Style Manila » Blog Archive » Where have all the Marikina Shoes gone?

24 July 2008

Where have all the Marikina Shoes gone?

Posted by

Sasha Manuel 14159 days ago

In a conversation I had a few days ago, a sentiment on the subject of shoes was raised. She had voiced an apparent disdain on the makes of available shoes lately. Yes, some still prefer to own shoes that can last at least a couple years before they throw it away. And yes, a lot of the shoes in the market right now are affordable but of poor quality.

As a shoe person, I do love to buy pairs just for the heck of it. Don’t mind that it’ll go out of season, I would sometimes reason out that I can easily dispose of it when I get tired of using it or replace it when it’s worn out, regardless of its lifespan. I guess I’ve taken on a “disposable” mentality when it comes to shoes. An expensive bad habit, I know.

However, there are instances wherein I’d invest in a pair that I would want to last. I would weigh in its quality and timeless design without prejudice. There are shoes that I would want to own and use for a longer time. But does that mean I should turn to designer shoes?

For a practical (and sometimes average) shopper, shoe brands like Jimmy Choo, Prada and Nine West are somewhat out of the question. On average, one would willingly shell out a maximum of Php 1,500.00 for a pair (we’re not talking about trainers here) and would even be satisfied with a pair that only costs Php 500.00. This doesn’t mean that the person is sacrificing quality, though. It’s just, sometimes, designer shoes are just way too expensive, hence, impractical.

We’re actually lucky. We have shoes made in Marikina that are of good make and are priced accordingly. Some wouldn’t have a brand to back them up but these shoes have managed to acquire a loyal following. The reason why I had thought of these shoes was because this reader had said that Mendrez used to offer shoes made from Marikina but no longer do so now. She further added that they now resorted to selling ones made in China instead, all for a higher margin.

I’m now brought to ask this question: where have all the Marikina shoes gone? Do any of you know which stores carry locally-made shoes?

I do know one local shoe brand, Janylin, which offers locally-made pairs though I’m not certain if these are made in Marikina. I like their shoe designs but I’m not too keen on the prices. Last pair I bought caused me a Php 3,000 damage. Ouch. And, oh, I think Janeo is its cousin of sorts.

Can any of you name any other brand? Or is Manila too caught up with them foreign brands now and couldn’t care less? I hope not.

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2.9 (3 people)

Filed: Stylish Observations, Shoes!, Fashion News, Philippine Fashion

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22 Responses to “Where have all the Marikina Shoes gone?”

missyosigirl (Check me out!) : July 24th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

i love janilyn’s designs i almost always buy my shoes and sandals there. i’ve been a loyal customer since my college days

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2.8 (1 people)

Sasha Manuel (Check me out!) : July 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

They do offer a great selection, huh? Janylin is always on my list of shops to go to whenever I want to go shoe shopping.

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2.8 (1 people)

hana (Check me out!) : July 24th, 2008 at 11:18 pm

hi! Solea i think is philippine made. not sure if they source from marikina though. However, Sapato Manila whcih can be found at the Archeology wing of the Powerplant Mall sells shoes which are all handmade in Marikina. Their website is over at www.sapatomanila.com. enjoy shoe shopping! =)

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2.5

verde (Check me out!) : July 25th, 2008 at 11:39 am

Please check my site. My store carry locally made sandals & bags.

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2.5

Sasha Manuel (Check me out!) : July 26th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

Hana: Thanks for the tip!

Verde: Sure thing.

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3.2

Joey (Check me out!) : July 27th, 2008 at 1:02 pm

I’m not sure if Robinson’s Department Store still sells Marikina shoes. The last time I checked, there were a few racks dedicated for them. Ü

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2.5

Chippy (Check me out!) : August 1st, 2008 at 8:55 am

I go to Cubao X (formerly Marikina Shoe Expo) for my Janilyn fix. They have two stores there and regularly go on sale. I scored black and white snakeskin heels and gold stiletto pumps for for only 995 each.

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2.5

Aileen Apolo (Check me out!) : August 6th, 2008 at 1:09 pm

There’s a lot of Marikina-made shoes in the market. Most of the local brands are still made in Marikina, it’s just they’ve been pitching the brands differently that’s why we don’t know they are home-made. And if you go to Marikina, shoes there are always on sale!

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3.2

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