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? ------------------------------------------------------ Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Subscribe to our channel and visit us at: http://www.businessinsider.com/ BI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider/ BI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessinsider/ BI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/businessinsider -------------------------------------------------- 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