One journalist’s hugely public protest against America’s campaign in Iraq has resulted in a surprising windfall for a Turkish shoemaker.
Baydan Shoe Company, creators of the now-iconic footwear that Muntazar al-Zaidi threw at President George W Bush last week, have been so inundated with orders that they have had to hire 100 extra staff to cope with the sudden uplift in demand.
Since the press conference held in Baghdad little more than a week ago, the shoemakers have received an influx of orders from individuals across the globe looking to show their support with their choice of shoes.
Speaking to the Guardian, owner of the Istanbul-based company, Ramazan Bayden, revealed that he had already received an astounding 300,000 requests for the ‘Model 271’ shoe worn, and then thrown, by Zaidi. This represents a staggering four fold increase in the company’s average annual production of the line.
While a large proportion of these orders originate from customers in Iraq and its neighbouring countries, the shoe is proving highly popular in both the UK and US too. According to Bayden, one US-based company has requested 18,000 pairs while a British company have already come forward as a possible European supplier.
The company intend to take full advantage of this new found attention with television advertising campaigns planned for the new year. They also plan to relaunch the shoe, which has been in production since 1999, with a more ‘distinctive’ name – ‘Bye Bye Bush’ is among those currently under consideration.
