Career In Footwear Industry And Footwear Design

With global retail chains sourcing footwear from India, there is huge opportunity for footwear experts Familiarity with the fashion industry, broad knowledge of leather and an understanding of shoe engineering are some of the baseline skills for becoming a shoe technologist. India is the second largest footwear producer after China, accounting for 14 percent of footwear production to 14.52 billion pairs. Footwear is the engine of growth of the leather industry, which currently account for an export value of U.S. 1.212 billion U.S. dollars, with significant participation of 41 percent of total trade in leather from India. Given this fact, by 2010-2011 the exports of footwear in India is expected to reach U.S. 4.5 billion U.S. dollars, where global exports leather goods reach U.S. 6.98 billion U.S. dollars, in which footwear by itself represents a 65 percent share in total leather exports from India. Footwear is expected to comprise about 60 percent of the total leather exports by 2011 over 38 percent in 2006-07.

With many global retail chains actively sourcing footwear from India, there is a huge opportunity for footwear designers, technicians and managers. During the placement session held recently on campus, international luxury brand Louis Vuitton offered a package of Rs 5 lakh per annum.

Familiarity with the fashion industry, illustration skills, and broad knowledge of textiles, leather and materials and an understanding of shoe engineering are some of the baseline skills for becoming a shoe technologist. Proficiency with com- puter assisted design (CAD) programmes and modelling software is also useful. In addition, strong marketing skills, an ability to analyse trends and basic business acumen are important for those wanting to start their own footwear lines.

At present, many campuses of show engineering operational at Noida and Fursatgunj (Rai Bareli). Besides these, there will be four new campuses at Chennai, Kolkata, Rohtak and Chhindwara functional from the new session for shoe technologies.

About the Author

The footwear industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. India’s footwear retail market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 20 per cent from 2008 to 2011. If you want make your career in show engineering log on to india academic.

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