Can cheap pointe shoes from China succeed in the dancewear industry?

made in China. If you are a consumer anywhere in the world, you will have seen this label on thousands of different products. For many consumers, this label can mean that the product they buy will be priced lower than a regional item of the same type.

To others, the name implies sweatshops, cheap labor, shoddy labor, and greedy retailers. Most of us have something in our homes or in our cupboards made in China.

The country of China produces almost any type of merchandise you can imagine; including dance shoes for all genres of performing arts. One of those performing arts is ballet.

The most important accessory for a professional ballet dancer is her pointe shoes. Because pointe shoes wear out quickly, the cheaper models are incredibly tempting to try.

Pointe shoes are expensive for a reason

The skills of a professional toe shoemaker cost money. It’s usually a generational skill that requires decades of experience to perfect. The best pointe shoes come from manufacturers who use shoemakers who take pride at your job.

The lasts or shapes are expensive as are labor costs. Pointe shoes made the traditional way using gluing and hand turning require critical attention to detail. Successful manufacturers understand what a ballerina needs and wants from her shoe in terms of support, ease of adaptation, beautiful lines and comfort.

How cheap is too cheap when it comes to pointe shoe construction?

Few manufacturers are going to share where they get their materials from. Many use satin from one country, thread from another, leather from another, and so on. If a pair of dance shoes only cost ten dollars when comparable products cost ten times as much, you need to be concerned about the quality of the materials used.

The pros and cons of low-cost pointe shoes from China

The professionals:

• Good for decorating and arts/crafts projects.

• An option for collectors or curious.

The cons:

• A generic shape is not practical for all types of feet that dancers have.

• The cheap prices are passed on to the consumer due to cheap materials used and cheap labor.

• A dancer will never really save money; the shoes will wear out quickly.

• Shoes will not have adequate support.

• Aesthetics can be a nightmare with off-brand pointe shoes.

Professional shoe options span a small range of brands

Professional theaters spend thousands and thousands of dollars each year supplying shoes for their corps members. Yet you never see a top-tier academy skimping on expensive brands or buying cheaper, no-name versions from China.

It is usually the opposite. They make sure that their principal dancers, soloists, and corps members have the best quality shoes to dance on. This includes shoes that are custom made for a perfect fit. Shoes are chosen from a few elite brands known the world over for their quality, support, aesthetics, and custom design features.

A professional dancer can become very selective with her shoe cabinet. The impeccable fit is number one for an art as physical as pointe work. Having shoes designed specifically for your unique foot shape by the same manufacturer ensures consistency of fit and function.

The odds that a low-cost, mass-produced shoe will gain popularity among dancers

This article is certainly not meant to criticize the authentic Chinese brands of pointe shoes made by reputable companies known for their quality dancewear.

Inexpensive models found online through global markets and sold without a brand name are buyer beware products are not affiliated with professional schools, ballet training academies or dance theatres.

Cheap and discounted pointe shoes of questionable origin are never recommended by the ballet elite. They can be tried by students on a budget, but never an option for a professional.

With the advent of the Internet and global competition for business, China has tried to fill the dancewear market with low-cost ballet shoe alternatives. However, professional ballet training demands high construction standards when it comes to pointe shoe design. Quality products cost money.

If high-quality pointe shoes only last a dancer for one performance, a cheap alternative will never take their place.