We don't make mass market shoes in the US anymore, they're all specialty products now.
I'm trying to support US manufacturing where I can, but as far as I can tell, the choice to outsource was made to increase margins, not because of rising costs.
As a mass market shoe consumer, I don't see local manufacturers competing on pure quality per se. Shoe making has already become a more technical field, and there are products that the Nikes of the world can make that local makers can't without relying on remote highly specialized factories.
For instance some of Nike's flyknit series are way more comfortable, light and flexible that what local makers have to offer. It costs more churning through pairs, and going the built to order way adds to the cost, so it's not a cheap option. Margins might be huge for Nike, but I don't think they are much higher than for instance leather shoes retailed with 4 figure prices.
Local makers will go for "hand crafted", "built to last" shoes, there are as you say specialty shoes, and some luxury level local brands keeping classic designs. But I don't see it as forgoing margins, and more going for niches that don't need huge R&D development for manufacturing at scale.
I'm trying to support US manufacturing where I can, but as far as I can tell, the choice to outsource was made to increase margins, not because of rising costs.