Belwest LLC began producing shoes made of printed leather

СООО "Belwest" will soon offer fashionistas unusually lightweight and diverse bright shoe models thanks to the implementation of modern leather processing technology. The company is the first among footwear manufacturers in the post-Soviet space to bring shoes made from printed leather to the market, allowing for the realization of the most daring customer dreams.

According to the company's General Director, Yuri Sumaneev, the feature of this technology is the ability to apply any image (print) to the shoes at the customer's request. Moreover, the pattern itself does not wear off over time and does not affect the quality characteristics of genuine leather. The enterprise began implementing the project in mid-2014. The necessary technological equipment recently appeared on the market, and at "Belwest" it has been tested for direct application in the leather and footwear industry, Yuri Sumaneev particularly emphasizes.

– We purchased machines numbered 00001, 00002, and so on from the manufacturing company, so one can say that we are pioneers in this matter, – he clarifies. – Today, the equipment is installed and debugged, the first batches of shoes have already come off the assembly line and have begun to enter retail.

However, citing high competition and trade secrets, the General Director does not disclose some details, in particular, the country of origin of the equipment and the investment volume in the project. According to him, mastering the new technology cost the enterprise a sum significantly exceeding 1 million dollars.

The technology of printed leather has a number of advantages that fully align with the production philosophy of "Belvest". It allows for custom orders, the production of small, limited batches of models, and consequently, greater mobility, prompt response to market needs, and understanding of customer preferences, noted Yuri Sumaneev. Undoubtedly, serial production of footwear using this technology will also be organized at the enterprise.

One of the cornerstones of the Vitebsk manufacturer's marketing policy is reliance on its own branded retail network, which includes over 350 outlets in Belarus, Russia, and the Baltic states.

– Thanks to direct feedback from customers through our branded stores, we can instantly reconfigure production, meaning we can offer consumers the most interesting proposals, – states Yuri Sumaneev. – Such flexibility, the ability to adapt to the current market situation, is much more important to us than, say, gross indicators that do not characterize the viability of the enterprise. If previously consumers primarily focused on ordinary shoe quality (durability, comfort, reliability), today it is about the color, brightness, and individuality of the models. Thus, the Italian designers of "Belvest" have managed to embody the most current ideas in models made from printed leather.

Sergey Antonov, "Vitebskiye Vesti"