Nanyang

Nanyang is a Thai footwear brand best known for its canvas sneakers worn by generations of Thai students. Produced since 1953, it also makes the Chang Dao rubber sandals and is marketed by Nanyang Marketing Co., Ltd. in Bangkok.

What is Nanyang?

Nanyang is a Thai shoe brand that has produced canvas sneakers since 1953. The shoes are made by Nanyang Industry Co and marketed by Nanyang Marketing Co., Ltd., both part of Nanyang Group, and the family business is now run with third generation management.

Products and positioning

The core product is the Nanyang canvas sneaker, a multi purpose shoe worn by students, civil servants, athletes and workers. Its design has stayed essentially unchanged for several decades. The brand also makes Chang Dao rubber sandals, a line of more than 60 years' standing, and has launched newer school models such as Nanyang Have Fun for primary pupils and Nanyang Sugar for teenage girls. Soles are made with natural rubber from Thailand.

• Canvas sneakers for school, work and sport
• Chang Dao rubber sandals for all ages
• Khya flip-flops made with upcycled ocean waste

Distribution

Most sales come through traditional trade in Thailand, where Nanyang has long been a leading name in school shoes. Newer lines are also sold through online marketplaces, and the shoes are exported to markets including Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Why it matters

Nanyang shows how a heritage product with a fixed design can stay relevant through marketing, from social media campaigns that revived Chang Dao among teenagers to limited edition sandals tied to viral moments.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Nanyang from?

Nanyang is a Thai footwear brand marketed from Bangkok and produced since 1953.

What does Nanyang sell?

Nanyang sells canvas sneakers, best known as school shoes in Thailand, along with Chang Dao rubber sandals.

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