Had to break my silence for this....

This morning, I saw in the sun paper....the hardcopy.

*GASP*

So decided to take it from the online one http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17624

Shoes and handbags to cost more
Vasugi Supramanian
PETALING JAYA (April 16, 2007): Consumers will now have to pay more for high-fashion shoes and leather-related goods such as handbags following a decision by the Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association (MFMA) to increase prices by at least 10%.

The move, which has already been initiated by some of the 476 MFMA members, is a result of the 5% to 30% increase in the cost of raw materials such as plastic and leather.

"Despite the increase in prices of shoe components like heels, outsoles, soling sheets and adhesives, we have not passed on the extra cost to our consumers. But, we are not able to absorb the recent sharp increase in the price of raw materials anymore," MFMA president Lisa Fong Lai Heong said at a press conference today.

She said leather prices have gone up as much as 30% since the year began, and may be on the uptrend for the next six months.

The cost of leather makes up about 60% of the total production costs for leather shoe producers, Fong said.

Currently, 80% of MFMA's raw materials are imported from India, America and Brazil. Up to 80% of its finished product of women's footwear is sold locally while the rest are exported mainly to Europe.

The increase in footwear price will eventually be adopted by all MFMA members. However, even with the increase, Malaysian footwear will still be among the cheapest within Asean.

Fong said the price of locally-produced footwear has long been relatively stable for the past few years compared with other products which have seen price adjustments due to inflation.

She added that the recent price increase in raw materials was due to East Asia's robust economy and overwhelming demand for furniture and motor vehicle upholstery.

She noted that the situation is expected to worsen in the coming summer as less buffalos and cows will be slaughtered during the season of low meat consumption.

Updated: 09:35PM Mon, 16 Apr 2007

DAMN CRAP....
Already shoes are expensive. Raise the price sommore. I need to wear slipper to work liao. Better go get my Furla bfore its too late hehehehe.
2 of greatest passion.