Footwear made in India for your brand
Shoes are built differently from clothes, and so are their factories. Sourcingo matches each style to a specialist partner unit and runs sampling and checks through to dispatch.
What we make in footwear
Sourcingo's footwear catalogue covers men, women and kids:
- Sandals and slides, flat, block heel and sports sandals
- Sneakers and sports shoes, casual, vulcanised and cupsole styles
- Loafers and formal shoes, moccasins, derbies, oxfords
- Boots, ankle, Chelsea and lace-up
- Heels, wedges and ballerinas
- Ethnic footwear, juttis, mojaris and kolhapuris
- Kids' shoes, including school shoes
- Slippers, flip-flops, clogs and EVA footwear
None of Sourcingo's seven apparel hubs is a footwear hub. For shoes, we match each style to a specialist partner unit that makes that kind of footwear. A unit that moulds EVA clogs is not the right unit for a hand-stitched leather loafer, and the reverse is also true.
How footwear differs from apparel
A garment is cut from flat fabric and stitched. A shoe is built around a last, a foot-shaped form that sets the fit, toe shape and heel height. The upper is cut and stitched, then pulled over the last and attached to the sole. That makes footwear more tooling-dependent than clothing:
- Each size needs its own last.
- Moulded soles need a mould for each size, or each pair of sizes.
- Small fit changes can mean a new last, not just an adjusted pattern.
This shapes cost, minimums and sampling more than anything else in footwear.
What to specify
A footwear brief needs more technical detail than a garment brief. Cover these points, or tell us which ones you want help deciding:
- Last and fit. Toe shape, width, heel height and toe spring. A reference shoe you like the fit of is the most useful thing you can send.
- Upper materials. Full-grain or corrected leather, suede, nubuck, PU or other faux leather, canvas, knit or mesh. Include thickness and finish where you know them.
- Lining and insole. Leather, textile or synthetic lining. Sock liner material, cushioning and any arch support.
- Sole. Leather, rubber, TPR, PU, EVA or a combination. Say whether you want a stock sole or a custom moulded one with your branding.
- Construction or lasting method. Cemented (glued) is the most common. Stitched constructions such as Blake or Goodyear welt are used for formal shoes and boots and can be resoled. Sneakers are often vulcanised or cupsole. Many sports and comfort shoes use strobel construction.
- Sizing system. UK, EU or US sizes, and the size range. India commonly uses UK sizing. If you sell in several markets, decide which system goes on the label and the box.
- Hardware and trims. Buckles, eyelets, laces, zips, elastic gores, and plating colour.
- Branding and packaging. Logo on the insole, outsole or heel, and shoe boxes, tissue and dust bags.
If you do not have technical drawings, our in-house designer can work from sketches, mood boards and reference photos to prepare the spec.
How sampling works in footwear
Every style is sampled, and you sign off on fit, materials and finish before bulk. In footwear, sampling usually moves through a few stages:
- Proto sample. The first pair, to check the look and construction. Materials may be close substitutes.
- Fit sample. Made in your base size, often a women's UK 4 or 5, or a men's UK 8 or 9, and wear-tested for comfort and fit.
- Size set. A pair in a spread of sizes to check that the grading holds across the range. Fit that is right in the middle can go wrong at the ends.
- Confirmation sample. In final materials and colours, the reference for bulk.
Plan time for each round. Sampling length depends on the style, whether new lasts or moulds are needed, and how fast your approvals come back. Production runs 45 days from sample approval to dispatch.
Size runs and minimums
Minimums start from 25 pieces per style across Sourcingo's catalogue, but footwear minimums are usually shaped by tooling and materials. In footwear, minimums are often counted in pairs and need to be spread across a size run.
Things that push the minimum up:
- Custom moulded soles, because each size needs a mould.
- New lasts, if you want a fit or toe shape the unit does not already have.
- Leather in a custom colour or finish, which tanneries make in lots.
- Wide size ranges, because every size in the run needs enough pairs to be worth setting up.
Using a stock last and a stock sole, with your own upper design, colour and branding, is the usual way to keep a first order small. The exact minimum is confirmed after we see your specs.
When planning your size breakdown, weight the run toward your core sizes and keep the end sizes thin. Running out of the middle sizes hurts more than holding a few extra pairs at the edges.
Quality checks
Our team monitors production on the floor and checks finished goods against the approved sample before packing. For footwear, that covers sole bonding, stitching, symmetry between left and right shoes, glue marks, colour match, sizing and packaging. If your market needs a certificate or audit, tell us at the brief stage. We match the order to a unit that holds it and share factory-wise copies before you order.
Questions
Can I make shoes with my own sole design?
Yes, but a custom moulded sole needs moulds made for each size, which adds time and cost and usually raises the minimum. Many brands start with a stock sole and move to a custom one when volumes grow.
Which sizing system should I use?
Use the one your customers know. India commonly uses UK sizes. If you sell abroad, you may need EU or US sizes on the label and box, and possibly a size conversion chart.
What is the difference between cemented and Goodyear welt?
In cemented shoes, the sole is glued to the upper. In a Goodyear welt, a strip of material is stitched to the upper and the sole is stitched to that, which makes the shoe sturdier and resoleable but costs more.
Can I order a small run of leather sandals?
Often yes, especially with a stock last and sole. Custom leather colours, new lasts and custom soles push the minimum up. We confirm after seeing your specs.
Do you make kids' school shoes?
Yes. Kids' school shoes are part of the footwear catalogue and are matched to specialist partner units.
Updated:
Get a costing in 48 hours.
Send us your brief. Once it is complete, you get a cost per style, the minimum it depends on and a production timeline within 48 hours.