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In recent years, India has been experiencing rapid growth in the footwear market. As of 2024, the industry was valued at almost $18 billion and is expected to continue growing and reach over $45 billion market value by 2032. A significant reason for this growth is due to the rising middle class in India. As the disposable income of consumers grows, shoes become less of a commodity and more of a form of personality and self-expression. Footwear consumption per capita has increased from 1.7 to 2.3 from 2016 to 2021.
Not only is the footwear industry booming domestically, but India has also been shifting towards exporting to other countries. This is greatly due to lifts in Indian legislation restricting trade. Joint ventures and foreign direct investment were legalized in the past couple of decades. As a result, India has become the largest shoe producer in the world, second to China. As a result, the Indian footwear manufacturing industry provides over one million jobs.
One of the most popular domestic shoe brands in India is Bata. Bata offers both a casual and professional selection and is known for its quality and affordability. They currently operate over 1,200 stores in India. Liberty shoes also hold a significant foothold in the market. They offer a wide range of shoe types and pride themselves on high quality and comfortability through utilizing the latest technology and reliable materials. Liberty was established a couple of decades after Bata, and it now operates around 400 stores.
One of India's newest and most popular production hubs is in central Tamil Nadu. Historically, India has been known for producing leather footwear, but in recent decades, it has branched into non-leather shoes as well, manufacturing for brands like Crocs, Nike, Adidas, and Puma. This diversification into non-leather footwear, combined with Tamil Nadu’s governmental initiatives, such as the Climate Governing Council and Green Energy Mission, shows a shift in the Indian industry towards more sustainable practices. Along with this, something unique to the Tami Madu production hub is that 90% of job opportunities are for women as a part of a commitment to gender equality.
Another significant footwear production hub in India is in Agra. Agra is known for its rich history. Agra has produced shoes for centuries and has the largest footwear market in Asia. The footwear industry is essential to Agra’s economy. There are over 5,000 footwear stores, and over 60% of the population relies on the industry for employment.
One of the factors enabling China to have a competitive advantage over India in the industry is that India has to import certain raw materials as a part of the production process, while China is already endowed with those natural resources. On the other hand, another factor that could benefit India is that, in recent years, Western countries have been looking to expand their production sites abroad to countries outside China due to rising labor costs. As India's industry is already significantly developed, collaboration between Western countries is extremely advantageous. This would benefit both parties, as currently 95% of production services domestic needs.
As global demand shifts and international partnerships expand, India's rapidly evolving footwear industry is well-positioned to become a dominant force in global manufacturing. With continued investment in sustainability and innovation, India stands not only to meet domestic needs but also to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of global footwear production.
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