The Growth and Journey Of Leather Shoes

Leather: Leather is a natural breathable material which makes it is a perfect material for making shoes and garments. Nowadays, leather shoes are getting popular because of its durability, comfort and flexibility. The flexibility gives them the liberty to be molded into desired styles and shapes. They create style statements which are classic and suits all occasions.

History of Leather Shoes: Leather shoes have a 5,000-years history. Their inception took place mainly to protect our feet from dust and injury and their coverings were stuffed with straw which served as protection against the rough terrain and severe climate. Gradually, starting in 3000 B.C., the ancient Mesopotamians invented laced-up leather shoes. They were calf-high and made from goat leather. In 1616 onwards leather shoes began to be used for everyday and high fashion wear. Today a large variety of them are available for men and women in an array of designs, colors, styles and patterns.



The Industry:-

• The industry is estimated at Rs. 4400 crs. (US $ 1025 mn)
• In footwear, for over 50% of world trade, India has less than 1% share
• This sector is classified as both organized (factory) and unorganized (local), out of which 70% of the industry is ruled by the latter.

Leather Shoes Manufacturers:

• Since 1998-99, 290 million pairs of leather footwear have been manufactured
• Sandals and slippers form a major chunk in manufacturing
• Footwear and component exports account for 33% of total leather exports from India
• In footwear export Southern region (ports and regions in South) accounts for 42%; the West accounts for 23% and that from North accounts for 11%
• In components South accounts for 74%; West 6% and North 16%
• Major production centers are - Agra, Ambur, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Jallandhar, Kanpur and Ranipet.
• Over 45-50 manufacturers are there in the organized sector
• The biggest player in organized sector is Bata
• Other major players are - Florind Shoes, Phoenix International, Lakhani India, Liberty Shoes, Mirza Tanners, Relaxo Footwear
• The Unorganized manufacturers supply cheaper range of footwear
• Leather shoes sell primarily through exclusive retailers (75%), and through other retail outlets (20%)
• Rest of the market is dominated by direct sales
• Ready made footwear accounts for over 95% of the sales

Caring and Preserving: Taking care of leather shoes do not just mean to make our shoes look good but, also to preserve them and add to their lives. Without proper conditioning and care, leather can dry out, eventually cracking and falling apart.
To really preserve our leather shoes and keep them looking their best, there are four steps to follow:

• Cleaning
• Conditioning
• Polishing and
• Weatherproofing

Future Outlook: There lies a vast opportunity for footwear manufacturers in the export market. The industry is expected to grow at 15% in the market within the next few years with India likely to become a sourcing base for world manufacturers. Government is paying considerable attention to this sector; with export revenues crossing the mark of US $ 4.5 billion since 2002