Weeks ago, I talked to a shoe seller online and asked her where the shoes are made. She said they are her personal designs and are manufactured in China. Around the same time I also stumbled upon another shoe seller that carries 'emergency' shoes for the working girl. It's her own brand but the shoes are also made in China.
But whhhhyyy China? We have our own shoe industry here. The sad part is that it's still cheaper to outsource from China than have your designs made locally. It's so depressing. While we support the local brands by buying their shoes, it doesn't trickle down to the local industry- instead we're funding the Chinese economy. It doesn't do much for the Chinese laborers to. They only get to keep their jobs but not to improve their lives.
The domination of China in a lot of industries is a double edged sword for consumers and a jackpot for the Chinese manufacturers. Let me explain. A pair of Christian Louboutin heels cost at least Php 30,000 and are made in Italy. You can get a high-quality replica on Multiply for around Php 4000 from Chinese suppliers. So if you have the real Loubs, you are faced with the controversy of wether or not they're the real deal. And if you're part of the social climbing set, you get to step up the ladder because people are puzzled how you get to wear heels whose worth can send a kid to school.
If only having shoes manufactured in Marikina is as low-priced as having it made in China, a lot more local businesses here can grow. We do not depend on exchange rates, there is no language barrier, it is easier to monitor your orders according to your specifications, and it's easy to negotiate with your fellow Filipino businessman. In addition, if people stop patronizing fake goods, then there's no reason for manufacturers to pirate their designs.
