Brazilian footwear production originated in the 1820s in the Southern and Southeastern states of Brazil, with European immigrants coming to Brazil and bringing with them their culture of leather craftsmanship. The first shoe factory in Brazil was opened in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 1888.
Since the 1960s, shoe sales were dramatically expanded by exports to overseas markets. It was also after the 1960s that the region of Vale dos Sinos in the Rio Grande do Sul state started concentrating on the production of women shoes.
Brazilian footwear is highly sought after worldwide as a result of the high quality and unique design. Because of this, Brazilian footwear is exported to more than 150 countries, mainly to United States of America, France, Argentina and Bolivia.
