RIVA DEL GARDA, ITALY: From contemporary art to fashion products, four themes — SHINE ON, RIPPLE, PRISM and PATINA — anticipate consumer trends across footwear, bags, leather goods and sneakers. In Riva del Garda, from 13 to 16 June 2026, the Area Highlights will present them to industry professionals through dedicated events, curated in collaboration with Arsutoria.
During a visit to a major art exhibition, there are moments when you stop looking and start feeling. It is from this same intensity of perception that the key trends of the next season emerge — four visions inspired by observing art as a research tool.
Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags (13-16 June 2026) will present and explore them through the Area Highlights programme, developed in collaboration with Arsutoria.
SHINE ON: It starts with Pop Art: Jeff Koons pushes surfaces to the extreme, ultra-glossy and reflective. Daniel Buren introduces the code of coloured vertical stripes, while Bridget Riley adds movement through vibrating optical bands. The result: high-gloss finishes, coloured coatings, latex and metallic effects. A bold, direct palette — saturated reds, bright yellows, electric greens. A trend designed to stand out, using light as a powerful commercial tool.
RIPPLE: Boccioni translated speed into sculptural form. Iris van Herpen creates garments that appear fluid, almost water-like. Both share the same goal: giving shape to the intangible. Applied to product design, this becomes living surfaces: folds, pleats, embossing and three-dimensional waves. A texture that is not only visible, but above all tangible. Structured leathers — not printed — create real depth, delivering immediate and recognisable added value.
PRISM: Olafur Eliasson creates environments that change colour depending on perspective. Dan Flavin transforms neon into pure architecture. From these references emerges an aesthetic based on iridescent, colour-shifting and mirrored materials. Vinyl materials that shift from green to violet, leathers that capture and reflect light in constantly changing ways. Bags and shoes that reinvent themselves through light and movement — the trend closest to impulse buying.
PATINA: Alberto Burri worked by burning canvas, wood and plastic, revealing unexpected value through transformation. A key insight: the most interesting material is the one marked by time. Patina translates this approach into product design: gradient tones, worn effects, raw edges, vegetable-tanned finishes. Each piece is unique. Imperfection is not a flaw — it becomes the added value to communicate, a strong response to a market saturated with standardisation.
More Than Trends at Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags
The four trends will be explored in depth during the Area Highlights sessions — a key reference point for buyers and exhibitors. Area Highlights is part of a broader knowledge ecosystem that defines the Riva del Garda Fierecongressi fairs: alongside the Area Showcase, featuring selected products from Gardabags exhibitors, the Innovation Village Retail dedicated to tech start-ups for retail, and the Market Focus sessions analysing global economic dynamics.
An unmissable event: Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags, from 13 to 16 June 2026.
