A news item published in the Financial Express on Tuesday titled "Footwear sales sluggish, craze for Chinese shoes" concerns us. Quoting traders the report said the locally produced items are facing tough competition from Chinese ones. It further revealed that more than 85 per cent of the shoes showcased in the city's footwear stores are imported and they continue to dominate the market.
If it is so, what will be the fate of locally produced shoes, and how our manufacturers will survive? Our entrepreneurs in the long run will be affected if the local users fall for foreign shoes. Better finishing and competitive prices of Chinese products may attract shoppers, and thus lure the retailers to showcase imported items. But in most cases the Chinese shoes are not durable. I have a fascination for footwear and my experiences have finally made me understand that the Bangladeshi shoes, particularly those made with leather are by far the best products available in the city markets. They are more comfortable and durable. If the users and fashion lovers are inclined to Bangladeshi products, the local manufacturers will be encouraged to diversify their products, make wide varieties of shoes with good finishing, and finally production in big bulk can make Bangladeshi products competitive with regards to price. Consumers in the country should also appreciate that "all that glitters is not gold". The foreign products may look attractive, but they are not durable, and thus not financially profitable.
Nurun Nahar
Eskaton Garden Road,
Dhaka
Craze for foreign shoes
FE Team | Published: July 18, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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