The China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) recently conferred the genuine leather mark on five Wenzhou leather manufacturers, taking the total number of accredited companies in the region to 178—accounting for 50% of the 307 companies to have achieved the required standard in China.

Wenzhou has become the most important shoe manufacturing hub in China, producing an estimated 1.2 billion pairs of shoes last year and boasting the headquarters of brands such as Aokang, Hongqingting, and Kangnai.

Commenting on the latest companies to achieve the genuine leather mark secretary-general of the Wenzhou Footwear & leather Association, Xie Rong Fang, said, “To enhance competitiveness in the international market, more and more Wenzhou shoe-making enterprises are applying for the genuine leather mark in order to get help from CLIA.”

The genuine leather mark is a certified trademark which ensures that the material is largely made from genuine leather, the product is of good quality, the manufacturer offers good after-sales service and that production is environmentally-conscious and socially responsible. It is equipped with an advanced anti-counterfeiting logo designed to enable customers to identify genuine goods and protect the reputation of Chinese brands.