Firstly, and this is kinda important I guess, China’s huge. Seriously. Like, “provincial-level” huge. That means the footwear industry is, well, *also* huge. We’re not just talking about some back alley cobbler situation, okay? We’re talking massive manufacturing, design houses, the whole shebang. I mean, one of the examples even mentions Zhejiang Aokang Shoes Co., Ltd. Like, that’s a company name with some serious gravitas, you know?
And get this – it’s booming. The “industri alas kaki” (which, btw, means “footwear industry” in Indonesian – weird, right?) is experiencing a total explosion of growth. It’s not just about making cheap knock-offs anymore, which, let’s be honest, used to be the image, *shrugs*. They’re actually stepping up their game (pun intended!).
Now, I’ve seen some stuff about “10 Best Chinese Sportswear Brands” out there. I haven’t researched them intensely, but you gotta think they’re making some seriously good stuff if they’re making “best of” lists. But I am wary about some of these lists. I mean, *who* is deciding what is best, and *why*?
And speaking of “used brand shoes,” there’s a whole market for that too, which is wild! I mean, who knew? Apparently, you can even get “racing board shoes” – which, I’m guessing, are for some traditional Bourau folk sport? Sounds kinda cool, actually. I could Google it, but, like, too much effort right now.
Then, there’s the whole brand share thing. I saw something about “brand share of footwear market 2022.” I bet there’s a lot of competition. I am not sure who is in first place. I would guess the big companies like Nike and Adidas are in the lead.
Here’s something I think is kinda cool, though: you can source shoes directly from Chinese manufacturers. And apparently, this gets you “cost-effectiveness, diverse designs, and high-quality craftsmanship.” I mean, it’s probably true, right? Cutting out the middleman is always a good idea. But still, you always have to make sure they are not going to scam you.
