For nearly a decade, "China+1" was the golden rule of bag sourcing. In 2026, brands are quietly rewriting that rule. Steve Madden—one of the most recognizable names in accessories—publicly announced in mid-2025 that it was shifting a portion of its bag and footwear production back to China. Industry analyst Cheng Weixiong put it bluntly: "China's costs are currently more competitive, and manufacturing facilities still have spare capacity." This isn't an isolated case. It's th