For several years, Portuguese footwear has been internationally recognized for its excellence. This is reflected in the industry and also in determining trends in the world fashion market.
As a rule, the footwear industry is based in the north of the country, where several factories produce millions of pairs of shoes for the domestic market and for export.
One of the most appreciated factors across the world of Portuguese footwear is quality. The excellence of raw materials and production processes are at the heart of the national industry, which is why shoes made in Portugal are designed to last for many years without losing their shape or comfort.
If you look in the shops, however, you will notice a difference in the price of Portuguese shoes compared to the competition. This difference is justified because Portuguese footwear is often made by hand. This makes production more expensive but guarantees 100% quality in the final product.
Portuguese industry is absolutely different from low-cost footwear. This difference came about through innovation, which combined existing quality with more flexible production processes capable of responding to the new needs of the markets.
In partnership with national research institutes, Portuguese footwear companies have adopted new ways of making shoes. Automation, integration of digital systems, optimisation of the production chain and enrichment of raw materials have transformed traditional factories into veritable technological hubs. Old brands have been given new life. Newly created brands have become global case studies.
The flexibility brought by the new production processes also made room for a stronger and bolder design, based on customisation and the production of unique items. It has been in this space where, in recent years, new brands have developed, winning over new market segments around the world.
Since 2009, the footwear sector has not stopped growing in Portugal. The market becomes desirable for investors and companies, and permanent innovation keeps the cycle constantly turning.
Today, Portugal is the 3rd largest European producer of shoes and the 17th largest producer in the world, in contrast to a market dominated by low-cost producers. In addition to shoe factories, the country welcomes new footwear and raw material innovation industries, in an increasingly complete production chain construction.
At the same time, Portuguese footwear is increasingly visible outside the country, standing out as a luxury product, with quality and some eccentricity in its combination of materials, colours and patterns.
