Recently, Quan Hongchan won a gold medal in the women's 10m synchronised platform diving at the Paris Olympics. Her slippers sparked a discussion on social media. In the eyes of Chinese netizens, "wearing slippers" has become a cultural characteristic of people from Guangdong. Indeed, Guangdong is a major global producer of slippers and plastic footwear, with Jieyang known as the "City of Chinese Plastic Fashion Shoes". Nowadays, footwear from Jieyang is sold to over 170 countries and regions worldwide, nearly covering the entire globe.

Jieyang is known as the "City of Chinese Plastic Fashion Shoes", with the footwear industry being a traditional pillar industry. In 2023, the total output value of Jieyang's footwear industry exceeded 30 billion yuan. There are 182 footwear manufacturing enterprises above the designated size, generating output value of 15.11 billion yuan, accounting for 5.8% of the city's total industrial output value. Currently, there are over 3,000 businesses in Jieyang engaged in the manufacturing and sales of finished shoes, soles, and supporting shoe materials. The industry employs approximately 250,000 people and boasts more than 200 independent brands. Furthermore, well-known domestic and international brands collaborate with companies in Jieyang for production purposes.

In recent years, footwear manufacturing enterprises in Jieyang have invested nearly 5 billion yuan in promoting technological research and development, brand building, and talent acquisition, among other fields. This investment has yielded a series of innovative achievements, continuously enhancing the industry's competitive advantage. Jieyang has accumulated over 1,100 patents related to footwear products and production technologies.

Today, the footwear manufacturing industry in Jieyang covers the entire supply chain, including raw material production, industrial design, mold manufacturing, ingredient processing, finished product manufacturing, logistics and distribution, and market transactions. The industry chain is complete, and the supply chain system is relatively well-developed. Most footwear manufacturers have mechanized their production and adopted computer numerical control (CNC). Footwear products have become diversified from primarily plastic slippers to EVA, PU, fabric shoes, craft shoes, and leather shoes. This evolution has formed a regional characteristic footwear industry cluster in Jieyang.

Jieyang's footwear industry not only boasts advanced manufacturing enterprises but also has a well-developed sales network. Jieyang hosts the largest shoe material professional market in the eastern Guangdong region, the Yuedong Shoe Material Market, known for its wide variety, competitive prices, and excellent service and has established the Jieyang International Footwear Trade City. Jieyang is also China's largest production and export base for plastic shoes. Local authorities actively implement the "going global" strategy, supporting enterprises in participating in various trade fairs and exhibitions.

"Shenlubao now produces over 50 million pairs of shoes annually, with 70% of its products targeted for export. It is registered in 173 countries including the United States, Italy, and Hungary, and has exclusive agent agreements in 40 countries," explained Zheng Jiechun from Jieyang Shenlubao Footwear Ltd.

At Guangdong Liangfengda Industrial Co., Ltd.,the showroom shelves are filled with a diverse array of women's sandals. "Our company specializes in craft shoes primarily aimed at the foreign market, exporting to over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Our products are particularly popular among young people in European countries like Spain, as well as in North African countries such as Morocco and Algeria," explained sales representative Zheng Yixuan. "At the 135th Canton Fair this year, the company showcased nearly 100 product designs, with intended deals amounting to approximately 2 million dollars."

Source :Lingnan on the Cloud

奥运带火“鞋都”揭阳，鞋品迈向世界市场

日前，全红婵在巴黎奥运会跳水女子双人10米台决赛中夺得金牌，她穿的拖鞋在社交媒体上引起热议。在全国网友眼中，“穿拖鞋”俨然已经成为广东人的“文化特征”。事实上，广东确实是全世界拖鞋乃至塑料鞋的主要生产地，揭阳市则是“中国塑料时尚鞋之都”。如今，揭阳鞋品热销全世界170多个国家和地区，几乎覆盖全球。

揭阳市是“中国塑料时尚鞋之都”，鞋业是当地传统支柱产业。2023年全市鞋业总产值300多亿元，制鞋规上企业182家，规上企业产值151.1亿元，占全市工业总产值的5.8%。目前，全市从事制造销售成品鞋及鞋底、配套鞋料和销售企业商家达3000余家，从业人员约25万人，拥有自主品牌200多个，国内外知名品牌生产企业也都与揭阳企业开展生产合作。

据不完全统计，近年来，揭阳市制鞋企业先后投入推动技术研发、品牌建设、人才引进等方面资金近50亿元，取得了一系列创新成果，产业竞争优势不断提升。揭阳市鞋类产品及生产技术专利达1100余件。

如今，揭阳制鞋产业覆盖了上、中、下游，包括原材料生产、工业设计、模具制造、配料加工、成品制造、物流配送和市场交易等各个环节，产业链完整，供应链体系较为完善。大部分鞋类生产企业实现了机械化、电脑数控自动化生产，鞋产品也由原来单一的塑料拖鞋为主逐步向EVA、PU、布鞋、工艺鞋、皮鞋多元化发展，形成了区域性特色制鞋产业集群。

揭阳鞋业不仅有先进的制造企业，也有发达的销售网络。揭阳拥有粤东地区规模最大、品种最全、价格最廉、服务最优的鞋材专业市场——粤东鞋材城，建成了揭阳国际鞋业商贸城。揭阳也是全国最大的塑料鞋生产出口基地，当地积极实施“走出去”战略，支持企业参加各类展销会。

“圣路保现在年产5000余万双鞋，70%的产品都面向出口，目前已在美国、意大利、匈牙利等173个国家登记注册，已有40个国家签约独家代理公司。”揭阳市圣路保鞋业有限公司的郑洁纯介绍说。

在广东亮丰达实业有限公司，各式女式凉鞋琳琅满目，填满了展厅货架。“我们公司主要做工艺鞋，产品基本面向外贸，出口到全世界100多个国家和地区，在西班牙等欧洲国家和摩洛哥、阿尔及利亚等北非国家，非常受当代外国的年轻人喜爱。”外贸业务员郑仪旋介绍道，在今年的第135届广交会上，公司参展产品近百款，意向成交金额约200万美元。

文丨记者 陈锴跃 通讯员 林捷勇 许创盛
图丨陈憧炜
翻译丨林佳岱
英文审校丨赵凡