40 Years of Reform & Opening-Up: The Master Craftsmen of China’s Footwear Industry!

Over the past four decades of reform and opening-up, China has established a new era of commercial order—and its footwear industry is no exception. Standing at the forefront of the global footwear stage, China now faces fiercer international competition than ever before, demanding visionary leaders and enterprises that can represent the nation on the world market.

Since its inception in 2014, the China Footwear Summit has become a globally recognized, high-end professional conference in the industry. Over five successful editions, it has consistently addressed real-time industry trends, spotlighted critical topics, and delivered insightful conclusions, earning high praise from footwear professionals worldwide.

The 2018 China Footwear Summit & Global Smart Retail Conference showcased China’s new identity as a footwear powerhouse, covering next-gen supply chains, intelligent manufacturing, retail innovation, and global trade.

To honor innovation, celebrate master craftsmen, and recognize the exemplary enterprises and individuals who shaped China’s footwear industry over 40 years, the summit’s organizing committee launched awards across three dimensions: "Heart of a Nation," "Realm of Smart Manufacturing," and "Light of Retail." After open nominations, public voting, and expert reviews, ten prestigious awards were announced, including:

• "40 Years of Reform & Opening-Up: Master Craftsmen of China’s Footwear Industry"

• "2018 Intelligent Manufacturing & Innovative Materials Award"

On December 12, 2018, the summit unveiled its most authoritative annual honors. Among the winners was Lin Feiming, founder of Jinjiang Xinming Shoe Materials Technology Co., Ltd., who received the "Master Craftsman of China’s Footwear Industry" title.

Lin Feiming: A Journey of Innovation

Entering the shoe materials sector in the 1990s, Lin Feiming witnessed Jinjiang’s industrial transformation firsthand. In 2009, he pivoted to functional shoe materials, targeting the mid-to-high-end market. Today, his company produces 4 million outdoor and safety shoe soles annually.

Modern consumers demand lightweight, anti-slip, mass-producible, and cost-efficient materials—challenges that require deeper collaboration across the supply chain to fuse technology with design. The 2018 Intelligent Manufacturing & Innovative Materials Award celebrated enterprises pushing these boundaries, and Xinming earned this accolade, a testament to its industry-wide recognition.

Xinming’s Legacy: Quality & Innovation

Specializing in EVA, MD, rubber (RB), and PU soles, plus EVA composite sole production lines, Xinming delivers 18 million soles annually. Upholding a "quality as life, credibility as foundation" philosophy, the company has earned unwavering trust from global clients.

Honoring the past, stepping into the future—Xinming exemplifies the spirit of China’s footwear revolution!