IF, in the 1980s, people talked about the leather goods produced in Wenzhou of neighbouring Zhejiang Province, they might have brought to mind thoughts of low-quality "copycat" items. To help change this association of ideas,, the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) launched a "genuine leather mark" 10 years ago with the aim of improving the standards of the leather goods industry.

　　CLIA promised consumers that any leather products with this label would be made of natural leather of at least middle-grade standard and sellers would also provide good after-sales service. The label has helped "Made-in-China" leather products to establish a better reputation in the international market.

　　To further promote "Made-in-China" leather goods and enlarge the industry's market share both at home and abroad, the Second Huidong Shoes Culture Festival is to begin on October 28 in the small town of Huidong in South China's Guangdong Province, a site for the production of over 600 million pairs of leather shoes each year.

　　Huidong has about 3,000 shoe enterprises, some of which process products for Italian brand-name shoes.

　　The festival will fall into three parts. Firstly, exhibitions about shoes, materials, machines and history of the evolution of shoes. Secondly, contests on shoe design. Finally, industry-related seminars. (Star News)