Skechers shoes are made by Skechers USA, Inc., an American footwear company headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, with manufacturing primarily in China and Vietnam through contracted factories.
Skechers is known for its memory foam insoles, its wide variety of casual and athletic styles, and a loyal customer base that values comfort and value over premium brand positioning.
Skechers USA became a privately held company in September 2025 when 3G Capital completed a $9.4 billion acquisition, taking the brand off the New York Stock Exchange. Robert Greenberg, who founded Skechers in 1992, remains chairman and CEO.
Knowing who makes Skechers and where they are produced helps buyers understand the company behind the brand and why shoes with American headquarters are assembled predominantly in Asia.
This article covers Skechers’ founding, who owns it, where its shoes are made, its current product range, and how it compares to New Balance and Hoka.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Skechers?
Skechers USA, Inc. is privately owned by 3G Capital, the global investment firm. Robert Greenberg remains chairman and CEO, and his son Michael Greenberg continues as president.
3G Capital completed the $9.4 billion acquisition on September 12, 2025, paying $63 per share to take Skechers off the NYSE in the largest footwear industry buyout on record.
Skechers is not owned by another footwear company. It operates as an independent privately held American brand under 3G Capital ownership.
When Was Skechers Founded?
Skechers was founded in 1992 by Robert Greenberg in Manhattan Beach, California. Greenberg had previously co-founded L.A. Gear, a major athletic shoe brand of the late 1980s.
Skechers initially gained recognition for its utility-style and skate-influenced casual shoes, launched the same year as the brand itself. The company went public in 1999.
Major growth came after Skechers introduced its memory foam insole technology, which resonated strongly with comfort-seeking consumers and expanded the brand far beyond its original youth-focused market.
Where Are Skechers Shoes Made?
The majority of Skechers shoes are manufactured in China and Vietnam through a network of contracted factories. Skechers does not own its primary manufacturing facilities.
Skechers also manufactures some products in Indonesia and other Asian countries depending on the product line and production capacity requirements. The country of origin is printed on the inside label of every pair of Skechers shoes.
Skechers applies its own quality control standards across all contracted factories through regular audits and compliance programs, including environmental and labor standards monitoring.
What Shoes Does Skechers Currently Offer?
Skechers offers one of the broadest footwear lineups in the industry, spanning athletic performance, casual lifestyle, work, and outdoor categories across men’s, women’s, and kids’ styles.
Popular lines include Skechers GOrun for running, GOWalk for walking and comfort wear, D’Lites for fashion casual, Arch Fit for orthopedic support, and Work relaxed fit styles designed for long shifts on hard surfaces.
Skechers is the official footwear sponsor of numerous professional athletes across golf, pickleball, and running, expanding its performance credentials beyond its core comfort positioning.
Skechers vs New Balance vs Hoka: Who Makes Each?
All three are footwear companies with American headquarters but very different ownership structures. Skechers is a privately held company owned by 3G Capital as of 2025. New Balance is privately owned by the Davis family and is known for its significant US manufacturing operations. Hoka is owned by Deckers Brands, a publicly traded American company that also owns UGG and Teva.
New Balance is the most distinctive of the three in terms of manufacturing, producing approximately four million pairs per year at US factories, a far higher domestic production rate than either Skechers or Hoka.
Skechers leads the three in overall revenue and breadth of styles. Hoka leads in premium running shoe performance and has seen faster recent growth. New Balance competes across running, training, and lifestyle with a heritage positioning that neither Skechers nor Hoka can match.
What Is Next for Skechers?
Skechers continues to expand internationally, with growing sales in China, Europe, and India representing its primary growth markets outside North America.
The brand has been investing in its direct-to-consumer business, opening Skechers retail stores globally and building out its online channels to reduce dependence on department store and wholesale partnerships.
Skechers has also been expanding into pickleball, running, and outdoor performance categories to capture buyers who previously might not have considered the brand for athletic use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Skechers Are Made
Are Skechers made in the USA?
No. Skechers shoes are manufactured primarily in China and Vietnam. Skechers is headquartered in California but does not operate shoe manufacturing facilities in the United States.
Is Skechers a good shoe brand?
Skechers is widely regarded as a reliable comfort and casual footwear brand offering strong value for its price point. The brand consistently earns high marks for comfort from consumer reviews, particularly in its GOWalk and Arch Fit lines. For high-performance athletic use, specialty running brands are generally recommended instead.
Who founded Skechers?
Skechers was founded in 1992 by Robert Greenberg in Manhattan Beach, California. Greenberg previously co-founded L.A. Gear. His son Michael Greenberg is president of the company, and the Greenberg family leadership remains in place under 3G Capital ownership, with Robert Greenberg as CEO and Michael Greenberg as president.
How big is Skechers compared to Nike and Adidas?
Skechers is significantly smaller than Nike and Adidas by revenue. Nike generates over $50 billion annually and Adidas over $25 billion, while Skechers generates approximately $9 billion. However, Skechers is the third-largest footwear brand in the United States by revenue and competes directly with brands like New Balance, Hoka, and Brooks in the non-Nike non-Adidas space.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.