“Because, first of all, it will let people know that we Marikina shoemakers are still here. “Chinese products have had a huge effect,” said Noel Box, officer in charge of the Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office. Beyond the suede and napa leather, every Marikina shoe is a patchwork of time-honored techniques and artistry — all with a story of intergenerational struggle. Box echoed this, saying Marikina shoemakers at large were now concentrating on “higher end shoes” that used genuine leather. Marikina shoes are here to stay, Nepomuceno asserted.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 24, 2019 20:48 UTC