Demand for replicas of the shoes thrown at President Bush last week has been astounding.
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.
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Comments (21)
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Jim in the USA
22nd Dec 2008 18:53
I want mine. Make it a size 10.
denlee42
22nd Dec 2008 23:17
This knucklehead has given little or no thought to the fact he and more than likely his whole family would have been executed for tossing footwear at Saddham Hussein or another Iraqi official. How quickly the very people we try to help turn against us!!!!! We have removed one of the most evil dictators in recent history from power in his country. Has he forgotten the mass graves with tens of thousands of mutilated bodies? Much good has been done in that country. Our own media has not reported on the many good things our military and civilian personnel have done for the Iraqis. Disgusting is the only word I can conjure at this time.
Idiots, anything to make a buck. That shoe throwing Iraqui ingrate can not even spit on the sidewalk to even murmur Saddam Hussein's name . Now he can throw a pair of stupid shoes to our American president and he gets the glory. Damn all Iraquis who falls on the side of Zaidi. I will have him repay me for the taxes I paid for him to have this freedom to insult our president. Zaidi can never repay the American soldiers lives lost in giving him this freedom.
Yay Zaidi
23rd Dec 2008 10:28
Where can I buy a pair? Bush is responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives and the destruction of their infrastructure, medical services, and a society where women were full citizens and now must cower indoors. He invaded without a plan, and everyone suffered. He has no sole.
Hailey
23rd Dec 2008 12:24
How teenager! Sounds as mature as a food fight. Where is the respect for the office and the country of America?
Iraq's civilian population, many grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sons, husbands, etc...killed by US bombs. As well as our soildiers...yes, soildiers. Not innocent children from America.
This you call freedom? A fifty percent unemployment rate, many still without electricity or water due to the bombing. Homes and families bombed cause they thought maybe a terrorist existed there or torturing prisoners while doing inappropriate torturing in the preversion category in just about any culture and YOU EXPECT IRAQ TO THANK US FOR FREEDOM? What freedom? We all are Being poor now from wasting our taxes on this war that is hurting our soildiers the most..bring them home...NOW! and say sorry for having a president that stupid that gets shoes tossed at him...he is lucky it was just a shoe!!! I can even feel sorry for Bush. He cannot help that his IQ is low..but we as a nation can stop acting like he is just kidding and not as dumb as he acts, talks and walks. Thank God For Obama!
Chris in the USA
23rd Dec 2008 14:17
to denlee42 and LTEE: Would you guys be "ingrates" if a foriegn power invaded the U.S. and changed our government? I know I would. Do you honestly believe that America has the right to invdade countries that have done nothing to us? Do other countries also have the right to take out any governments they feel are bad governments? The idea that it is OK for America, or any other country, to forcfuly change the governments of other countries is appallingly un-American.
The shoes will live as a humourous symbol of the very un-American Bush years. Long live the shoes!
HRH Faisal Al-Fukri
23rd Dec 2008 14:32
We're taking a big position in Baydan and later espect to list the shares in London and New York. This company is the real winner in the present world economic collapse.
Denlee42 , people like you just don't get it !
People of Iraq liked things the way they were. More Iraqi people have died because of this illegal invasion than in all the years Sadam was in power. At least there was order
Every dime should go to the Military Families who have had their lives either ruined or disrupted by a loved one serving in this ridiculous war,
I was in the first gulf war and saw all those oil fields on fire. I saw the dead from that war too. Bush took out Saddham Hussein for very good reasons and gave the Iraqis their freedom. I would like to throw a shoe at them for their ignorance.
Teresa
23rd Dec 2008 17:27
It's disgusting to treat anyone much less the Preisdent of the US with such rude disregard. Then, for people to actually profit from it and others that order the shoes. What a bunch of sorries....I wonder how the people in Iraq would be feeling about now if we hadn't asisted...AND....how would the protected people of the US ordering those shoes feel if President Bush had not acted and more terrorrism had come full term and we had war on our soil????? Do they in their ignorance really believe that was a one time act??? Losers...all of them...
God Bless George W. Bush and our troops for providing "The very blanket of comfort we sleep under each night and the freedom with which we (and those NOT Americans) walk our streets freely each day!
kristen
23rd Dec 2008 17:51
You shouldn't respect a man holding a position just because he has that position. That's no way to judge a man. You judge a man by his actions.
Which Zaidi did. All those Iraqi civilians that are going without their mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and wives and husbands. It's a true shame that these people along with our men have perished for a war that has NOTHING to do with 9/11.
I say that Americans should have enough balls to chuck something at that fool. He's been a horrible president and this country is now left in shambles as a result of his rampant spending and kissing the bums of every executive in every industry.
That is proof positive that the economy for some is doing just fine. I mean to order shoes for that reason is just crazy! Those people have more money than brains. If you want to throw a shoe at someone, a $2.00 pair is just as good!
Everyone's whining about Bush...well, wait until Obama gets ahold of things; in four years or less, his approval rating will make Bush look like a crown jewel. Shoes being thrown will be the least of our worries...
You're missing the point, Bob. The U. S. of A.- as much as we all LOVE ourselves, and think that our world-view is the best - has no more right to just invade other peoples countries and overthrow their governments than does Russia, China or Iran....OR England! Yes, there are little monsters doing bad things all over this planet (many of them were created/supported by some of our own), but just as I can't come over to your house, bust open the door and kick your ass for thinking/doing things that I think are wrong, neither can OUR government continue to impose it's will on others. DIPLOMACY/DIALOGUE/MULTI-LATERAL DECISIONS are the way to world peace.
Melissa Simmons
26th Dec 2008 17:03
I believe this incident on December 14,2008 is a profound anti-war statement and should be applauded as the righteous anger of a nation struggling with an oppressive occupation of a foreign government. This country should support the effort of these Iraqi trailblazers and offer to help with this man's legal issues. I want a pair of the shoes and I wish the made a women's version.
George Bush's Shoe Maker
6th Jan 2009 16:59
Can I get a couple pair before 1/20/09 ?
Someone ( W ) can wear them at Obama's swearing ceremony !!
Michelle in the US
6th Jan 2009 17:49
While I detest Bush and the policies that his administration have adopted that go against the beliefs of the majority of Americans, it is still ridiculous to glorify this type of behavior. The UK would not applaud someone throwing footwear at their PM nor would the French. If Americans threw shoes at him that would be fine but to applaud a foreign national doing so is a dangerous precident.
I support self expression, which we helped this country obtain. I agree with the distain many Iraq citizens have due to our distruction of their county, for what? For our own benefit, not to help them, we know that. Look at the history of politics, our motive is always at the root of our actions.
