The academic inquiry regarding the reasons that lead different companies towards the adoption of different strategies is very common. When it comes to mature manufacturing activities, such as the production of shoes, where only a few technical and organizational characteristics are not shared by all actors, this question becomes even more critical. In order to explore this problem, this work relies on a simple case study, placing footwear industry in focus and following the examples of China, Italy and Brazil - countries that show very different strategic behaviors in that sector. Taking advantage of the conclusions advocated by path dependence theory, on the importance of considering longitudinal analysis when evaluating characteristics and performance of an industry, this research seeks to identify crucial points, in the course of historical events, that could have affected the overall position currently held by those countries. Conclusions show the existence of several key events, which are characterized by randomness, increasing returns and technological interdependence. In addition, social, cultural and public policies considerations seem relevant as well, contributing to lock companies inside strategies from which it is hard to detach.