From China's Cloth Shoes Capital to Global Cloth Shoe Base: Yanshi's Billion-Dollar Cloth Shoe Industry's Global Journey
Yanshi is home to over 1,500 shoe-making enterprises, employing nearly 100,000 people. Nearly 50% of the popular old Beijing cloth shoes nationwide are produced here, with a market share exceeding one-third of the country. With the gentle hum of machines and flying stitches, pairs of Luoyang Yanshi cloth shoes set off from workshops in this small central plains town, embarking on a journey to be sold in more than 50 countries and regions worldwide. "In Yanshi, from fabric and soles to packaging and logistics, the entire chain can be assembled within half an hour to make a pair of shoes," said a person in charge of the Yanshi District Footwear Industry Association. This confidence stems from over 60 years of industrial accumulation. Yanshi's shoe-making industry began in 1956. In the early years, everything relied on hand-stitching soles and sewing uppers, taking two or three days for one pair. In 2002, polyurethane assembly lines were introduced, ushering the industry into a new stage of scale and standardization. Along Luoshen Road and Shouyang Road in Yanshi, shoe material shops, design studios, and freight departments are lined up in rows. A well-developed industrial chain is the foundation for Yanshi cloth shoes to gain a foothold in the market. Today, Yanshi is home to over 1,500 shoe-making enterprises and nearly 100,000 employees. It has been jointly awarded the title of "China's Cloth Shoe Capital" by the China Light Industry Federation and China Leather Industry Association, and is the largest cloth shoe production base in the country. Nearly 50% of the popular old Beijing cloth shoes nationwide are produced here, with a market share exceeding one-third of the country. Without bordering other countries or having a coastline, how do Yanshi cloth shoes sell well globally? Precisely adapting to overseas market demands is key. In the showroom of Qunying Shoe Factory, ethnic-style cloth shoes with red soles embroidered with exquisite patterns and matched with elegant frog closures are particularly eye-catching. "These are customized styles for Central Asian countries and Russia," said Chen Yanxia, head of the enterprise, picking up a pair of shoes. "At the Alashankou exhibition, this shoe immediately secured a large order." Driven by the Belt and Road Initiative, the export scale of Yanshi cloth shoes has continuously expanded: exports accounted for about 5% of annual output in 2017, jumping to nearly 50% by 2025. Since 2019, Yanshi has established more than 70 foreign trade companies with import-export qualifications. The development model of "the government sets up the stage, enterprises perform the play" empowers shoe companies to go global with precision. A relevant person in charge from the Yanshi District Bureau of Industry, Information Technology and Commerce introduced that the local government takes the lead in organizing enterprises to attend domestic and international exhibitions such as the Canton Fair and Alashankou Cross-border Exhibition, helping companies expand sales channels and seize overseas orders. Last May, 50 shoe companies participated in the Alashankou Cross-border Exhibition as a group, signing letters of intent worth 110 million US dollars. Innovation drives Yanshi's shoe industry to leap from OEM to brand. Recently, Yanshi organized young entrepreneurs from 23 shoe companies to visit Huidong County in Guangdong to learn from their experience. They carried out in-depth exchanges on coordinated development of the industrial chain, expansion of foreign trade channels, and integration and sharing of industry resources, building momentum for the billion-dollar cloth shoe industry to expand its global footprint. At present, more than 300 shoe companies in Yanshi have established R&D teams, with leading enterprises investing over one million yuan annually in R&D. Within the next three years, the total annual output value of Yanshi cloth shoes is expected to exceed 18 billion yuan. A provincial-level footwear testing center, a specialized shoe material market, and a logistics park will be established. Building on the existing industrial foundation, the industry will be upgraded towards intelligence, branding, and internationalization. "Our goal is to shift Yanshi cloth shoes from selling quantity to selling quality, brand, and standards," said a relevant person in charge from the Yanshi District Committee. From a handcrafted leather and cloth shoe cooperative over 60 years ago to an annual output of 500 million pairs, an output value of 12.7 billion yuan, and exports accounting for nearly half, a small pair of cloth shoes connects the production workshops with the vast world, bearing the craftsmen's original aspirations and the industry's dream of soaring.