This study aims to investigate the key drivers of supply chain complexity in the footwear industry business sector. After conducting extensive literature review and consultation with experts, complexity drivers in the context of the footwear business sector were identified. The content validity of the identified drivers was checked by 13 experts using content validity ratio (CVR), which were used as the basis to select 20 key Supply Chain complexity drivers. Using a multi-criteria decision-making DEMATEL approach the cause and effect drivers were investigated. The findings of the study investigated 12 cause and 8 effect drivers in the footwear sector. Among the cause drivers, four linkage drivers that have strong driving power and dependency were identified. This study is the first in the developing county footwear business sector using DEMATEL approach to identify the key supply chain complexity drivers and their interrelationship. The study identified complexity drivers in the context of the footwear business sector that were not explored before in the existing studies. The outcome of this study will help SC complexity decision-makers in that case sector to control and manage the cause and effect drivers and thus improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their SC performance.