Why does Putian produce so many fake shoes?
Hisuper HernándezShare
You should know that many high-quality brand-name imitation shoes come from China, such as Nike, New Balance, Adidas, Gucci, and Balenciaga . Their main production center is located in the city I'll introduce to you today: Putian.
1. What are Putian shoes?
The term "Putian shoes" generally refers to counterfeit shoes produced in Putian, China. Among China's many manufacturing cities, Putian stands out as one of them. It is famous for producing counterfeit shoes and is even known as the "Fake Shoe Capital."
The city of Putian is home to more than 4,200 footwear companies and around 500,000 workers. Many factories and small workshops in Putian specialize in the production of imitations of international brands such as Nike and Adidas.
Originally priced at thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan, these Putian shoes sell for just a few hundred yuan. Surprisingly, they not only look identical to the originals, but their quality is also comparable. Therefore, despite the fact that the production of counterfeit shoes is illegal in China, orders for fake Putian shoes continue to arrive en masse. Furthermore, many fake sneaker websites are popular.
2. Why does Putian produce so many fake shoes?
Before being dubbed the unflattering "Counterfeit Shoe Capital," Putian City was long known as a key manufacturing center for international sports brands like Nike (and still is).
In 1997, the outbreak of the financial crisis led to a significant reduction in orders to Putian factories, making their survival increasingly difficult. Consequently, Putian turned to producing counterfeit footwear. They decided to use existing production lines to directly imitate products from top brands. Many local factories or workshops also resorted to bribery to obtain samples or design drawings, and then purchased cheap materials to produce imitations.
Initially, the quality of these imitations wasn't very high. However, after years of development, Putian shoes have reached a level that allows them to be easily passed off as authentic. These high-quality replicas, available at low prices, have gained immense popularity in both the Chinese and international markets. Many people even specifically seek out these high-quality replicas because they believe their quality surpasses that of the genuine products.
3. How is the quality of Putian shoes?
Three types of counterfeit shoes are produced in Putian, with significant differences in quality and price, from the lowest to the highest. The highest-quality imitations are almost identical to the genuine products in terms of quality and appearance. Without the experience of an authenticator or specialized equipment, the average person can hardly tell the difference, and they are often priced much lower than the genuine items.
So, unless you're a die-hard Nike or Adidas fan, many people don't mind wearing high-quality Putian knockoffs, as long as they don't look like cheap imitations and the shoes are of good quality. This is a key reason for their popularity in the market.
Here are the three grades of Putian shoes with different qualities:
Low-end shoes
Low-quality shoes are the cheapest and lowest-quality among Putian imitations, with prices ranging from $7 to $28. They are typically produced by small, private workshops, which typically employ only a few dozen workers. These workshops lack the strict quality control of traditional factories, resulting in inferior shoes.
Low-end shoes only resemble the original product by 50%. They use cheap materials and are often stiff and uncomfortable. Most people can easily tell they're not authentic just by looking or touching them. There are noticeable differences in leather quality, workmanship, logo clarity, fit, and sole compared to the original products.
These products have a significant market presence and can be found in night markets and street stalls, and are mainly exported to regions such as Southeast Asia and Africa.
Top quality shoes
High-quality shoes can be as similar as 80% to the original and range in price from $28 to $56. For example, a high-quality knockoff pair of Nike Dunks can be so similar to the original that it's difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Not only do they stand out in terms of craftsmanship, pattern clarity, and fit compared to lower-quality shoes, but they also primarily use full-grain leather, which is superior to the split leather or pigskin used in lower-quality shoes.
Of course, by actually touching it, you might still notice some differences from the genuine products, especially in less obvious areas like the texture of the collar and tongue materials or the feel of the sole material , which might not match the quality of the genuine products.
Premium quality shoes (shoes made with molds from genuine factories)
High-end shoes are usually produced by large factories or by original factories that have already manufactured products for brands. They are almost identical to the original products in terms of fit, materials, patterns, construction, and more. They usually cost between $75 and $150.
High-end shoes are made using the same molds as the originals. Factories typically disassemble the original shoes, carefully record their size, materials, and stitching, and then reproduce imitations exactly to these specifications. These replicas are very popular in countries like Europe and the United States.
It's important to note that if you plan to buy or sell Putian shoes wholesale, don't just take the seller's word for it. Even if they claim to be top quality, what you actually receive could be superior or inferior, and the quality of high-quality shoes can vary among manufacturers.
Therefore, it's important to carefully inspect the shoes upon receipt, feel the materials, and pay attention to the insoles. Many low-quality Putian shoes use cheap insoles or soles, which can cause stuffy, uncomfortable feet when walking, while genuine shoes are of much higher quality.
4. How to find shoe manufacturers in Putian?
Regardless of the quality of these counterfeit products, it's important to keep in mind that they are prohibited by law. We don't recommend purchasing infringing products. As a buyer, importing these counterfeit shoes also carries significant risks, as you could face legal consequences.
It's undeniable that Putian OEM factories have excellent footwear manufacturing capabilities. Each year, these factories receive a large number of orders from brands such as AJ, Adidas, Under Armour, and Vans. The athletic and casual shoes they produce are sold in many countries, including Europe, America, Japan, and Korea. In addition to large OEM factories, smaller ones also have strong footwear manufacturing capabilities. Therefore, if you're looking to import shoes from China, regardless of whether your order is large or small, choosing Putian is not a bad choice.
How to order large quantities of shoes from Putian?
You can start by searching Google for contact information for Putian factories. For example, if you search "Putian shoe factory," you'll find many websites for Putian factories. Be sure to research them carefully.
You can also search on Alibaba , but don't search for Nike or Adidas, as you won't find what you're looking for. Search "Putian shoes" or "Putian shoe factory" and you'll find many listings for Putian shoes. In the product boxes, you'll see the names and links of the suppliers. Click on the link to view specific supplier information and contact them.
However, relying solely on online searches isn't entirely reliable. It's best to do your research on-site. Many small and medium-sized factories in Putian don't even post their contact information online, so it's often necessary to ask locals for recommendations. This is because many factories in the area also produce counterfeit shoes and may not operate entirely legally. They often have their own established distributors and can be cautious when dealing with third-party buyers.
As an importer unfamiliar with the local situation, it's often advisable to enlist the help of a local purchasing agent to connect you with factories or recommend contacts. Purchasing agents have their own network of contacts and are more familiar with local factories and specific suppliers. They can help you determine which factories produce good-quality products, which ones don't, and how to communicate with them. The situation in Putian's footwear industry is complex, and if you're unfamiliar with the local situation, there's a significant risk involved in direct purchasing.
5. How to get to Putian?
Putian is located in Fujian Province, on the southern coast of China. If you're traveling to Putian from abroad, you can first take a flight to Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, the closest airport to Putian. From there, you can take a private car or bus to get to Putian.
Alternatively, you can fly or take a high-speed train to Xiamen in China first, and then take a high-speed train from "Xiamen North" station to reach Putian.
