Overview

There is a growing awareness today of the propriety of dress. Often a person's character is defined by the kind of clothes and shoes worn. Of course, much of this fashion hype has been created by manufacturers eager to cash in on sales and the rising demand for specially designed and manufactured clothing and accessories is direct fallout of this phenomenon. 

Footwear is one area of activity that has seen a boom. The increase in demand and choice of footwear has led to a spurt in the number of companies dealing in footwear production and export.

MAIN AREAS OF WORK

The manufacturing of shoes is now a very mechanized process involving the use of sophisticated machinery and highly technical and skilled manpower. However, in India, 'chappals' and other such footwear are still made in the unorganized village sector where the work is handled by state level artisans, who form part of the Khadi and Village Industries Cooperatives. 

The organized sector, on the other hand, comes within the purview of the Ministry of Commerce, which. has set up various institutes in order to encourage footwear production and export. Several private sector companies, some with international collaboration, are involved in the production and export of footwear in this sector. Footwear made by mechanization can be classified into three different categories: shoes made from leather, those made from synthetic material, and those made from other fibres. 

While the process for manufacturing remains basically similar for all three categories, job functions can vary according to the type of footwear produced-whether for men, women or children. There is also a proliferation in the variety of shoes made for different activities: formal shoes casual shoes, sports shoes, trekking shoes and so on, in all colors, shapes and sizes.