Nike has grown to become the largest producer and supplier of athletic apparel in the world. In 2018, its global revenue reached $36.4 billion. If you are interested in how are nike shoes made, you’ve come to the right place.
To keep costs down, Nike, like other well-known brands, manufactures shoes and other products in foreign factories. However, the number of products manufactured in China and other Asian countries is rapidly decreasing in an attempt to prevent unfair labor practices.
Learn more about Nike manufacturing by continuing to read.
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Nike at a Glance
Founded in 1964, Nike specializes in athletic clothing, footwear and sports equipment. What started as a small running shoe line became one of the most popular and beloved brands worldwide. By 2020, the business hopes to generate $50 billion in sales. In a 2016 poll, 24.5% of Americans said they would. female respondents said that this was their favorite sports apparel brand.
Its corporate offices are close to Beaverton, Oregon. There are thousands of Nike shops and authorized retailers worldwide. Almost 30 years ago, Indonesia was the location of Nike’s manufacturing for shoes and other products.
At the time, activist Jeff Ballinger charged that the business employed dishonest labor practices and paid its employees poorly. Major changes have been made to the brand over the years as it works to establish itself as a sustainability leader.
Today, most of its products are manufactured in China and Vietnam.
How Nike Shoes Are Made?
Nike employs skilled engineers and designers, encouraging them to embrace disruption and create innovative products. Hundreds of factories around the world receive the design and materials from the company.
It uses recycled and organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and other eco-friendly materials even though the brand isn’t yet sustainable. Most shoes, however, are made of leather, rubber, polyester and plastic. Cattle fed on corn provide the leather.
Over 500 factories in China and other nations receive these materials by air and sea. The majority of its shoes are constructed using a cold cement assembly technique, which uses more energy than vulcanization.
Water-based glue is used to affix the shoe’s upper, which covers the foot. Stretching the item and giving it structural strength requires the application of mechanical force.
EVA foam, lightweight plastic, and mesh fabrics are the usual materials used to make shoes. The waste materials are recycled and used to make other products, like rubber playground equipment and shoe boxes.
Nike states that recycled materials are used in more than 75% of its products. The business wants to eliminate waste from shoe manufacturing and reduce its environmental impact by half.
Nike created new, environmentally friendly materials that use less water and energy over the last few years. For instance, many of its shoes are made of flyleather, which is 40% lighter and five times more durable than grain leather.
It uses less water during production and has a lower carbon footprint.
The company also employs cutting-edge techniques like ColorDry and Flyknit to cut down on waste. ColorDry, for instance, is a new technology that allows manufacturers to dye fabric without water.
Additionally, Nike has introduced its own collection of high-quality recycled materials that are utilized in the creation of shoes and apparel.
Where Are Nike Shoes Made?
Almost all Nike shoes are manufactured outside of the China and Vietnam, who together account for 36% of the global Nike shoe production, are the top two producers.
Thailand produces 6% of the Nike shoes produced globally, while Indonesia produces 22% of them.
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Final Words: the Nike Controversy
Nike has long been criticized for exploiting foreign workers and offering poor labor conditions. Activists claimed that the business used children to produce soccer balls in the 1990s. Since those gloomy times, the company has prioritized strengthening its labor policies and lowering its environmental impact. For instance, the manufacturing of Nike Free RN Flyknit shoes results in 60% less waste than that of conventional running shoes.
Additionally, the business got rid of the outdated steam boiler systems in the majority of its factories, which resulted in a 15–20% energy savings. 96% of the waste generated during the production of its shoes was recycled or turned into energy in 2017. Today, Nike is widely recognized for its efforts to ensure decent working conditions and embrace sustainability.
Read More: Are Hoka Shoes Made in China?
FAQs
Are Nike Shoes Made in Sweatshops?
Nike, Inc. has been accused of using sweatshops and worker abuse to produce footwear and apparel in East Asia.
What Percentage of Nike Shoes Are Made in China?
The leading manufacturer of Nike shoes is China and Vietnam each accounting for 36% of the total manufactured world wide.
Where Does Nike Get Their Materials From?
China and Taiwan are the leading supplier of synthetic leather worldwide.
