Marikina, renowned for its rich shoemaking heritage, faces threats due to the declining interest of locals and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the industry.
“Shoe industry in Marikina as of the moment… it’s a very dying art, most of the artisans are not getting any younger, they are still the same artisans that I’ve worked with since 2011,” Joco Comendador, owner of the Joco Comendador Footwear + Art said in a video interview.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020, nearly 80% of the local shoemakers had to cease operations, while the remaining 20% shifted to online platforms, Marcelino Teodoro, Mayor of Marikina said.
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