THANK YOU, CHICAGO!

Well, that was a pretty great weekend.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to Stitchdown Expo Chicago 2026—the bootmakers, shoemakers, leatherworkers, exhibitors, sponsors, and everyone who showed up to talk footwear, meet the makers, and spend a couple of days with people who get just as excited about this stuff as we do.

We couldn't do any of this without you.

And the good news? We're doing it again.

Stitchdown Expo Chicago returns November 5–6, 2027.

Mark your calendars. More details coming soon.

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New For 2026: Super Trunk x Stitchdown

We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Super Trunk Show team—Kirby Allison, Shoegazing, and The Shoe Snob—who will curate a dedicated section of classic dress footwear, essential care products, fine tailoring, and more.

The Super Trunk team will host the Americas Championships of Shoe Shining, presented by Saphir Médaille D’or, which will also offer shoe care masterclasses throughout the weekend.

Go Inside the Expo

Get acquainted with the show via our 2025 Chicago Expo recap video

TWO DAYS OF NONSTOP
FOOTWEAR FERVOR

  • Spend quality time with the people creating the world’s greatest footwear and more—at their booths during the day, our Friday night market, and our opening and wrap parties after hours.

  • Whether selling on site or through exclusive pre-orders, many of our maker sponsors create special, limited product just for Stitchdown Expo.

  • We all buy shoes and boots online—and we’ve all had to do with them not fitting. At Stitchdown Expo, the ability to get properly sized is paramount.

  • Get up close and personal with hand-lasting, hand-welting, and the entire handmade shoemaking and repair processes.

  • No great footwear can be made without equally fantastic leather. Stitchdown Expo brings together the top tanneries in the world so you can learn more about their process and products.

  • Yes we obsess over great footwear—but so many makers are creating incredible products in all sorts of categories. We’re honored to have them all at Stitchdown Expo.

  • The footwear-loving community is simply phenomenal. Getting them all together—from around the world—in one place for a weekend to spend time together in real actual life is about the most special thing we can think about.

    Also there will be like, actual parties.