What to Ask a Senior Shoe Supplier For: Certifications & Test Reports | ZULIZ

Buyers should compare the sample name, style number, photographs, materials and construction shown in the report with the product they intend to purchase. A report for a different upper, outsole, colour or closure system may not provide valid evidence for the quoted product.

For features such as anti-slip sole design or cushioning performance, ZULIZ provides partners with the available supporting documents for the relevant SKU and intended claim. This gives both parties a clear, documented basis for product approval before bulk production begins.

Check Chemical Safety by Material and Destination Market

Physical tests help buyers evaluate wear and durability. Chemical testing addresses a different question: whether the materials may contain restricted substances at levels that could affect product compliance or market access.

Footwear for older people may incorporate textiles, natural leather, synthetic leather, rubber, plastics, adhesives, coatings and metal accessories. Each material has a different risk profile, so the chemical testing plan should follow the actual bill of materials rather than a single fixed checklist.

Six commonly reviewed substance groups are outlined below.

For export projects, ZULIZ can work with partners to identify the relevant materials and the restricted-substance requirements of the destination market or retail channel. The report for the exact SKU should then be checked to ensure that it covers the agreed scope of testing. If the market requires additional testing, the scope, cost, timing and responsibilities can be agreed before the order is finalised.

Support Functional Claims with Product-Specific Evidence

Claims relating to thermal performance, antibacterial performance, cushioning, slip resistance, arch support or ease of wear should be supported by evidence that matches the exact SKU and the wording intended for the destination market.

Do not rely on a report that states only “Pass”. Check whether the tested sample matches the commercial product, whether the method is suitable for the claim, whether the test conditions reflect the intended use and whether the results and acceptance criteria are stated clearly.

ZULIZ holds 404+ Industry Patents relating to senior footwear design, cushioning systems, arch-support insoles, anti-slip outsole structures and related technologies. Examples include:

• CN 202420140239.8: a shock-absorbing device and sole known as the “Energy Capsule”;
• CN 202420422984.1: an outsole with suction-cup-style anti-slip elements and footwear incorporating the outsole;
• CN 202422730429.8: an anti-slip sole with arch support and footwear incorporating the sole; and
• CN 202211066212.0: technology for a mint-based polyurethane foam insole, including its manufacture and application.

These patents demonstrate ZULIZ's investment in footwear construction and materials research, but patents and performance reports serve different purposes. A patent identifies protected technology or construction; a test report records how an identified sample performed under a defined method. Patent information should not be used to support a product-performance or therapeutic claim without product-specific evidence and a review of the destination-market requirements.

The Ruyi Mom Shoe and Ping An Dad Shoe have each received a five-star comfort certification. Any related product communication should be supported by the certification details, including the issuing body, assessment criteria, certificate number, models covered and scope stated on the certificate. Each certification applies only to the products and criteria it covers.

Verify the Reports and the Supplier's Quality Management Capability

A test report has practical value when the report is authentic and bulk production remains consistent with the tested or approved sample.

Beyond checking a “Pass” result or accreditation mark, review the following:

Depending on the proposed commercial arrangement and channel requirements, buyers may also request supplier and factory credentials such as business registration documents, evidence linking the contracting entity to the production facility, quality management system certification and, where required, social compliance audits or environmental management documents. These materials help buyers assess management capability and responsible sourcing; they do not prove that a specific SKU has passed a product test.

Product testing and batch inspection also serve different purposes. A product test report records the results obtained when an identified style, made to a specified construction and using specified materials, is tested according to a defined method. Batch inspection helps monitor whether the commercial order remains consistent with the approved specification. Buyers may require both where justified by the order's risk profile.

ZULIZ's manufacturing resources include a manufacturing base covering 1,000+ acres, together with 130+ production lines and 13+ supporting factories. These resources support production planning and supply chain coordination. For each project, ZULIZ works with partners to approve samples and agree the requirements for production records, test documentation, batch inspection and change control as part of the order process.

Understand the Commercial Value of Compliance Documentation

For overseas partners, product-specific reports, compliance documents and quality records provide greater transparency throughout the sourcing and sales process:

• Supplier screening: They help buyers assess whether a supplier understands product compliance and documentation;

• Product review: They can support import procedures, marketplace onboarding or retail-channel approval;

• Sales communication: They give staff a documented basis for explaining product features; and

• After-sales traceability: They make it easier to trace a quality issue to a material, factory, order or production batch.

Different documents serve different purposes and should be used within their proper scope.