---
title: "Sourcing Shoes: Sneakers & Leather"
summary: "Putian replicas vs. Jinjiang brands. How to find legitimate shoe factories."
category: "guide"
date: "2026-03-24"
author: "Withyou Trip Sourcing Team"
image: "/images/blog/sourcing-shoes-sneakers-leather-hero-unique.png"
---
# Sole Searching: Sourcing Footwear
Phase 3.
## 1. Production Hubs
* **Jinjiang (Fujian):** The Sports Shoe capital (Anta, Xtep, and Nike suppliers are here).
* **Wenzhou:** Leather shoes and boots.
* **Chengdu:** Women's fashion boots.
## 2. Molds (The Cost)
* **Outsole Molds:** Opening a new sole mold costs $2,000 - $5,000 per size run.
* **Strategy:** Use the factory's existing "Open Molds" (soles they already have) and just change the "Upper" design. This saves you $20k in startup costs.
## 3. The "Replica" Trap
* **Putian:** Famous for high-quality fakes.
* **Warning:** If a supplier shows you branded Nike/Adidas samples in the back room, be careful. If established brands audit them, they might get shut down. Stick to neutral factories.
## Summary
Shoes are complex. 50+ components. Adhesive quality is critical (so the sole doesn't peel off).