Marikina pushes to expand leather goods industry
BEST foot forward Workers meticulously assemble footwear at the Cpoint shoe warehouse in Marikina City on Wednesday. Dubbed the “shoe capital” of the country, Marikina City aims to revitalize shoemaking craftsmanship for the global market. pushing to entice more locals, especially the youth, to join its footwear-making industry as the city looks to revive the Philippines’ Shoe Capital.
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The Marikina City government is seeking to further promote the city's craftsmanship by strengthening its leather goods industry—particularly the production of bags, wallets, belts, and other leather products—as it opened its annual Christmas Shoe Bazaar on Friday, 13 November.
Mayor Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro said the initiative aims to showcase the diversity of Marikeño craftsmanship and provide more opportunities for local manufacturers and artisans to promote their products.
As part of the effort, the mayor proposed expanding the exhibits at the Marikina Shoe Museum to include locally manufactured leather goods, highlighting the city’s expertise beyond shoemaking.
Teodoro also encouraged members of the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI) to contribute their products to the museum’s collection, allowing more visitors to appreciate the craftsmanship of Marikina’s footwear and leather goods manufacturers.
She also highlighted the recent visit of delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) to the Marikina Shoe Museum on 6 November.
The delegation, composed of representatives from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Timor-Leste, and Laos, toured the museum and interacted with local shoemakers to learn about the city’s longstanding footwear industry.
According to Teodoro, the visit also opened opportunities for Marikina to further promote its footwear and leather goods industry internationally.
She disclosed that a Singaporean delegate had expressed interest in bringing a larger delegation to Marikina in 2027 in connection with a planned handicrafts summit in Manila.
Meanwhile, Mayor led the opening of the annual Marikina Christmas Shoe Bazaar at Freedom Park on Friday, 13 November, alongside Marikina First District Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, and other local officials, and representatives of participating footwear brands.
This year’s bazaar brings together 40 local brands offering a wide selection of Marikina-made shoes, bags, and other leather products at affordable prices for the holiday season.
The local chief executive said the city government decided to open the bazaar earlier to give residents and visitors more time to shop for locally manufactured products ahead of Christmas.
To further support local shoemakers and leather goods manufacturers, the city government continues to provide bazaar spaces free of charge to participating vendors.
The mayor expressed bullishness that this year’s event would attract more customers and generate higher sales than the previous year, helping sustain the livelihoods of local manufacturers and workers.
Also, Teodoro urged residents and visitors from neighboring cities and provinces to choose Marikina-made products when purchasing Christmas gifts, emphasizing that supporting local businesses also benefits the families of workers involved in the manufacturing process.
The Marikina Christmas Shoe Bazaar will run from 13 November 2026, to 10 January 2027, at Marikina Freedom Park, offering shoppers an opportunity to support local businesses while celebrating the city’s shoemaking heritage.