Kangnai
Kangnai Group · China
Kangnai is a Chinese footwear brand founded in 1980 in Wenzhou by Zheng Xiukang. It makes mid-to-high-end comfort leather shoes and has expanded into apparel and leather goods.
| Founded | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Zheng Xiukang |
| HQ | Wenzhou, China |
| Output | About 10 million pairs a year |
| Website | kangnai.com |
What is Kangnai?
Kangnai is a leather footwear brand from Wenzhou, a city often called China's shoe capital. It is run by Kangnai Group, which ranks among the top ten companies in China's shoe industry and positions itself as a benchmark for comfortable footwear.
History
The company was founded in 1980 by Zheng Xiukang. Around a decade before his death in 2022, leadership passed to his daughter Zheng Laili and son Zheng Laiyi.
Products and positioning
Kangnai produces around ten million pairs a year of mid-to-high-end comfort footwear at its industrial park in Wenzhou, using automated shoemaking equipment. Beyond leather shoes, the group's product lines include apparel, leather goods, underwear and children's wear.
- Leather comfort shoes
- Apparel and leather goods
- Large-scale Wenzhou manufacturing
Distribution
Kangnai sells through its own stores in China and has pursued expansion abroad, including plans to open stores outside China and a high-end flagship in Beijing.
Why it matters
Kangnai is one of the founding names of the Wenzhou footwear cluster and illustrates the move by Chinese shoe manufacturers from contract production to their own retail brands.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Kangnai?
Kangnai was founded in 1980 by Zheng Xiukang in Wenzhou, China.
What does Kangnai make?
Kangnai makes mid-to-high-end comfort leather shoes, and the group also sells apparel and leather goods.