Public radio’s longest-running daily global news program.
©2026 The World from PRX
PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402.
Spain’s Troubled Shoe Industry in Comeback Mode
The Spanish town of Elche is at the heart of a manufacturing revival of sorts. Elche was a shoe making capital that lost a lot of jobs to cheaper Asia. But now Elche’s shoe companies are starting to come back.
Rosana Pedan of Pikolinos shoes says her company has survived globalization by creating its own fashion brand and thinking creatively. She stands by a display of Pikolinos sandals decorated by Maasai artisans, from Tanzania.
The Spanish town of Elche is at the heart of a manufacturing revival of sorts. Elche was a shoe making capital that lost a lot of jobs to cheaper Asia. But now Elche’s shoe companies are starting to come back.