Despite the fierce competition from Southeast Asia, the shoemaking industry in the central county of Changhua has carved a niche market by making custom-made flip-flops.
Almost everyone in Taiwan has a pair of flip-flops, and the chances are they are made in Huatan, Changhua County.
In the 80s, there were 4,500 shoemakers there, churning out 10 million pairs of shoes a year. With the exodus of factories to other countries, today only about 100 still ply their trade.
It takes about an hour to make one pair of flip-flops from the design, printing, polishing to drilling and adding straps. .
The town makes an average of 10,000 pairs a month. While it’s a lot less than before, Huatan township head Ku Sheng-ming says shoemakers have created a niche with custom-made flip-flops as each style is unique.
Making sandals for other companies has also been a success. One shoemaker boasts 50 different styles and makes about 30,000 pairs per month.