Shoemaking firms urged to be more innovative

Mayor of China's 'footwear capital' says companies need to do more to reduce massive inventories

China's footwear makers need to improve their innovative and design capabilities in order to overcome the industry's ongoing high inventory crisis, according to the mayor of the nation's "footwear capital".

Liu Wenru, mayor of Jinjiang, in Fujian province, which produces 20 percent of the world's sports shoes and 40 percent of domestic supplies, said that it is time for Chinese footwear makers to emphasize innovation and designs as well as to enhance differentiation in marketing to compete with high-end foreign brands.