2026 Vietnam Smart Shoe Machinery and Materials Exhibition & Textile and Garment Industry Exhibition | VFM & VTG | October 14-17

[Industry Outlook] The Unsung Heroes in Motion: Industrial Innovation of Shoelaces and Insoles through Biomechanics and Digital Collaboration. In modern footwear manufacturing, consumers often focus on the high-tech outsoles or the visual design of the uppers. However, what truly determines whether a shoe is ergonomic and achieves 'ultimate comfort' are often two overlooked unsung heroes: the insole and the shoelace.

With the surge in demand for smart manufacturing, green and low-carbon solutions, and personalized customization, these two accessories are undergoing unprecedented technological disruption. Whether at GISMA GUANGZHOU 2027 (Guangdong International Intelligent Shoemaking & Shoemaking Materials Expo) in the core footwear hub of Southern China, or at the VFM-Vietnam International Intelligent Shoemaking & Shoemaking Materials Expo (October 14-17, 2026) and VTG-Vietnam International Textile & Garment Machinery Exhibition (October 14-17, 2026), which connect to the ASEAN market, digital collaboration and flexible production equipment have become the focus of the global footwear supply chain transformation.

II. Insole Industry: The 'Biomechanical Micro-ecosystem' of the Foot Sole and 3D Printing Innovation. As the interface directly contacting the foot sole, the insole not only bears the function of shock absorption but is also the biomechanical core for regulating plantar pressure distribution and correcting gait.

1. 3D printing equipment reshapes flexible manufacturing. Traditional insole manufacturing is heavily dependent on molds. At GISMA 2027 and VFM Vietnam Exhibition, advanced 3D printing equipment for insoles and lattice structure design technology will be showcased. By integrating a plantar pressure scanner, 3D printing equipment can achieve:

1) Pixel-level hardness zoning: On the same pair of insoles, different lattice densities are printed for the forefoot, arch, and heel, achieving personalized rigid support and precise cushioning.

2) Zero-inventory on-demand production: Eliminates the mold-making process, significantly shortens the R&D cycle, and enables brands to quickly respond to market customization demands.

1) Supercritical Foaming: No chemical foaming agent residue, giving the insole excellent resistance to permanent deformation.

2) Flat feet (low arch): Requires a rigid or semi-rigid arch support pad. It can forcibly "prop up" the collapsed arch, prevent ankle pronation while walking, and relieve the pulling sensation of the plantar fascia.

3) High arch: Requires a highly elastic full-length cushioned insole, using thickness and material deformation to fill the arch gap, effectively dispersing the concentrated pressure on the forefoot and heel.

3. Lace industry: Flexible locking systems and post-processing automation equipment. Shoelaces are no longer just ropes for fastening shoes; under the wave of digital collaborative design, they have evolved into a precise "dynamic wrapping adjustment system."

1. Efficiency revolution in post-processing packaging: Shoelace automatic packaging machine. With the rapid development of e-commerce and fast fashion, the production efficiency of shoelace post-processing has become a key bottleneck in the supply chain. The VTG Exhibition and GISMA 2027, dedicated to promoting factory digitalization, will jointly bring the next generation of shoelace automatic packaging machines and intelligent thread management equipment. Their technical highlights include:

1) Fully automatic high-speed tipping and counting: Integrates cutting, tipping, looping, and packaging.

2) Intelligent image recognition defect detection: Automatically removes defective products with fuzzing or uneven dyeing, significantly reducing manual re-inspection costs and helping enterprises achieve unmanned factories.

2. Functional materials and biomechanical lacing methods

1) High-strength fiber materials: Outdoor hiking boots are widely adopting wear-resistant, non-absorbent, and stretch-resistant high-tech fiber shoelaces (such as polyester fiber, high-molecular-weight polyethylene).

2) High instep relief (parallel window lacing): At the two rows of eyelets at the highest point of the instep, the laces are not crossed but are threaded straight up to the next level, leaving a window to instantly relieve local pressure.

3) Heel slip prevention (runner's lock lacing): Uses the double eyelets at the top of the shoe to form a lock, firmly securing the heel in the heel cup, reducing the chance of friction blisters.

4. Cross-border, full-industry-chain digital collaboration

In the modern shoe manufacturing industry, insoles and shoelaces have never existed in isolation. GISMA GUANGZHOU 2027, VFM Exhibition, and VTG Exhibition, targeting global buyers, jointly advocate for 'Integrated Foot Health and Smart Factory Solutions':

1) Spatial volume coordination: When the insole is thickened due to the addition of 3D-printed arch support, the digital shoe cavity model will provide synchronous feedback to the shoelace and eyelet system. By adjusting the shoelace tension parameters, it prevents the internal space of the shoe from being compressed and squeezing the instep.

2) Seamless cross-border supply chain connection: Global brands source cutting-edge 3D printing and automated packaging machinery in South China through GISMA GUANGZHOU 2027, and seamlessly extend to ASEAN hubs (such as factories in Vietnam and surrounding areas covered by VFM and VTG exhibitions), achieving end-to-end efficient and flexible integration.

V. Grasp Global Industry Trends, Join the Event Now

Whether you are a manufacturing enterprise seeking technological upgrades or a brand purchaser looking for innovative materials, this is an annual exhibition you cannot miss. In the coming year, the industry will usher in a new round of technological iteration. Please participate immediately to seize market opportunities!

Date/Time：14 - 17 October, 2026

09:00-17:00 【Last Day to 15:00】

1）Children under 16 are not admitted entry

2）Flip-flops/slippers are not allowed

Saigon Exhibition & Conference Center (SECC) MAP

Address: 799 Nguyen Van Linh, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

VTG - The 24th Vietnam Int’l Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition

Organizer

Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co., Ltd.

Ministry of Industry & Trade - Vietnam National Trade Fair & Advertising Joint-stock Company

Co-organizers

Guangdong Shoe-Making Machinery Association

Paper Communication Exhibition Services

Supporter

The Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association of Ho Chi Minh City (SLA)

Chan Chao International Co., Ltd.

VTG Visitor Pre-registration:https://www.chanchao.com.tw/en/entryApply.asp?id=FTXTHCM2026

VFM-2026 Vietnam Int'l Footwear Machinery & Material Industry Exhibition

2026/10/14(Wed.) - 10/17(Sat.)

9:00 ~ 17:00 (Closing at 15:00 on the last day)

Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC)

Visitors under 16 are not admitted.

Visitor Pre-registration:https://www.chanchao.com.tw/en/entryApply.asp?id=FVNFLM2026

Welcome to 2026 VFM & VTG! October 14-17 | Saigon