### Boots Production in Iran: Industry Overview and Key Players

Iran, with a rich history in shoemaking dating back to the Median era in the 7th century BC, boasts a significant boots production industry. Today, the country manufactures approximately 270 million pairs of shoes annually, with 40 to 50 million pairs being exported. The footwear industry ranks fourth in Iran in terms of employment generation.

#### **Overview of the Iranian Footwear Industry**
Shoemaking in Iran dates back to the Median period in the 7th century BC. Surviving inscriptions from this era reveal that people wore a type of sock made of leather, fixed to the feet with straps and attached to their trousers. In the Achaemenid period in the 4th century, there were fundamental changes in the way shoes were made based on people’s class – whether they were aristocrats or ordinary people.

The first modern tannery and industrial leather production factory was established in 1928 in Tabriz, northwestern Iran. By 1962, there were 19 leather factories and 12 tanneries, employing over 2,000 workers. They were partly owned by the private sector, but after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, all were nationalized.

Currently, around 10,000 footwear production units are operating in Iran, 230-240 of which are industrial and the rest are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

#### **Major Shoe Production Centers**
The provinces of Tehran, East Azerbaijan, Khorasan Razavi, Isfahan, Qom, Zanjan, Alborz, and Qazvin are among the leading shoe-producing provinces in Iran. The province of Tabriz is also known as the hub of the leather industry in Iran. Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Russia are the main export destinations for Iranian shoes.

#### **Industry Developments**
The Iranian leather industry is an advanced industry for women’s clothing, but it needs technology development for exports. After the Islamic revolution in 1979, sanctions against Iran impacted the leather industry. As a result of these sanctions, some Iranian chemical companies began to manufacture chemical products for this industry, and manufacturers of leather processing machinery also developed.

Since the 2000s, the production of women’s leather boots with different designs has managed to inject new life into Iran’s leather industry. Iranian tall black leather boots can be found all over the Middle East.

#### **Conclusion**
The boots production industry in Iran is significant, with a long history and players specializing in producing various types of footwear. The industry’s focus on innovation, quality, and the ability to cater to both domestic and international markets has made it an important sector in the Iranian economy. As technology continues to evolve and with an increasing focus on exports, the Iranian boots production industry is poised for further growth and success.

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