A crucial webinar entitled «Sustainable Steps: Advancing Due Diligence in the Latin American Footwear Industry» took place today, February the 23rd, bringing together leading panelists to discuss the sustainable footwear landscape in the region.
The event featured four key panelists in the field: Melissa del Solar, creative director at Lola (Perú); Quetzacoatl Ramos, founder and lead designer a MADXICAN studio (Mexico); Daniel Vargas, executive director at The Sustainability Board (Perú); and Claudia, founder and creative director at Domei Zapatos (Chile).
The session was organized by la Foundation Entre Soles y Lunas, represented by Valentina Suarez and Genaro Rivas, with the support of RBC-LAC Project – @the_oecd Paris.
During the event, several crucial issues for the sustainable footwear industry in Latin America were addressed:
Regulations and laws:
Experts discussed the importance of understanding regulations and norms related to footwear manufacturing, as well as the alignment of Latin American countries with European standards to participate in production processes in Europe.
Claudia from Domei Zapatos (Chile) mentioned the challenges faced by the footwear industry in Chile, such as the lack of regulations, the shortage of master shoemakers and manufacturing in Asia or Brazil.
Human rights and sustainability:
Melissa from Lola (Peru) highlighted the importance of training young people in the shoemaker’s trade to preserve local skilled labor.
Daniel from The Sustainability Board (Peru) emphasized the importance of labor rights in the footwear industry and the challenges of competing with Asian products. Claudia and Melissa also shared their perspectives on awareness of the preservation of the craft and the human impact on the industry.
In addition, they discussed solutions and collaborative strategies to address the industry´s usual challenges. Also, they emphasized the need to make aware and educate both consumers and the decision makers accountable for driving a notable change in its sector.
The industry’s challenges:
According to Claudia, education is fundamental. She highlights the necessity of access to raw materials and improving the understanding on the sustainability of the footwear industry.
Daniel highlighted the impact itself as the main challenge. He recognized the difficulty of competing with Asian prices and encouraged adding value to products, instead of focusing only on the price.
Melissa emphasized in the awareness about the preservation of the profession and in the impact that everyone can generate on its own surroundings.
Quetzal highlighted the importance of knowledge to face the challenges of the footwear industry.
On the other hand, Valentina talked about public policy. She stated “From the Foundation we constantly focused on bringing education and awareness in academic circles, brands, and among designers, through events such as the Sustainable Fashion Week and different projects. However, if these actions are not reflected in governmental regulations, especially in Latin America, it is unlikely that we achieve considerable progress in this field.”
Lastly, Genaro highlighted cooperation and mutual recognition as a cornerstone for internal growth and facing threats in the footwear industry, emphasizing the importance of treating staff as human beings instead of machines.
In summary, the webinar provided a valuable platform for ideas exchange and analysis of the opportunities and challenges of the sustainable footwear industry in Latin America aiming to foster more ethical and sustainable practices in the entire region.
