Footwear is among the major industries in India. India is number two in the world when it comes to the production & usage of footwear. The market size stands at almost $11 billion today, and it is estimated to cross $15 billion by 2024 (source). This simply means an astonishing Compounded Annual Growth Rate (also known as CAGR) of close to 13%.The industry generates direct & indirect employment for over 2 million people.
India is also the 6th largest exporter & the 10th largest importer of footwear globally. India is a leading player in both leather & non-leather footwear in the international scenario. However, much of the industry in India lies in the unorganized sector – almost 75%. These manufacturers are scattered everywhere, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal. Many manufacturers come under the MSME category.
However, over the last few years, the government has de-licensed & de-reserved the footwear sector in India, and also allowed for 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This is going to provide a welcome push towards modernizing the sector by introducing state-of-the-art production technologies, thereby improving the final product quality. Of course, there are quite a few large to very large operators in this sector in India as well. They own huge production facilities, manufacturing top-class footwear that has dedicated markets both in India & abroad.
6 Top Footwear Companies in India
Relaxo Footwear
The Fortune 500 (India) company, Relaxo Footwear, began its journey in 1984. In the last three and a half decades, it has grown steadily to emerge as India’s largest footwear company. For its millions of customers, Relaxo signifies comfort, durability, style, and affordability. The eponymous brand Relaxo is a leader in the rubber footwear segment. The Bahamas product range consists of colorful flip-flops that capture the spirit of youth & modernity. Flite, Sparx, Boston, and Mary Jane are the other brands of the company.
Relaxo manufactures both casual and formal footwear for men, women, and children. Its products are made available through a huge distribution network p an-India and more than 350 company-owned retail outlets.
Bata India
This is the brand that has been almost synonymous with footwear in India for a very long time. It is the country’s largest retailer of footwear, with over 30,000 dealers and a huge number of company-owned retail outlets (close to 1400) facilitating the availability of its products in every corner of the country. Bata India began its journey in 1931 as Bata Shoe Company Pvt Ltd from a small town on the outskirts of Kolkata. Bata India is the country’s first footwear manufacturer to receive the prestigious ISO 9001 certification.
Serving customers with passion, providing superior quality products, dependability, and value for money – these are the guiding principles of the company since inception. The company has a large number of brands in its kitty, led by Hush Puppies – it sells more than 17 million pairs in 160+ countries. The other notable brands are CAT, Bubblegummers, Footin, Marie Claire, North Star, Naturalizer, Scholl, etc. Besides footwear for men, women, and children, Bata India also manufactures various accessories, socks, shoe polish, etc.
Mirza International
Among India’s most premier footwear companies, Mirza International has been in operation for 4 decades and has a commanding presence in close to 30 countries. Through its 6 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and 1 tannery equipped with the latest effluent treatment measures, Mirza International manufactures top-class footwear under various brands. Besides footwear manufacturing, the company is also a leading supplier of the finished leather to various global markets and also supplies leather footwear for various leading international brands.
The company has followed a policy of consistent innovation along with the implementation of environment-friendly production facilities. Focusing on extensive digital presence to suit the new-age marketing requirements, the company has never lost sight of the most basic objective – customer delight. And this focus has enabled the company to build up a massive and loyal customer base over the years – both abroad and in India.
Mirza International’s flagship brand, Red Tape, is among the leading brands in the US & UK. Other popular brands of the company are Oaktrak, MODE, Bond Street, etc.
Khadim India
Incorporated in 1981, Khadim was registered as S. N. Footwear Industries Pvt. Ltd. For 12 years, it operated in the wholesale domain. In 1993, it entered the retail segment. With visionary top management and a team of the most competent staff members, Khadim had steady growth. Today, the company has close to 800 exclusive retail outlets across the country, and a distributor network of almost 550. In terms of exclusive branded stores, Khadim holds the top spot in India.
Khadim had a simple goal from the very beginning – to make shoes for every foot. The goal was to manufacture quality products that won’t carry a steep price tag. Its products have always been classy, comfortable, long-lasting, yet affordable. This is one of the key reasons why the brand has become a darling of Indian customers. Khadim has a wide range of footwear for men, women, and children. Some of its major brands are – Khadim, Lazard, British Walkers, Turk, Pro, Cleo, Waves, Softouch, Adrianna, Schooldays, bonito, etc. Khadim also manufactures different accessories like wallets, belts, bags, backpacks, shoe sanitizers, reusable masks, and more.
Liberty Shoes
It all started way back in 1954. A small shop used to manufacture only 4 pairs of shoes every day. Times changed, the economy changed – and so did the fortunes of that small shop. Today, we know that shop by the name of Liberty Shoes – footwear major in India, manufacturing more than 50,000 pairs of shoes every day. With an annual turnover of close to Rs 1,000 crores, the 4000+ strong team of dedicated workers strive hard to create more than 5,000 new designs every year.
Liberty is present in more than 25 countries with its top-quality products. It has over 400 exclusive showrooms in India and is working towards taking this number to 1,000. Their product portfolio is highly diversified – formals, casuals, ballerina’s shoes, flip-flops – the company has it all. The company believes that to sell its products, it needs to make good products that cater to the customers’ requirements, and follow it up with premium-level service.
Some of the popular brands of Liberty Shoes are – Coolers, AHA, Footfun, Healers, Force10, Senorita, Prefect, etc.
Amin Tannery
It was 1946 when the partition of India & Pakistan was just around the corner. One man came down to Kanpur from across the border and established a small tannery outside the city. That man, the late Mr. Choudhry Mohammed Amin, is regarded as a visionary in the leather industry of Uttar Pradesh. He had tremendous business acumen and extreme farsightedness – coupled with a single-minded devotion towards serving customers’ interests.
Today, the company has a leather processing plant that is capable of processing 1.5 million sq ft per month. Its shoe manufacturing division produces 1000 pairs every day. Its finished leather is of a very high quality that has a dedicated customer base across several countries of the world. In terms of shoes, the company produces exquisite quality boots and formal shoes that are highly regarded owing to their durability, sleek looks, and value for money. The company continues to invest heavily in its infrastructure to further improve the quality of its products and reach out to more and more customers.
List of Top 6 Footwear Companies in India
| Sl. No. | Name | Established | Headoffice | Website |
| 1 | Relaxo Footwear | 1976 | Delhi | https://www.relaxofootwear.com/ |
| 2 | Bata India | 1894 | Kolkata, W.B. | https://www.bata.in/ |
| 3 | Mirza International | 1979 | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | https://www.mirza.co.in/ |
| 4 | Khadim India | 1981 | Kolkata, W.B. | https://www.khadims.com/ |
| 5 | Liberty Shoes | 1954 | Karnal, Haryana | https://www.libertyshoes.com/ |
| 6 | Amin Tannery | 1946 | Banthar, Uttar Pradesh | https://www.amintannery.in/ |
