Cibaduyut

Many people dubbed Bandung a fashion city for a good reason. Bandung equals fashionable clothing for factory outlets and distros, Cihampelas’ cool yet inexpensive jeans, to Cibaduyut’s shoes. Unfortunately Cibaduyut has lost its luster as a paradise for shoe lovers. In the 1980s Cibaduyut was a dream place for the country’s many youngsters for trendy but cheap leather and sport shoes. Cibaduyut Raya used to be a short lane packed with shoppers, especially on weekends. Strolling on Cibaduyut Raya now only reminds one of the sad condition of its shoe industry : rows and rows of old-fashioned shoe and sandals in gloomy shops. The economic crisis and harsh competition with cheaper and trendier products from the regions (like Tasikmalaya and Bogor) as well as from other countries (especially China) has caused Cibaduyut’s decline.