How to Order Custom Sandals for My E-Commerce Brand (2026)

TLDR

Ordering custom sandals for an e-commerce brand is not a single transaction. It is a sequence of decisions about production model (private label, ODM, or OEM), product specs, sampling, quality control, compliance, and shipping. Most founders should start with a proven sandal base, customize branding and materials, approve a physical sample, and place a controlled first production run. This guide defines the factory terms you need to know and walks through the entire ordering process from first reference photo to finished inventory.

The Custom Sandal Ordering Process at a Glance

Before getting into definitions, here is the basic sequence for how to order custom sandals for your e-commerce brand:

1. Choose your production model: private label, ODM, or OEM.
2. Build a product brief with reference images, target price, material direction, logo files, size range, quantity, packaging details, and launch timeline.
3. Request quotes from two or three suppliers.
4. Confirm MOQ, unit price, sample fee, lead time, payment terms, and shipping terms.
5. Order and review physical samples.
6. Sign off the pre-production sample.
7. Pay deposit and place the purchase order.
8. Track raw material, mid-production, and final quality checkpoints.
9. Inspect before balance payment.
10. Ship, clear customs, and prepare for fulfillment.

Each of these steps involves vocabulary that factories assume you know. The glossary below translates that vocabulary into plain English.

Browse women’s sandal styles to see the kinds of base designs that can be customized before you start building a brief.

Which Ordering Model Fits Your Brand?

The first decision when ordering custom sandals for an e-commerce store is how much customization you actually need. More customization means more control, but also more cost, more sample rounds, and more risk.

Most e-commerce founders should start with private label or ODM. The real goal of a first order is to validate that the factory can repeat sample quality at volume and that customers will buy the product. Deeper customization comes after sell-through data proves demand.

Practitioners on Reddit confirm this ladder effect. In r/streetwearstartup threads, founders note that footwear factory MOQs are often 1,000+ pairs and that the economics change sharply when brands move into 10,000+ production cycles. Starting small and proving the model matters more than chasing maximum customization on day one.

For a deeper breakdown of launching on a budget, read this guide on starting a private label shoe line with limited capital.

Glossary of Custom Sandal Ordering Terms

This glossary covers the words factories, trading companies, and sourcing agents use when discussing custom sandal production. Each term includes a plain-English definition, why it matters, and what to ask your supplier.

Sourcing Model Terms

Custom sandals: Sandals made or modified for your brand’s design, materials, logo, color, packaging, or fit. “Custom” can mean anything from adding a logo to a stock slide to engineering a new outsole from scratch. When a supplier says “custom,” ask exactly what is included.

Private label sandals: Sandals produced by a factory and sold under your brand name. Usually involves branding, packaging, and selected design or material changes rather than building every component from zero. Private label is the most common starting point for e-commerce brands ordering custom sandals.

White label sandals: Existing sandals sold with minimal branding changes. Fastest route but least differentiated. Other brands may sell the same product.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing): The factory produces sandals according to the buyer’s design and specification. You provide the tech pack; they build it.

ODM (Original Design Manufacturing): The factory offers existing or factory-developed designs that you adapt with branding, materials, or style changes. Faster than OEM because the base design already exists.

Factory: A company that owns or directly operates production lines. Sandal factories typically handle cutting, stitching, lasting, gluing, finishing, packing, and quality control in-house.

Trading company: An intermediary that sources from one or more factories but does not own production lines. Trading companies can help small buyers access factories, but you should always ask whether production is in-house or subcontracted. Transparency about this distinction is key when evaluating any supplier.

Sourcing agent: A person or company hired to find factories, negotiate terms, manage communication, inspect production, and coordinate logistics on your behalf.

Product Development Terms

Tech pack: A technical document showing construction details, measurements, materials, colors, logo placement, size range, packaging specs, and other requirements. A tech pack reduces misunderstandings, but many factories can start from clear reference photos, sketches, mood boards, or physical samples. If you need help creating one, here is a guide on how to request a tech pack for custom footwear.

Reference sample: A physical sandal or detailed photo used to communicate the desired look, fit, material, or construction.

Last: The foot-shaped form used to build footwear. Last shape determines fit, toe shape, width, and comfort. Custom lasts add cost and development time.

Pattern: The flat template pieces used to cut sandal straps, uppers, linings, or other components.

Outsole: The bottom part of the sandal that contacts the ground. Common materials include EVA, rubber, TPR, and cork composites. EU footwear labeling also treats the outersole as one of the three required material-labeling components.

Footbed / insole: The surface the foot rests on. For sandals, this is central to comfort, logo placement, and perceived quality.

Upper / straps: The structural top portion or strap system that holds the foot. Materials range from PU leather and suede to microfiber, textile, and genuine leather.

Hardware: Buckles, studs, rivets, eyelets, ornaments, metal logos. Hardware components can create separate supplier MOQs and quality risks around plating durability. A beaded double-buckle cork sandal is a good example of how hardware and trim choices affect both design and production complexity.

Tooling: One-time development items such as molds, cutting dies, lasts, or outsole tools. Tooling raises the cost of first runs because the expense is spread over fewer pairs.

Mold: A tool used to produce outsoles or molded sandal components. Custom molds typically mean higher upfront cost and longer development.

Colorway: A specific color version of a style. Each colorway may trigger its own material batch and MOQ constraints.

Pantone color matching: Matching materials or components to a specific Pantone reference color. Useful for brand consistency but may increase MOQ or sampling time because dye lots need to match.

Sampling and Approval Terms

Understanding sampling terms is critical when you order custom sandals for any e-commerce brand, because the sample stage is where you catch problems before they become expensive.

Sample: A pair made before bulk production to test style, materials, fit, logo placement, and workmanship.

Stock sample: A sample of an existing factory style. Faster and cheaper than custom development.

Custom sample: A sample made with buyer-specific materials, logo, color, construction, or packaging.

Fit sample: A sample used specifically to check size accuracy, comfort, width, strap placement, toe post location, footbed shape, and walkability.

Pre-production sample (PP sample): The final approved sample made with production-intended materials and processes. It becomes the standard against which bulk production is measured. For a detailed breakdown, read more about what a pre-production sample is and how to approve one properly.

Signed sample: The physical approved pair that both buyer and factory agree is the production standard. Sign it, date it, photograph it from every angle, and keep it as your comparison reference.

Sample-to-bulk consistency: Whether mass production matches the approved sample in material, color, fit, bonding, logo, and finishing. This is one of the biggest concerns for first-time buyers.

Revision round: A sample correction cycle. More custom work usually means more rounds. Ask your supplier upfront how many revision rounds are included.

Pricing and Payment Terms

FOB price (Free On Board): The factory or export price where the supplier delivers goods to an agreed port or shipping point. The buyer pays international freight, insurance, customs, and destination costs from that point.

EXW price (Ex Works): The buyer collects from the factory and handles all export and import logistics. Some factories help with export paperwork even under EXW terms.

CIF price (Cost, Insurance, and Freight): Price includes delivery to the destination port. The buyer still handles import clearance and destination costs.

DDP price (Delivered Duty Paid): Supplier or logistics partner quotes delivery including duties and taxes to a destination. Convenient, but make sure you understand the duty and tax assumptions built into the quote.

Landed cost: The full cost to get sandals ready for sale. This includes unit price, amortized sample and tooling costs, packaging, inspection, freight, insurance, duties, customs brokerage, warehousing, and inbound handling. Most e-commerce founders underestimate landed cost because they focus only on FOB price.

Deposit: Upfront payment before production begins. A 30% deposit with 70% balance before shipment is common in Chinese footwear manufacturing. Factories that require no deposit from new buyers should raise questions, not lower your guard.

Balance payment: Final payment before shipment or release of goods. Should happen after production is complete and inspection results are acceptable.

Quality Control Terms

QC (Quality Control): Inspection and checking at various stages of production. For sandals, QC should happen before, during, and after production. A single final check is not enough.

Incoming material inspection: Checking raw materials before cutting begins: color accuracy, thickness, texture, defects, batch consistency.

In-line inspection: QC during production to catch problems before the entire order is finished. For a closer look at how this works, see this explanation of three-stage production inspection for footwear.

Pre-shipment inspection: Final inspection before goods leave the factory. Covers quantity, size ratio, defect rate, packaging, carton marks, and sample match.

AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit): A statistical sampling method used to decide how many units are inspected and what defect level triggers a pass or fail. Common AQL levels are 4.0 for entry-level brands, 2.5 for mid-market, and 1.5 for premium.

Bonding / sole adhesion: The strength of the glue or attachment between outsole and upper or strap. This is one of the most important sandal-specific QC checks and a common failure point in cheap production.

Colorfastness: Whether dyed material transfers color to skin, socks, or other surfaces, or fades under sunlight and moisture.

Compliance and Import Terms

These terms matter because footwear is not a casual import category. 99% of shoes sold in the U.S. are imported, with 2.015 billion pairs entering the country in 2025 alone. If you are ordering custom sandals for your e-commerce brand targeting American consumers, you are acting as an importer.

Country-of-origin marking: U.S. import rules require foreign-origin articles to be marked with the English name of the country of origin in a conspicuous, legible, indelible, and permanent way. Failure to mark properly can trigger a 10% additional duty and withheld delivery at the port.

HTS code (Harmonized Tariff Schedule): The classification code that determines your duty rate and import requirements. Footwear falls in Chapter 64, but the exact code depends on outsole material, upper material, value, and construction.

Duty / tariff: Import taxes based on HTS classification, country of origin, and current trade policy. Rates change, so confirm with a customs broker before finalizing your retail pricing.

EU footwear material label: Required label showing the material composition of the upper, lining/sock, and outersole for consumer footwear sold in the EU. If no single material makes up 80% of a component’s surface area or volume, the two main materials must be shown.

CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act): U.S. law relevant to children’s products, including children’s footwear. It sets limits of 100 ppm lead content and 90 ppm lead in surface coatings, plus tracking label and Children’s Product Certificate requirements backed by CPSC-accepted lab testing.

Prop 65 (California Proposition 65): California law requiring businesses to evaluate whether warnings are needed for exposures to listed chemicals. Phthalates found in PVC, vinyl, and artificial leather footwear can trigger Prop 65 obligations.

Logistics and Fulfillment Terms

FCL (Full Container Load): Your goods fill an entire 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container. A 20-foot container can hold roughly 8,000 pairs of sandals, though actual capacity depends on box size and carton dimensions.

LCL (Less than Container Load): Your goods share container space with other shipments. LCL adds consolidation time and handling fees but is often the only practical option for first orders.

Air freight: Faster than ocean but significantly more expensive. General rule of thumb: 8 to 10 days for China-to-U.S. air freight under normal conditions.

Dimensional weight: Carrier pricing method based on package volume rather than actual weight. UPS and other carriers may charge by whichever is greater, actual weight or dimensional weight. This directly affects your fulfillment cost if shoe boxes are oversized.

3PL (Third-Party Logistics): A warehouse and fulfillment provider that stores your inventory and ships customer orders. Your sandal packaging needs to arrive 3PL-ready with correct barcodes, size labels, and carton marks.

What to Send a Sandal Factory Before Asking for a Quote

No factory can give you a useful quote without specifics. Sending a vague message like “I want custom sandals, what’s the price?” will get you a vague answer or, worse, a misleadingly low number.

Here is what to prepare:

• Brand name and target market (U.S., EU, Canada, Australia, etc.)
• Sandal type: slide, thong, strappy flat, cork footbed, wedge, heel sandal, kids’ sandal
• Reference photos from multiple angles, or a physical sample
• Target customer and price tier
• Target FOB price or target retail price
• Quantity per style and color
• Size range and size ratio (for example, EU 36 to 41, heavier on 38 and 39)
• Material preferences: PU, leather, suede, microfiber, textile, EVA, rubber, cork-look footbed
• Logo placement: insole, outsole, strap, buckle, hang tag, box
• Packaging requirements: polybag, branded box, tissue paper, insert card, barcode, carton marks
• Compliance market: which labeling and testing rules apply
• Launch deadline and delivery destination
• Preferred shipping term: FOB, CIF, DDP

Send your sandal brief for a quote once you have at least the reference images, target quantity, and destination market defined.

What to Expect: Cost, MOQ, Samples, and Lead Time

These are the numbers most founders want before they start ordering custom sandals for their e-commerce brand. Exact figures depend on style complexity, materials, order volume, and packaging, but the ranges below reflect what multiple factory pages and practitioner discussions consistently report.

Samples: Typical development time for China-based sandal samples is 7 to 14 days. Some suppliers offer free stock samples for existing styles (freight collect), while custom or exclusive samples usually cost $100 to $300. At LR Shoes Custom, up to 10 single free trial samples are available for regular styles with 7-day dispatch, and exclusive or complex samples cost $100 to $300, fully deductible against a bulk order.

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): Advertised minimums across the industry range from 100 pairs to 1,200 pairs depending on the supplier and project. But MOQ is not arbitrary. It is driven by material roll or dye-lot minimums, outsole stock, hardware supplier minimums, logo method, packaging print runs, and the number of colors and sizes. For a detailed breakdown of what drives minimums, read this guide on typical MOQs for private label shoes. LR’s standard MOQ is around 600 pairs per style, with flexible limits for trial orders depending on the project.

Production lead time: Ranges from 20 to 50 days across the market. More complex styles, custom tooling, and larger orders push timelines longer. LR commits to a fixed 35 to 50 day production window even during peak season.

Factory-side cost signals: There is no universal price for custom sandals. Cost depends on upper material, outsole, component count, construction, volume, finishing, and packaging. As a general reference, mainstream PU leather and fabric fashion sandals from Chinese factories typically fall in the $2 to $6 per pair range, while the broader product range (including wedges, heels, embellished styles) can run $1.50 to $15 per pair. The same sandal style can shift by $1 to $3 per pair depending on material and workmanship choices. These are factory-side signals, not fixed public prices. Final quotes are always project-based.

How to Calculate Landed Cost

FOB price is not your cost. Landed cost is.

Landed cost per pair = factory unit price + sample/tooling amortization + packaging + inspection + freight + insurance + duties/tariffs + customs brokerage + warehouse inbound handling + defect/returns allowance

Most new brands overlook several of these line items. Sampling, tooling, and freight alone can add $1 to $3 per pair on a small first run. Import duties on footwear vary by HTS classification, and current trade rules with China can push effective rates higher than expected. Always confirm duty rates with a customs broker before setting retail prices.

Build your production calendar backward. If production takes 35 to 50 days after sample approval, and ocean freight from China to the U.S. West Coast averages around 37.6 days from cargo-ready to port departure (with East Coast routes running longer), a brand targeting a summer launch needs to approve samples by early winter. Founders who forget sampling time often end up paying for expensive air freight to make their deadline.

Sample Approval: The Most Important Step

Sampling is the cheapest risk-control stage in the entire process. Skipping it, rushing it, or treating it as a formality is how first-time brands end up with bulk orders that do not match expectations.

A Reddit thread in r/streetwearstartup illustrates the danger: a founder had a sample made with a visible flaw, and the manufacturer pushed toward a full production run with a promise to fix it in a pre-production sample later. The fix never happened the way the founder expected. Physical approval before deposit is not negotiable.

What to check on a sandal sample

Fit and comfort

• Size length and width accuracy
• Toe post or strap position
• Heel cup placement
• Arch support and footbed comfort
• Walk test on different surfaces
• Strap rubbing or pressure points

Construction

• Sole adhesion strength (press and flex the bond)
• Strap pull strength
• Stitching density and neatness
• Glue overflow or visible residue
• Hardware attachment security
• Cork or footbed finish quality

Branding

• Logo size, method (print, emboss, deboss, hot stamp, metal), and placement
• Insole and outsole logo durability after rubbing
• Color match to Pantone or reference
• Packaging artwork and box dimensions

Approval protocol

• Sign and date the approved pair
• Photograph from all angles with a ruler for scale
• Record material codes and color references
• Confirm the full size run, size ratio, carton marks, barcode format, and packaging before paying the deposit

For a complete walkthrough of sample-to-bulk alignment, see this manufacturing guide on keeping bulk production consistent with your approved sample.

Production Tracking and QC Checkpoints

Once the deposit is paid, you need visibility into what is happening on the factory floor. “Trust but verify” is the standard for any e-commerce brand ordering custom sandals from overseas.

A reliable factory provides evidence at three stages:

1. Before production: Inspection of raw materials, color accuracy, hardware, outsoles, logos, and packaging components.
2. During production: Progress photos or video showing cutting, stitching, gluing, lasting, assembly, and in-line defect correction.
3. Before loading: Final quantity count, size ratio verification, packaging check, carton marks, sample comparison, and a documented inspection report.

LR Shoes Custom provides all three checkpoints: raw material inspection, mid-production QC photos and video, and pre-loading inspection reports. This kind of structured tracking answers the question every first-time buyer has: “Will the bulk order actually match my approved sample?”

The Maguire shoe brand founder, in a Shopify case study, described managing factories as one of the hardest parts of launching her brand. Her advice was to start with small orders, test factory communication, and work with multiple factories in case one supplier becomes unreliable. Communication speed and working style matter as much as sample quality.

Compliance Checklist by Market

Compliance is part of ordering, not something to figure out at the port. Material choices affect not only cost and appearance, but labeling, testing, and market-entry obligations.

For U.S. sellers

• Country-of-origin marking on all imported footwear (indelible, legible, conspicuous)
• Commercial invoice and packing list with each shipment
• Correct HTS classification confirmed through a licensed customs broker
• Prop 65 review if selling into California and using PVC, vinyl, artificial leather, or certain adhesives and dyes
• If selling children’s sandals: CPSIA lead limits, tracking labels, and Children’s Product Certificate supported by CPSC-accepted third-party lab testing
• Truthful material claims (do not call PU “leather” without qualification)

For EU sellers

• Footwear material labeling for upper, lining/sock, and outersole using pictograms or written descriptions
• REACH review for restricted substances relevant to your specific materials
• Responsibility falls on the entity placing the footwear on the EU market

LR Shoes Custom supports US care label preparation, EU material rule compliance, and complete export documentation including invoices and certificates with each shipment. This helps reduce customs detention risk, though buyers should always confirm their specific obligations with a broker or compliance advisor.

E-Commerce-Specific Ordering Decisions

Most factory pages miss these. But if you are ordering custom sandals for an e-commerce brand rather than a brick-and-mortar retailer, your packaging, SKU structure, and content needs are different.

Size curve and SKU math

A sandal with 2 colors and 6 sizes creates 12 SKUs. That is 12 product pages, 12 inventory positions, and 12 potential stockout or overstock scenarios. For a first order, limit yourself to one or two colors and a conservative size curve weighted toward your core sizes. You can expand after seeing which sizes sell.

Packaging and dimensional weight

Ask for inner-box and master-carton dimensions before production, not after. Shoe boxes that are too large increase your fulfillment costs because carriers may charge by dimensional weight. Boxes that are too flimsy cause damage claims and returns. Request from your factory: inner box dimensions, master carton dimensions, pairs per carton, gross and net weight, and barcode or size-sticker placement specs.

Product content

Ask the supplier for white-background photos, detail shots, material close-ups, a size chart, care instructions, and packaging photos. Some suppliers can also provide production process images and video, which double as social media content and brand trust signals.

Return prevention

For sandals sold online, common return reasons include fit problems, strap rubbing, unexpected sizing, cheap-feeling materials, color mismatch versus screen appearance, and packaging damage during shipping. Order a full-size set of approved samples (or at least core sizes) and wear-test them before committing to bulk.

How to Vet a Custom Sandal Supplier

Not every supplier advertising “custom sandals” operates the same way. Here is a scoring framework:

Practitioners on Reddit also recommend checking import records to verify a supplier’s export history. One founder in r/streetwearstartup described using ImportYeti to trace which factories supply brands in a similar category, then reaching out directly via email and video call to see the sample room before committing.

Another founder traced a European shoe brand’s production to a specific factory by following packaging and shipping clues, then built a relationship through Zoom calls and eventually a factory visit. The point: supplier discovery should go beyond a marketplace search.

Red Flags When Ordering Custom Sandals

1. “No MOQ” for fully custom sandals with no explanation. If a supplier claims no minimum for truly custom work, ask what is actually custom. It may be handmade sample-room work or a heavily marked-up stock shoe. In one Reddit thread, a founder questioned a manufacturer charging $6,000 for 100 pairs of “custom” shoes with a claimed no-MOQ policy. The math did not support true custom production at that scale.
2. No physical sample before deposit or bulk production.
3. A quote that lacks material and construction details.
4. MOQ quoted only as total pairs, ignoring style, color, and size breakdowns.
5. No sample revision policy.
6. No written pre-production sample signoff process.
7. No QC photos, inspection reports, or production tracking.
8. No discussion of country-of-origin marking or compliance.
9. Supplier uses protected brand names, replica molds, or trademarked logos as selling points.
10. Factory pressures you to triple your order for a small unit-price discount on your first run.

The first order should prove the supplier can repeat sample quality at volume. It is not the time to chase the lowest possible unit cost.

RFQ Message Template

Copy and adapt this when reaching out to suppliers. A structured RFQ gets faster, more accurate responses.

Subject: Custom/private label sandal quote request for [Brand Name]

Hi [Supplier Name],

We are preparing a private-label sandal launch for [target market]. 
Please review the details below and let us know if you can support 
sampling and bulk production.

1. Product type: [flat sandal / slide / thong / cork footbed / wedge / heel sandal]
2. Reference style: [attach photos or link]
3. Customization needed: [logo placement, color change, material change, packaging]
4. Target material: [PU / leather / suede / textile / EVA / rubber / cork-look]
5. Target quantity: [pairs per style and color]
6. Size range and ratio: [example: EU 36-41, heavier on 38-39]
7. Target FOB price or retail price: [number]
8. Packaging: [polybag / shoe box / hang tag / barcode / carton marks]
9. Destination market: [U.S. / EU / Canada / other]
10. Compliance needs: [origin label, EU material label, Prop 65, children's testing]
11. Launch timeline: [target delivery date]
12. Shipping term: [FOB / CIF / DDP / open to recommendation]

Please quote:
- MOQ per style and color
- Sample cost and lead time
- Bulk unit price at [quantity levels]
- Production lead time after sample approval
- Deposit and balance terms
- Packaging cost if separate
- QC reports or photos included
- Export documents provided
- Estimated carton dimensions, pairs per carton, and CBM

Thank you,
[Name / Brand / WhatsApp / Email]

Send this brief to LR Shoes Custom with your reference photos, quantity, size range, target material, and launch date to start the conversation.

FAQ

Can I order custom sandals without a tech pack?

Yes. Many sandal factories can begin from clear reference photos, sketches, mood boards, or a physical sample pair. A tech pack reduces miscommunication and speeds up development, but it is not a prerequisite. If your project involves unusual construction or materials, a more detailed specification document becomes important.

What is a realistic MOQ for custom sandals?

It depends on style, color count, material, outsole, logo method, and packaging. Across the industry, advertised ranges run from 100 pairs to over 1,000 pairs. LR Shoes Custom positions its standard MOQ at around 600 pairs per style, with flexibility for trial orders. Be cautious of very low MOQ claims for fully custom production, as the real minimums are often set by component suppliers (material rolls, outsole batches, hardware lots, packaging print runs) rather than the factory itself.

How long does it take to produce custom sandals?

Sample development typically takes 7 to 14 days. Bulk production ranges from 20 to 50 days depending on complexity and order size. LR commits to a 35 to 50 day production window. Add shipping time on top: roughly 30 to 40 days for ocean freight from China to the U.S. under normal conditions, or 8 to 10 days for air freight.

Should I choose OEM or ODM for my first sandal brand?

ODM or private label is usually safer for a first launch. You start with a proven base design, customize materials and branding, and reduce development risk. OEM makes sense when you have a clear tech pack, a fit standard you have tested, and the budget for multiple sample rounds and potential tooling.

Do I need a physical sample before placing a bulk order?

Absolutely. The approved physical sample should become the production standard that bulk pairs are measured against. Multiple factory guides and practitioner accounts emphasize this point. Skipping sample approval is the single most common source of regret for first-time sandal buyers.

What quality checks matter most for sandals specifically?

Sole adhesion (press and flex the outsole-to-upper bond), strap strength, size consistency across the run, material match to the approved sample, logo placement accuracy, footbed comfort, finishing quality, and packaging integrity. Sandals have fewer components than boots or sneakers, but the components they do have are all visible and all load-bearing.

What if the bulk order does not match my approved sample?

This is why pre-shipment inspection exists. If you catch the mismatch before paying the balance, you have negotiating power. If you catch it after the sandals arrive at your warehouse, your options are limited and expensive. Always inspect before balance payment, and document the approved sample thoroughly with photos, material codes, and a signed approval.

Can I sell custom sandals in the U.S. without special labels?

No. U.S. imports require country-of-origin marking. If you are selling children’s sandals, CPSIA requirements for lead content, surface coatings, tracking labels, and a Children’s Product Certificate also apply. For EU sales, footwear material labeling is mandatory. Getting these wrong can result in goods being held at the port, additional duties, or forced re-labeling.