Chinese shoemaker in Kolkata

From the archive record

Man trying black leather shoes before buying. On the other side Chinese shoemaker is busy in making shoes. Many Chinese live in 'China Town,' in the city's east. Footwear on display can also be seen in this clip. Chinese footwear makers may lead the world with exports topping $9 billion (about Rs38,000 crore) a year, but what the famous Chinese shoe shops on Bentinck Street in central Kolkata are selling these days is almost entirely sourced from contract manufacturers in Uttar Pradesh. Shoes produced by these stores, which were set up in the 1940s, were famous for their style, durability and affordability. The Hakkas, a sub-group of the Han Chinese, who migrated to Kolkata and wrested control of this business from local Muslims in the 1950s, lent a contemporary touch, and used secret tech