Final answer:
Until the 1960s, sneakers were made by skilled shoemakers, but then the practice shifted towards unskilled wage labor through the putting-out system to reduce costs. In the 1970s, manufacturing began to move to cities like Dongguan, leading to a global production system. US manufacturing practices have influenced the global transition to cost-efficient production chains.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prior to the 1960s, sneakers were manufactured by skilled shoemakers who measured customers' feet to create individualized products. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, American merchants started utilizing the putting-out system to lower labor costs which involved hiring unskilled wage labor, such as farming families, for specific tasks in the shoe production process. One group of workers would cut soles, another cut leather for the uppers, and a third group stitched the parts together. This production method allowed for standardized sizes and reduced labor costs.
However, changes started occurring in the 1970s, as companies sought to further reduce costs. Manufacturing started to shift to places like Dongguan, now home to a significant portion of global manufacturing for shoes and other products. This city alone produces one-third of all shoes worldwide and is a significant site for major manufacturers like Nike and Reebok.
In terms of manufacturing today, United States practices have influenced global production through the offshoring of labor to countries where the cost is significantly lower. Consequently, sneaker production and other industries have become global, with many manufacturing sites located in various countries around the world, especially in Asia. US manufacturing has set a precedent for worldwide production chains where cost efficiency is a primary concern.