Jon Emont

Since I've lived out in Asia, I've been really interested in shoe production. You know, all our shoes are made here.

Since I've lived out in Asia, I've been really interested in shoe production. You know, all our shoes are made here.

couple of things. These sneakers there, it's not like garment making. It's not like making a t-shirt. To make a t-shirt, you just need sewing machines and you need people who are skilled enough to sort of make the t-shirts. And actually, you can find that just about everywhere. A secret t-shirt could be made in one of 40 countries, probably. With shoes, it's different.

couple of things. These sneakers there, it's not like garment making. It's not like making a t-shirt. To make a t-shirt, you just need sewing machines and you need people who are skilled enough to sort of make the t-shirts. And actually, you can find that just about everywhere. A secret t-shirt could be made in one of 40 countries, probably. With shoes, it's different.

couple of things. These sneakers there, it's not like garment making. It's not like making a t-shirt. To make a t-shirt, you just need sewing machines and you need people who are skilled enough to sort of make the t-shirts. And actually, you can find that just about everywhere. A secret t-shirt could be made in one of 40 countries, probably. With shoes, it's different.

And critically, it's also labor intensive. So there are only a couple of countries where you have this cheap labor force that's willing to do a lot of the manual work. And it is skilled labor. So you do need to be trained and you do need to be willing to do it. And you do need to be sort of dexterous and things.

And critically, it's also labor intensive. So there are only a couple of countries where you have this cheap labor force that's willing to do a lot of the manual work. And it is skilled labor. So you do need to be trained and you do need to be willing to do it. And you do need to be sort of dexterous and things.

And critically, it's also labor intensive. So there are only a couple of countries where you have this cheap labor force that's willing to do a lot of the manual work. And it is skilled labor. So you do need to be trained and you do need to be willing to do it. And you do need to be sort of dexterous and things.

Could we just rethink how shoes are made? Just because they've always been made this way, do they have to be?

Could we just rethink how shoes are made? Just because they've always been made this way, do they have to be?

Could we just rethink how shoes are made? Just because they've always been made this way, do they have to be?

The idea that, you know, you could just rely on cheap labor from these countries, you know, forever, was starting to come into question. And then there was all these new advances in automation.

The idea that, you know, you could just rely on cheap labor from these countries, you know, forever, was starting to come into question. And then there was all these new advances in automation.

The idea that, you know, you could just rely on cheap labor from these countries, you know, forever, was starting to come into question. And then there was all these new advances in automation.

Labor is just more expensive in North America, and it's also not as readily available as in East Asia. So if your goal is to make shoes in North America and make them be price competitive with the shoes you're producing out of Asia, then you really need to automate it, and that means robots.

Labor is just more expensive in North America, and it's also not as readily available as in East Asia. So if your goal is to make shoes in North America and make them be price competitive with the shoes you're producing out of Asia, then you really need to automate it, and that means robots.

Labor is just more expensive in North America, and it's also not as readily available as in East Asia. So if your goal is to make shoes in North America and make them be price competitive with the shoes you're producing out of Asia, then you really need to automate it, and that means robots.

They wanted tens of millions of shoes produced there by the year 2023.

They wanted tens of millions of shoes produced there by the year 2023.

They wanted tens of millions of shoes produced there by the year 2023.