KBRI Warsaw Promotes Indonesian MSME Footwear Products at POLSHOES 2026 International Trade Fair
KBRI Warsawa promoted the footwear products of Indonesian MSMEs at the POLSHOES Fair 2026, held on 3–4 March 2026 at EXPO Kraków, Poland. This participation marked Indonesia’s first entry into the footwear fair and was part of an effort to broaden access to the Polish market and the European region for national products.
The fair showcased four Indonesian MSME brands: Serlium Leathers, Ittaherl, Roka Collections, and Umiy Lasega Batik. The items on display included footwear and lifestyle products that highlight craftsmanship, design differentiation, the use of high-quality materials, and Indonesian cultural touches.
POLSHOES is an international trade fair that brings together manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers of footwear from various countries. In 2026 the fair hosted 85 participants from Poland and several other Central and Eastern European countries, Turkey, India, China, New Zealand, and Indonesia.
Indonesia’s presence was seen as strategic because Poland is a key trading and distribution hub in Europe. The country also serves as a base for numerous trading companies catering to both domestic markets and the European Union via conventional distribution networks and e-commerce platforms.
Globally, Indonesia currently ranks as the world’s third-largest footwear exporter according to the World Footwear Yearbook 2025. In the Polish market, footwear is also a major Indonesian export with growth from around USD 225 million in 2022 to more than USD 317 million in 2024.
“Kehadiran Indonesia pada POLSHOES merupakan langkah awal untuk memperkenalkan kekuatan industri alas kaki Indonesia kepada pasar Polandia dan Eropa. Produk yang ditampilkan menunjukkan bahwa sepatu Indonesia tidak hanya kompetitif dari sisi harga, tetapi juga memiliki nilai tambah dari segi desain, kualitas material, serta karakter handmade,” said Fatimah Alatas, Coordinator of Economic Functions at the Indonesian Embassy in Warsaw, in a press release received on Saturday (7 March 2026).
During the fair, the Indonesian pavilion drew attention from visitors and industry players. Amid the dominance of winter boots and sneakers by other participants, Indonesia showcased a range of products such as handmade coloured leather shoes, women's party shoes, and suede shoes combined with Baduy weaving.
The Indonesian Embassy in Warsaw also received feedback from industry players who noted that Indonesian footwear has potential to grow in the European market, particularly in the mid-to-premium segment that emphasises material quality, design differentiation, and handmade character.
Participation in fairs like POLSHOES serves as a platform for Indonesia to understand market preferences directly, to establish communication with distributors and retailers, and to identify collaboration opportunities to push footwear exports to Europe.
Going forward, KBRI Warsaw will continue to promote Indonesian footwear products through participation in international exhibitions and the strengthening of networks with distributors and industry players in Poland.