Leader of mainland China is offering model B230, ballet flats with printed instep straps. Made of soft EVA, the shoes come in EU sizes 30 to 41.

Suppliers of EVA shoes in mainland China and Taiwan are incorporating more fashionable elements into releases, while ensuring products remain nontoxic and safe to use.

In addition to the widely available garden clogs, companies are launching injection-molded EVA models in Mary Jane, ballet flat and slip-on versions. The latest styles come in bold or metallic hues and some even feature multicolor uppers. Decorative embellishments such as prints and acrylic stone trimming are adopted on certain designs as well.

Further, a number of models are being fashioned into slip-on wedges. Most versions employ soft EVA and come with a color-contrasting massaging footbed.

EVA foam is used mainly in flip-flops. To expand design variety, the newest models feature metallic or translucent colored rubber or PVC straps. Some straps come in synthetic leather trimmed with beads and sequins. The insoles are normally printed, and a few have allover geometric patterns.

Most companies are also making an effort to adopt virgin EVA in designs. Recycled versions are cheaper but more brittle. Further, they can only be colored in dull and dark shades that tend to fade quickly. Even so, the majority of low-end models are made from recycled EVA. All of the makers in this report, however, claim that they use only virgin EVA in their releases.

To ensure that the shoes are safe to wear, many suppliers are subjecting samples of the polymer and the shoe prototype to toxicity tests prior to mass production. Some send these to independent laboratories such as Intertek or SGS on request. The samples are inspected for the presence of toxins such as azo, PAH and chloroform.

Moreover, makers are requiring their plastic suppliers to provide test reports on material toxicity. A few are also sourcing from large, well-established chemical processors such as Formosa Plastics in Taiwan, Hyundai in South Korea and BASF in Germany.

Among the mainland companies in this report, ISO 9001:2000 and SA8000:2001-certified Quanzhou Skylink Imp & Exp Co. Ltd purchases plastic from such suppliers. Instead of procuring from BASF in Germany, however, Quanzhou Skylink sources from Yangzi-BASF Styrenics, a joint-venture company in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

Taiwan-based Liu Chiao Industrial Co. Ltd, on the other hand, purchases virgin EVA only from well-established providers in the island. Liu Chiao sends the polymers to its ISO 9001:2000-certified factory in Dongguan, in the mainland's Guangdong province.

Darchie Enterprise Co. Ltd and Horng Chyi Enterprise Corp. source EVA from Taiwan processors as well, but carry out footwear production in Changhua.

In addition to releasing more fashionable and nontoxic designs, somemainland companies are improving their sales services to boost exports. Olicom (Quanzhou) Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd, for example, added nine members to its trading team to enable faster response to inquiries and facilitate closer tracking of orders.

Leader Shoes Co. Ltd reduced its sampling time to less than three days, while Fujian Quanzhou Yonghui Airfit Shoes Industry Co. Ltd is considering offering prototypes of its existing models for free.

Although makers are increasing production of injection-molded EVA Mary Janes, ballet flats and slides, clogs and EVA foam flip-flops are expected to remain the best-sellers in the months ahead.

To keep releases in line with footwear trends, Fujian Quanzhou Yonghui Airfit is infusing bold colors and patterns in new models. The company offers mainly EVA foam flip-flops, and the latest designs come in bright hues of red, yellow or orange. Neutrals are available as well, but these feature geometric patterns on the insoles.

Liu Chiao of Taiwan is releasing sandals with thicker wedge EVA soles. Flip-flops have metallic, braided, translucent or synthetic leather thong uppers.

Garden clogs at Darchie are available in black, pink, orange, red, blue and purple. Some have acrylic stone trimming.

Olicom in the mainland, however, has opted to focus on durability and comfort. Offering mostly garden clogs, the newest designs incorporate rubber in the outsoles or are fitted with cotton or fur insoles or socklining.

Taiwan's Aimeile Enterprise Co. Ltd emphasizes comfort and durability in its latest releases as well. Targeted mainly at hospital use, the company's current range of footwear features injection-molded EVA outsoles with nonskid rubber patches on the heel and toe areas. They also have engineered latex insoles that feature arch supports, and fabric laminates that absorb moisture and shock, deodorize and inhibit bacteria growth.