Annie Minoff

That's because shoes are complicated. A single shoe can incorporate a range of materials, from squishy foams to flexible plastics.

For years, shoemakers thrived in Asia. But about a decade ago, several sneaker companies, Adidas, Under Armour, and Nike, all tried to make shoes in a new place and in a new way. all three shoe companies decided to bring some production to North America.

For years, shoemakers thrived in Asia. But about a decade ago, several sneaker companies, Adidas, Under Armour, and Nike, all tried to make shoes in a new place and in a new way. all three shoe companies decided to bring some production to North America.

For years, shoemakers thrived in Asia. But about a decade ago, several sneaker companies, Adidas, Under Armour, and Nike, all tried to make shoes in a new place and in a new way. all three shoe companies decided to bring some production to North America.

One reason to try something different, wages were rising in Asia.

One reason to try something different, wages were rising in Asia.

One reason to try something different, wages were rising in Asia.

For a long time, setting up factories in North America was cost prohibitive.

For a long time, setting up factories in North America was cost prohibitive.

For a long time, setting up factories in North America was cost prohibitive.

Of all the shoe companies, Nike's automation effort was the biggest. In 2015, the company set up a factory, not in the United States, but close by, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Wages in Mexico are higher than in most of Southeast Asia, but they're lower than in the U.S. Plus, it would be faster to ship shoes from Mexico to Nike's American customers. And what was Nike's goal?

Of all the shoe companies, Nike's automation effort was the biggest. In 2015, the company set up a factory, not in the United States, but close by, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Wages in Mexico are higher than in most of Southeast Asia, but they're lower than in the U.S. Plus, it would be faster to ship shoes from Mexico to Nike's American customers. And what was Nike's goal?

Of all the shoe companies, Nike's automation effort was the biggest. In 2015, the company set up a factory, not in the United States, but close by, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Wages in Mexico are higher than in most of Southeast Asia, but they're lower than in the U.S. Plus, it would be faster to ship shoes from Mexico to Nike's American customers. And what was Nike's goal?

Like, how much manufacturing did they want to shift back to North America?

Like, how much manufacturing did they want to shift back to North America?

Like, how much manufacturing did they want to shift back to North America?

That's ambitious.

That's ambitious.

That's ambitious.

According to John's reporting, some within Nike hoped that the Mexican factory would serve as a stepping stone.