Shoes & Leather Guangzhou 2027

35th International Exhibition on Shoes and Leather Industry – Guangzhou
20–22 May 2027
China Import and Export Fair Complex, Hall 17.1–20.1, Area D, Guangzhou, China

Shoes & Leather Guangzhou brings together footwear machinery, leather and synthetic materials, components, chemicals, technologies and finished footwear and leather goods. Its concurrent footwear and leather displays extend the supply-chain view from materials and production equipment to design, product sourcing and manufacturing relationships.

Shoes & Leather Guangzhou at a glance

The 2027 dates, venue and event scope are published by the organiser. The 2026 post-show report provides the latest completed-edition figures; 2027 seminar details were scheduled for release in early 2027.

Why Shoes & Leather Guangzhou matters

See the supply chain together

Footwear production depends on a connected set of decisions: material selection, component compatibility, equipment capability, process control and finishing. The exhibition's machinery, materials, components and finished-product categories let professional visitors investigate those relationships in one trade setting rather than treating each purchase as an isolated choice.

Compare equipment and materials

Manufacturers can use the show to compare machinery and production technologies with the materials and components they process. Buyers and distributors can assess product ranges, construction, material options and supplier capabilities against their own target markets and technical requirements.

Connect manufacturing with design

Design Walk, the International Footwear Design Competition and the technical seminar programme add design and technical perspectives to the commercial exhibition. The 2026 programme included sessions on footwear comfort, material and colour trends, footwear and bag design, and ZDHC footwear engagement. These were previous-edition examples; visitors should check the organiser’s 2027 programme when details are released.

Build a practical sourcing shortlist

The 2026 edition reported 468 exhibitors and 11,245 professional visitors. That scale and the reported participation from multiple countries and regions make preparation useful: buyers can identify priority product groups, compare alternatives and plan follow-up rather than relying on an unstructured walk through the halls.

• 2026 organiser-reported exhibitors: 468, from 17 countries and regions.
• 2026 organiser-reported visitors: 11,245 professional visitors, from 73 countries and regions.
• 2026 organiser-reported exhibition space: 33,102 m².

Exhibition sectors and product groups at Shoes & Leather Guangzhou

Footwear and leather production machinery

• Shoe-making machinery and production equipment
• Tanning and leather-processing machinery
• Machinery for leather goods
• Sewing machinery and production lines
• Smart conveyor systems
• Equipment for footwear and leather-goods manufacturing

Footwear materials, leather and hides

• Leather and raw hides
• Garment and furniture leather
• Synthetic leather and synthetic materials
• Footwear materials
• Woven materials
• Eco-leather and recycled-material technologies

Components, accessories and chemicals

• Footwear accessories and components
• Soles and footwear construction components
• Leather-goods components
• Chemical products for footwear and leather production
• Adhesives and functional materials
• Materials for footwear finishing and assembly

Digital manufacturing and automation

• Digital cutting solutions
• Two-dimensional and three-dimensional scanning systems
• Inspection systems
• Three-dimensional printing machinery and materials
• Automation technologies
• Industrial Internet of Things systems and production software, including ERP, MES and cloud solutions

Finished footwear and leather goods

• Footwear products
• Bags and suitcases
• Leather products and accessories
• Finished footwear from manufacturers in mainland China and Asia
• Design-led footwear and leather-product displays

Who should visit Shoes & Leather Guangzhou?

Footwear factories and subcontract manufacturers

Useful if your priority is to assess production equipment, materials or process improvements. Focus on:

• Machinery suited to your product types and production volumes
• Cutting, sewing, lasting and assembly capabilities
• Automation and production-line integration
• Material compatibility and component sourcing
• Installation, operator training, maintenance and spare-parts requirements to discuss with suppliers

The organiser identifies production and manufacturing factories, subcontract manufacturers, footwear factories and OEM/ODM companies among the visitor groups.

Importers, agents, distributors and retail buyers

Useful if you are building or refreshing a footwear, bags or leather-goods range. Prioritise:

• Product categories and price-positioning questions suited to your channel
• Materials, construction and product specifications
• Supplier capacity, lead times and order conditions to verify directly
• Brand and product fit for the markets you serve
• Potential distribution or sourcing relationships, subject to commercial due diligence

Import/export merchandisers, agents, distributors, retailers, buying offices and representatives of established brands are named in the organiser’s visitor profile.

Leather, synthetic-material and component suppliers

Useful if you want to understand how footwear and leather-goods producers evaluate inputs. Compare:

• Material properties, finishes and application suitability
• Consistency between samples and production specifications
• Component compatibility with target product designs
• Documentation, testing and quality-control information buyers require
• Potential customer segments and distribution partners to investigate

The official exhibitor profile includes leather, synthetic materials, footwear materials, chemicals and accessories/components.

Machinery, software and production-technology suppliers

Useful if your offer supports footwear or leather-goods production. Prepare a concise technical comparison covering:

• Product types and processes supported
• Throughput and configuration requirements
• Integration with existing equipment or production software
• Operator support, installation and maintenance arrangements
• Demonstration points and the production challenges your technology addresses

The organiser lists machinery, scanning and inspection systems, automation, software and production-line technologies among its exhibitor categories.

R&D, design and industry representatives

Useful if your work connects footwear design, materials, comfort, production methods or sector development. The visitor profile includes research and development professionals, trade associations and government agencies; Design Walk, IFDC and the seminar programme provide additional design and technical viewpoints.

Relevant roles include production and manufacturing managers, sourcing and procurement teams, import/export merchandisers, product developers, designers, R&D specialists, machinery engineers, tannery professionals, brand representatives and distribution managers.

Why visit Shoes & Leather Guangzhou?

1. Shortlist machinery: compare shoe-making, tanning, leather-goods, sewing and production-line equipment against your process requirements.
2. Evaluate material options: compare leather, hides, synthetic materials, woven materials, eco-leather and recycled-material technologies for the products you make or source.
3. Check component fit: discuss how accessories, components and chemicals match your construction, finishing and quality needs.
4. Assess digital and automation solutions: investigate cutting, scanning, inspection, 3D printing, automation and production software in relation to your workflow.
5. Explore finished product ranges: review footwear, bags, suitcases and leather products for potential sourcing or distribution evaluation.
6. Follow technical and design themes: use seminars and previous-edition programme examples to decide which 2027 sessions to prioritise once the schedule is published.
7. Develop focused business conversations: identify suppliers, potential distributors or manufacturing partners and agree on specific information to exchange after the show.

Why exhibit at Shoes & Leather Guangzhou?

The exhibition may be relevant to manufacturers and suppliers of footwear machinery, tanning and leather-goods equipment, footwear and leather materials, chemicals, components, finished products, automation and production technologies. The 2026 report recorded 468 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions; the organiser’s 2027 page currently expects more than 800 exhibitors, which is an expectation rather than a confirmed result.

Exhibitors can use participation to present products to professional trade visitors, explain technical differences, collect market questions and explore distributor or supplier relationships. A focused stand plan should identify the products to demonstrate, the buyer groups to reach, the specifications and documentation visitors may request, and the next step for each serious conversation. Avoid treating visitor volume as a guarantee of qualified leads or sales.

Before committing, confirm the organiser’s current participation terms, stand options, registration deadlines and required documents. For cross-border sales or investment, check product-specific import conditions, conformity requirements, after-sales capability, payment arrangements and applicable standards with qualified advisers; this research did not establish current footwear- or leather-specific entry rules.

What makes Shoes & Leather Guangzhou different?

It links footwear and leather production equipment with materials, components, technologies and finished products.

The organiser presents the show as a full footwear and leather supply-chain exhibition. Alongside Shoes & Leather, the current edition incorporates IFLE Guangzhou, Guangzhou International Leather Exhibition (GILE), Guangzhou International Tanning Technology & Machinery Exhibition (GITTME) and an occupational-safety-and-health-goods trade fair. The event page also describes machinery and leather/material displays, technical seminars, Design Walk, Footwear Discovery and the International Footwear Design Competition. This combination gives visitors several routes into the sector: production investment, material sourcing, finished-product evaluation and design or technical learning.

What should you try to achieve at Shoes & Leather Guangzhou?

Replace “see what is new” with a result you can evaluate after the visit:

If you manufacture footwear or leather goods

Identify a shortlist of machinery or material options that match a defined production requirement. Record the process, specification, capacity, integration questions and evidence you need before requesting a quotation.

If you buy or distribute products

Find product ranges and suppliers that merit a closer channel-fit review. Compare construction, materials, category coverage, order conditions and the information needed for commercial assessment.

If you supply materials, components or technology

Clarify which manufacturer or buyer segments have a relevant application for your offer. Prepare sample specifications, application details and a clear follow-up action for each discussion.

If you work in design or R&D

Capture a concise set of material, comfort, design and production questions to investigate. Use the announced seminar and competition details to select sessions when the current programme is available.

How to prepare before Shoes & Leather Guangzhou

1. Define the business question

Decide whether your main purpose is machinery investment, materials sourcing, finished-product buying, distribution, technology evaluation or design research. Write down the decision you hope to inform and the specifications that matter.

2. Build a target list

Check the organiser’s website for current exhibitor information and registration details as they are published. Make a short list by product group and prioritise companies as A (essential), B (useful) and C (if time allows). Do not assume a particular company or product will exhibit until confirmed in the current directory.

3. Prepare technical questions

• For machinery: which operations, materials and product types does the machine support?
• What are the configuration, throughput, installation and operator-training requirements?
• How are maintenance, spare parts, software updates and service support handled?
• For materials: what are the composition, thickness, finish, durability and intended applications?
• What test data, quality documentation or product declarations are available?
• For components: which footwear or leather-goods constructions are compatible?
• For chemicals and adhesives: what process conditions, safety information and handling requirements apply?
• For finished goods: what are the available product ranges, customisation options and order terms?
• What are the minimum order, lead-time, sampling and payment conditions for your case?
• What documentation and local compliance checks would be needed before a purchase or import?

Use these as prompts for supplier discussions, not as assumptions about what every exhibitor offers.

4. Arrange conversations and travel in good time

Contact priority suppliers through the organiser’s published channels and agree what information each meeting should cover. The venue page identifies Metro Line 8 and Xingangdong Station, Exit A; check current transport and entry arrangements close to travel. ilikevents can assist with visit planning, registration, travel arrangements and business-meeting coordination.

5. Check current programme details

The organiser said 2027 seminar details would be posted in early 2027. Review the latest schedule before finalising your daily plan; previous-edition sessions are useful context, not a promise of the 2027 programme.

How to make the most of the exhibition

For each priority exhibitor, keep a short record: Company → Product → Why it is relevant → Evidence or specification → Contact → Next action. For example, if you are reviewing a cutting system, record the materials and product types it supports, the process requirements it addresses, integration questions and the documents or quotation needed for evaluation.

Compare alternatives consistently. Note what is confirmed, what needs a technical check and what depends on a project-specific quotation. For materials, retain the supplier’s product identification and specification information with any samples. For machinery, record the exact model and configuration discussed. Do not rely on memory when comparing similar products after the event.

Beyond the exhibition floor

The 2026 edition included technical seminars on footwear and bag design, Modeurop Spring/Summer 2027 colour trends, ZDHC Footwear Engagement 2026 and assessing footwear comfort. Its concurrent programme also featured the 15th International Footwear Design Competition, with entries from nine countries and regions, and Design Walk displays of footwear, leather goods and accessories. These are previous-edition examples; the organiser planned to publish 2027 seminar details in early 2027 and later information about the next IFDC edition.

When the 2027 programme is available, choose sessions that support a real decision: material selection, comfort assessment, design direction, environmental engagement or production technology. Leave time to visit relevant stands and record any claim or technical point that needs independent follow-up.

Networking at Shoes & Leather Guangzhou

A useful conversation starts with a specific business context. Be ready to explain the product you make or source, the materials or process involved, the market or channel you serve and the decision timeline. Ask suppliers for the exact product specification, samples or documents needed for comparison, and clarify the appropriate follow-up contact.

For potential distribution or manufacturing relationships, establish product scope, geographic coverage, support expectations and the information both sides need before discussing commitments. Exchange details only when the next step is clear; then follow up with the promised information while the discussion is still fresh.

Shoes & Leather Guangzhou visitor profile and business opportunities

Travelling to Shoes & Leather Guangzhou

The organiser identifies the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, Hall 17.1–20.1, Area D, at No. 380, Yuejiang Zhong Road. Its visitor information points to Metro Line 8, Xingangdong Station, Exit A. Confirm the 2027 venue access and local transport arrangements before travelling. The venue listing and organiser page may format the street address differently; use the current event-page address when planning directions.

Practical information for international visitors

Check entry, registration and travel requirements before departure. Visa conditions depend on the traveller’s nationality and circumstances; ilikevents can provide visa-application assistance and help with travel planning.

One day or several days at Shoes & Leather Guangzhou?

The show runs across three days and spans machinery, materials, components, finished goods and technical or design activities. A focused one-day visit may suit a visitor with a short, well-defined supplier list. Buyers comparing several product groups, manufacturers evaluating machinery and visitors combining stands with seminars may want to allocate more time. Use the published programme and your priority list to decide; the right schedule depends on the number of conversations and comparisons you need to complete.

After Shoes & Leather Guangzhou: where the value starts

Sort contacts into three groups: A – immediate evaluation for products or suppliers linked to an active requirement; B – potential for options needing more technical or commercial information; and C – market intelligence for trends, materials or technologies to monitor.

Follow up with a precise request. Depending on the product, ask for machinery specifications, configuration, installation needs, service and spare-parts terms; material composition, test information and samples; component compatibility; or finished-product catalogues, order quantities, lead times and commercial conditions. Compare information on a like-for-like basis and complete compliance and supplier due diligence before making a commitment.

Shoes & Leather Guangzhou visitor checklist

Before the visit

• Define your sourcing, investment, distribution or research objective.
• Check current registration, venue access and programme information.
• Prioritise target exhibitors and arrange conversations where possible.
• Prepare product specifications, samples or project requirements you can appropriately share.
• List the technical, quality and commercial questions you need answered.

During the visit

• Record the exact company and product details for each relevant discussion.
• Compare machinery, materials and components against consistent criteria.
• Distinguish confirmed specifications from claims or details requiring follow-up.
• Attend relevant sessions and note the practical implications for your work.
• Agree a clear next step before ending a useful conversation.

After the visit

• Organise contacts by immediate, potential and market-intelligence priorities.
• Request missing specifications, samples, quotations or documentation.
• Compare suppliers and products against your original requirements.
• Complete technical, commercial and market-entry checks before committing.
• Follow up promptly with the information you agreed to send.

Is Shoes & Leather Guangzhou worth visiting?

The show is most relevant to professionals who make, source, distribute or develop footwear and leather products, or who evaluate the materials, components, machinery and technologies used to produce them. Its supply-chain range and professional-only visitor focus make it a practical place to compare products and investigate supplier fit. The strongest value comes from arriving with a clear objective, asking specific technical and commercial questions, and following up systematically. A visit without priorities may make it harder to compare a broad set of categories effectively.

Closing thought

Before travelling to Guangzhou, ask: Which supplier, material, technology or design decision can I investigate more effectively in person? Arrive with a shortlist. Discover. Compare. Ask. Evaluate. Follow up.

Footwear and leather opportunities in China

Market indicators and demand context

China’s 2025 national statistical communiqué reports that retail sales of clothes, shoes, hats and textiles at enterprises above designated size increased 3.2% year on year. This is a broad retail-category indicator, not a measure of total footwear or leather-industry demand. The same communiqué reports 3.0% year-on-year growth in value added for China’s textile industry in 2025; that is an industrial activity indicator, not a footwear-machinery market figure.

Commercial questions to investigate

• Footwear product positioning: the retail-category movement may be one input for brands, importers and distributors assessing footwear assortments, but it does not establish product-level demand, wholesale growth or profitability.
• Material and supplier comparison: textile-industry activity provides adjacent context for material suppliers and buyers, but footwear-specific material consumption and sourcing demand should be validated with customer and channel data.

Market-entry conditions

Current footwear- and leather-specific import, certification and market-entry rules were not established in the available country research. Companies should check the requirements that apply to their products and business model with qualified advisers before committing.

What this may mean for exhibitors

Footwear and leather exhibitors may use the exhibition to present relevant machinery, materials, components and products while testing which applications and technical questions matter to prospective partners. The national retail and textile indicators are context only; they do not guarantee buyers, orders or market access.

What this may mean for visitors

Buyers and manufacturers may compare products and suppliers at the show, then test their fit against their own channel, production and quality data. National indicators can inform that assessment but cannot replace product-specific due diligence.

Explore Event Opportunities

Explore how Shoes & Leather Guangzhou may support your sourcing, technology evaluation, product presentation or market research goals, and plan the participation that fits your business.

Get Expert Assistance from ilikevents to plan a visitor itinerary or exhibition participation.

See the ilikevents services for this event