Collaborations by Portuguese footwear brands stand out on international catwalks in 2026

From New York to Paris, via Milan and London, Portuguese footwear is increasingly making its mark at the major international fashion weeks through a series of unexpected collaborations, appearing in around 20 shows and showcasing the outcomes of partnerships between international designers and Portuguese manufacturers. The sector aims to position itself as a creative partner rather than merely a maker, turning the catwalk into a meeting point for international designers’ creativity and the industry’s accumulated expertise. In doing so, it seeks to make ‘Made in Portugal’ synonymous not only with manufacturing, but also with innovation, development and creation, APICCAPS announces as it unveils the latest collaborations.

See fashion show

During New York Fashion Week (NYFW), ‘Made in Portugal’ shoes appeared in at least four shows. Patricio Campillo once again teamed up with Mariano Shoes for his spring/summer collection; Daniella Kallmeyer unveiled designs developed with JJ Heitor; Johnson Hartig sent Libertine down the catwalk in footwear by Portuguese label Helena Mar; and Henry Zankov debuted a collaboration with Luís Onofre.

In this way, Portuguese footwear is gaining ground on the catwalks of the world’s leading fashion capitals—New York, Paris, Milan, and London—as part of a strategy to bring international designers closer to the Portuguese industry and to turn the country’s renowned manufacturing capabilities into opportunities for joint creation, APICCAPS confirms, emphasising that the key lies in bringing designers and companies together, developing products tailored to each collection and, subsequently, converting that international exposure into business.

See fashion show

Henry Zankov, the Russian-born creative director of Diane von Furstenberg, chose the eponymous Luís Onofre label to develop the first footwear collection for his own brand. Drawing on 1960s aesthetics and the designer’s personal memories, the line features flat sandals, high heels, and platforms, with colour taking centre stage. Zankov and Luís Onofre met in Porto last June to develop this collection, which was presented in New York. In just three weeks, 30 pairs of shoes were produced.

APICCAPS also confirms that the Henry Zankov × Luís Onofre collaboration made its debut at NYFW in September and describes the project as a co-creation between designer and manufacturer, rather than simply a sponsorship of a fashion show.

The Patricio Campillo × Mariano Shoes partnership likewise shows how these initiatives can extend beyond the catwalk, with the Mexican designer resuming his collaboration with the Portuguese company at NYFW following a successful first collaboration. Notably, this collaboration has reached major French department stores, such as Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. 

Meanwhile, the Daniella Kallmeyer x JJ Heitor collaboration represents another successful example. One of the models developed for the New York-based designer made its way into the wardrobe of Californian actress and comedian Chloe Fineman, who wore it to the Vanity Fair party held in conjunction with the Oscars. Also this year, in Portugal, JJ Heitor and PC Footwear provided footwear for the actors in the play ‘Brokeback Mountain’ at the Teatro da Trindade in Lisbon.

See fashion show

Meanwhile, in Paris, the Portuguese presence has been gaining significant prominence, with Willy Chavarria presenting a footwear collection developed in collaboration with two Portuguese companies: Luís Onofre, responsible for women’s footwear, and Mariano Shoes, for men’s. In this case, the intention was commercial from the outset, based on a collection designed to reach the market through selected shops and direct-to-consumer sales. 

Another collaboration in Paris brought together the Alainpaul brand and the Portuguese firm PC Footwear. The partnership forms part of a growing focus on a new generation of designers, many of whom are seeking manufacturers capable of transforming creative concepts into tangible products, even when collections are produced in small quantities.

See fashion show

At Milan Fashion Week (MFW), the collaboration between London-based designer Saul Nash and the Portuguese brand ToWorkFor showcases another dimension of the national industry. For the Spring/Summer 2027 collection, Nash reinterpreted the traditional boat shoe in partnership with the Portuguese company, best known for its expertise in technical and safety footwear.

London, for its part, plays a key role in bringing the industry closer to future designers, with APICCAPS marking its second year of collaboration in London with the LCF – London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts London.

According to APICCAPS, a shoe manufactured in Portugal is an export product. A shoe developed in collaboration with an international designer, produced by a Portuguese company and presented in Paris, Milan or New York also comes to embody the value of creativity and innovation. The figures help to explain this commitment.

See fashion show

In 2025, Portugal produced around 80 million pairs of shoes and exported approximately 90% of its output to more than 170 countries. Exports from the footwear, components and leather goods cluster totalled around 2.23 billion euros. Nevertheless, Portugal’s scale is incomparable to that of the major Asian producers, which in 2025 accounted for almost 89% of global footwear production, with China alone accounting for more than half.

However, Portugal does not seek to compete on volume or price. The country’s focus is on segments where flexibility, quality, technical expertise, rapid development, and small-batch production can provide a competitive edge, APICCAPS concludes.