Why Louboutin Shoes Are So Expensive | So Expensive

Christian Louboutin's trademark red-bottomed shoes have become iconic. Beyoncé wore a custom pair of boots for her Coachella performance, and Cardi B slipped on a pair of "bloody shoes" for her "Bodak Yellow" music video. But why do these heels cost hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars?

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Following is a transcript of the video:

Narrator: What makes these shoes worth almost $800? Christian Louboutin is the mastermind behind these iconic red-bottomed shoes. It's safe to say his footwear has stepped into the mainstream. Celebrities all over the world wear them.

"You know the ones with the high heels and the red bottoms?"

♪ These expensive, these is red bottoms ♪ ♪ These is bloody shoes ♪

Narrator: Louboutin even had the red bottoms trademarked. The signature Louboutin pumps, start at $695. The most expensive pair, nearly $6,000. So how did this craze start? Christian Louboutin had the idea for red soles in 1993. An employee was painting her nails red. Louboutin snagged the bottle and painted the soles of a prototype shoe. Just like that, the red soles were born.

So, what makes these shoes worth the cost? In 2013, when the New York Times asked Louboutin, why his shoes are so expensive, he blamed production costs. Louboutin said, "It's expensive to make shoes in Europe." From 2008 to 2013, he said his company's production costs had doubled as the euro strengthened against the dollar, and competition increased for quality materials from factories in Asia.

David Mesquita, the co-owner of Leather Spa, says craftsmanship also plays a part in the shoes' high price tag. His company works directly with Louboutin to repair its shoes, repainting and replacing the red soles.

David Mesquita: I mean there's a lot of things that go into the design of a shoe, and the making of a shoe. Most importantly, I think is, who's designing it, who's manufacturing it, and also what materials they're using to make the shoes.

Whether you're talking about feathers, rhinestones, or exotic materials, there's so much attention to detail that they put into their manufacturing and designing of their shoes. Narrator: For instance, these $3,595 Louboutins are embellished with Swarovski Crystals. And these raccoon fur boots cost $1,995. When it all comes down to it, people are paying for the status symbol.

Producer Spencer Alben bought a pair of Louboutins for her wedding.

Spencer Alben: It makes me sound so stuck up, but I love the red soles because it's such like a fashion icon symbol. There's something about them that when you see them in a picture, you instantly know what those are. So it's like a status symbol I guess, which makes me sound terrible.

They were over $1,000, which when I say that now, is insane for one pair of shoes that you're probably never gonna wear again. It's like something that everyone knows, so the second you see the red bottoms, it's like, I know what those are, I know what those cost. And it's so superficial that we care about that, but it really is something that is universal. You see that and you instantly know what those are, and it's something special. So I think, something as silly as the color of the sole on the shoe, makes them so special, because it's universally identifiable.

Narrator: Would you drop $1,000 for red-bottomed shoes?

[raaid]

Material and labor might be high, but let's be honest, a majority of the cost is the name and the exclusivity of the product. They are only worth as much as people will pay. Unfortunately, people are willing to pay a hefty price for pretty basic shoes.

[jaredkoch]

A wise person once told me, “Something is only considered a status symbol to those that can’t afford it.”

[jackienguyen]

I’ll buy a $25 dollar pair of heels and a $2 bottle of red paint and there we go.. $1800 saved

[janeclark]

They were the most comfortable pumps I have ever worn — ever! I’ve moved on from them, but the joy of being able to strut in them will always be a favorite memory❤️👠

[christinakaur]

If you want the same high-quality materials and craftsmanship, I highly recommend befriending near graduation/end of apprenticeship cobblers or fashion school students. I've gotten some of the best shoes and clothes I've ever owned at a fraction of the price of a coturier or atelier. They use the same materials and techniques, and I don't have to travel to Aspen or Europe to get the same experience lol. Students and fresh graduates are usually eager to start building their clientele, earning good money, and putting all of their knowledge to work. You won't be disappointed.

[loginnamejon]

It’s the name. That’s why it’s expensive.

[capture_diaries]

According to legend, to this day, the employee still wants her nail polish back.

[boomshakarlaka]

I consider them and other shoes a piece of art. I love shoes 👠 because its a statement piece for me. I love to look in the mirror and see them, and how crazy and unique they can be. This goes for any-prize shoe. People pay millions of dollars for paintings that just hang on their walls, so I don’t see why not spend money on something I will wear and admire.

[niloobakes]

U can just buy basic high heels and then paint the bottoms red.

[jmanok]

If I spend thousands on some shoes they better make me fly as I walk off the cliff from the debt they put me in.

[arvinmorales]

My first time visiting Toronto, my girlfriend (now my wife) and I visited the Louboutin exhibit. I remember laying my eyes on the Rollerboy Spiked loafers, I fell in love with the shoe. It was unique and like nothing I've seen before. At the time, I was working at Dunkin Donuts so it was completely out of my price range. Since then, I've had a good career in IT and for my wedding day I knew exactly the shoe I wanted to wear that day and it was worth the $1000 price tag.

[varizza]

Did she seriously say she would probably not wear those pair of shoes again? My godd

[cevadesign]

Historical fact : Red High Heels were already a thing before Louboutin. It was a must for the noblemen in Europe around the 15th century(back when high heels was only for men, it was a masculine fashion piece). The glossy red-soled shoes showed they never worked because it was clean and it was red because they represent the blood of their enemy crushed in battle. Louis XIV was very fond of shoes with red heels. And no man could have a heel higher than the king. Bright red was also a rare color on clothes, so having red-heels meant a nobleman was very wealthy, powerful in war and never worked at all (so even more rich).

[Amigps]

They’re expensive because of production BS
You’re paying for the label.

[yusufkidwai]

I guess I did pretty good at the thrift store earlier this week, picking up a pair of steel toed boots still in decent shape for $10.

[topplayer]

save 3 minutes of your life. It's a status symbol. There

[NB-kyol]

This could have been a 10 sec video:
“Because you’re paying for the status not the shoe”.

[JessicaHauserman]

Wow. Their justifications for the pricing of Louboutins. Why not just admit that they're charging those prices simply because they can? It doesn't cost $1, 000 to manufacture a shoe in Europe. Give me a break. I own a pair of classic black pumps, and boots, and both are quite uncomfortable. I've bought $20 heels on Amazon that are more comfortable to walk in. You're paying for the brand name and that signature red sole. That's it.

[lunagodessa]

The stilettos aren’t even properly designed to distribute weight to the heel instead of the ball of the foot. Consideration should be given to form AND function. I’m not impressed.

[SA-xtgd]

I just cant spend that much on the shoes even for showing off. It kinda hurts that people struggle to even bring home 700 dollars for rent and food.