# Argentine footwear industry manufacturing and retail shifts > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-footwear-industry-manufacturing-and-retail-shifts > Updated: 2026-09-09T07:07:03.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. The Argentine footwear sector is undergoing a period of divergence between manufacturing decline and retail expansion. Local manufacturing has faced significant setbacks, highlighted by the closure of the Coopershoes plant in the Las Flores Industrial Park. The Brazilian-owned company ceased production following a progressive decline in staff—from approximately 380 employees in early 2023 to just a handful of administrative workers. This downturn was attributed to falling domestic consumption, increased imports, and the loss of major orders from brands such as Converse. The labor union UTICRA has characterized the definitive closure of the facility as a certainty. In contrast to these manufacturing struggles, international lifestyle brands are expanding their presence in the country. For example, Cole Haan has entered the Argentine market by opening a physical store in Buenos Aires and launching a dedicated e-commerce platform. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: Argentina footwear sector sees retail expansion and manufacturing closures Argentina's footwear industry sees divergent trends as Cole Haan expands into the retail market while Coopershoes ceases Converse production in Las Flores. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-footwear-sector-sees-retail-expansion-and-manufacturing-closures ### 2026-09-04: Coopershoes closes footwear production plant in Argentina Coopershoes has closed its footwear production line in Las Flores, Argentina, following a sharp decline in orders from brands like Converse and a drop in domestic consumption. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coopershoes-closes-footwear-production-plant-in-argentina --- Cite as: Argentine footwear industry manufacturing and retail shifts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-footwear-industry-manufacturing-and-retail-shifts