Following the Journey of Where ECCO Shoes Are Made
Posted by VDB Shoe Pros on
Have you ever wondered where ECCO shoes are made? ECCO is one of the most popular shoe manufacturers in the world - and for many good reasons. If you’re looking for stylish sandals, casual slip-ons, boots, or business-casual shoes for work ECCO provides them in abundance.
But, where exactly are ECCO shoes made? More and more shoppers want to learn more about the clothing items they purchase. Specifically, you want to feel confident that you’re buying from a reputable brand that follows ethical practices.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at where ECCO shoes are made - including the history of the brand and where the shoes are currently being manufactured.
The Origins of ECCO Shoes
In the 1960s, ECCO’s owners wanted to establish a shoe brand but couldn’t decide where to open the first factory. So, they released an advert in 1962 asking any local businessmen if they wanted to invest. Responses came in and the company was officially established in 1963 in Bredebro, Denmark.
This became the home of the first production facility where all of the initial shoes were made. In fact, all ECCO shoes were produced here for the next two decades until the mid-1980s. It was here that the company truly started to shine and sought to expand to other areas of Europe.
Today, ECCO has factories all over the world, including China, Indonesia, Portugal, Slovakia, and Vietnam. These factories produce millions of shoes every year, and they are a key part of ECCO's global supply chain.
ECCO Expands Their Factories
Fast forward to 1984 and ECCO opened its second production facility in Joao De Ver, Portugal.
Portugal has become a very popular place for clothing and shoe manufacturers in recent years thanks to a willing workforce and great shipping links to various other countries.
A lot of ECCO shoes are still created in this facility today, which currently has around 1,250 employees.
Expanding to Asia: ECCO's First Factory in Indonesia
As the 90s rolled around, ECCO continued to grow as a brand. It was now one of the most well-established and popular footwear brands in Europe.
So, the company decided to expand overseas to a new market. It set up a shoe factory in Indonesia, which was the first Asian-based factory ECCO owned. This has been around since 1990 and a beam house and tannery were built alongside it. As a result, it’s one of the biggest production facilities for ECCO shoes with nearly 8,000 employees in total.
ECCO's Leather Tannery in Ayutthaya, Thailand
Continuing on the Asian front, ECCO set up its second factory in this region in 1993. Thailand was the location of choice, with just over 3,000 people currently in employment. A leather tannery was later built in 1999.
A lot of the newer factories added tanneries as ECCO looked to do something many footwear brands do not. They wished to own their tanneries to produce their own leather, ensuring they could monitor the process. It also allows them to sell leather to other manufacturers around the world.
Expanding Production to China
In 2005, ECCO shoes started to be produced in China. This is completely unsurprising given how many footwear brands have Chinese factories. A tannery was added in 2008, with nearly 3,500 people employed to work across both facilities.
ECCO's Newest Shoe Factory in Vietnam
The most recent ECCO shoe factory is in Vietnam. This factory is only 8 years old having been constructed in 2015.
After a year-long trial, there was enough success to fully open the factory in 2016, where it has been running ever since.
Ethical and Environmental Standards For ECCO
ECCO has implemented initiatives to reduce its environmental impact and ensure fair labor practices. ECCO has also invested in renewable energy, such as solar panels, to reduce its carbon footprint.
Additionally, ECCO is a member of the Leather Working Group, which sets environmental standards for the leather industry. This means that ECCO is committed to sourcing leather from environmentally responsible sources.
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Final Thoughts
This global presence has meant that ECCO products can be sold across 99 different countries all over the world. It continues to be one of the leading footwear brands out there if you want a mixture between classic quality and modern style. No matter the occasion, there’s bound to be an ECCO shoe for you.
Contact us today at Van Dyke & Bacon and check out our ECCO shoes collection!