intentionality: Spring/Summer 2026 (SS26) favors softness over speed, care over consumption, and emotion over appearance.

This spirit affirms delicacy as strength, confronting discomfort with gentleness, and it is expressed through four macro trends.

Retro Surrealism evokes the spirit of seaside holidays from the past.

This trend features a bold yet balanced color palette, contrasting solid tones like navy blue and brown with modern shades such as bright lime, pink, and light blue.

Materials like glossy patent leather, satin, and sporty cotton canvas enhance the retro atmosphere, alongside distinctive details like bows and contrasting toe caps.

Serene Elements blends nature and technology, placing lightness and freedom of movement at the forefront, thanks to a soft, earthy-toned palette that introduces a new minimalism inspired by the outdoors.

Materials are carefully selected to reflect both balance and innovation: paper-like textures, breathable meshes, and soft leathers create a tactile language of comfort and lightness.

Details such as mesh inserts or jelly-like PU effects, combined with technical fastenings and minimalist cuts, add a subtle futuristic touch to clean, essential forms.

Inspired by ancient rituals and rhythms, Moonbath merges craftsmanship with a bohemian aesthetic.

The color palette draws from nature’s symbolic tones: spiced reds, lake greens, berry hues, and fermented shades. All materials are natural—braided leather, suede, knits, and pony hair—creating rich textures and a tactile base, while ribbons, charms, and golden amulets add a mystical, artisanal touch. Forms are organic, and the spirit is bohemian.

Whimsical Grunge, on the other hand, fuses the rebellious energy of youth with a romantic and eclectic flair.It reimagines grunge through an artistic lens, with raw textures and a color palette of burgundy, black, and khaki, electrified by accents of fuchsia, purple, and lime.

Cracked leather, stained finishes, and animal prints evoke a lived-in, rock-inspired aesthetic, enhanced by bold buckles and graffiti-style details.

MICAM also promotes and hosts the eighth edition of the Emerging Designers project, featuring a dedicated area for 12 international young footwear designers.

These talents were selected through an innovative format developed in collaboration with Honegger, a company with over 50 years of expertise in trade show marketing.

Applications were reviewed by a jury of experts in fashion and communication, chaired by Ernesto Esposito, and including Giovanna Ceolini and Giorgio Possagno, respectively President and CEO of MICAM; Maura Basili, President of Camera Buyer; Elisabetta Falciola, Mediaset TV journalist; Valentina Nervi, founder and creative director of Nervi; Edoardo Bachini, Senior Director Collection Merchandiser for Versace Shoes; and Lorenzo Bringheli, fashion photographer.

The jury's selection for the September 2025 and February 2026 editions reflects the perfect blend of a strong heritage rooted in footwear tradition with the ability to embrace new trends, innovation, and a keen eye for design and beauty.

The selected finalists are:

• Le Plagiste (France)

• Canella Brand Shoes (Peru)

• Bróg (Ireland)

• Nuosmiq and Then (South Korea)

• Lancialy Milano, Apice, Le Signe, and Servati by Marco Primiceri (Italy)

• Wuman (Nigeria)

• Sassy Icon (Netherlands)

• Marco Castelli Collection (United Kingdom)

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