The Work

The functions performed in the footwear industry are broadly classified into three categories: Design, Manufacturing, and Marketing.

DESIGN 

Involves creating new styles of footwear, and sometimes-new uses for particular designs.

MARKETING 

Essentially the selling of the different styles of footwear to an ever expanding and demanding domestic market and for the export sector. This requires a basic eye for design as well as an instinct for what will sell.

MANUFACTURING

Shoes are no longer a cobbler's job. It is a highly mechanized process where machines are handled by skilled technicians. Shoes are manufactured by a number of leading shoe companies and small-scale factories for sale in the domestic market and for export.



Work done in the footwear industry is no longer manual. With the rise in the export of footwear, the work in the footwear industry is increasingly being done on high quality machines. The making of samples, designing and grading, is all computerized. 

The work also involves the making of specific parts of the shoes, such as the `upper', the `sole', and the `heel', which are, in turn, put on a `last', on which the shoe is moulded. There is a lot of emphasis on quality, which has to be excellent, since most of the leading companies are involved in exporting shoes.

Major Tasks Performed

DESIGN

In this field, footwear is designed and graded, and samples are made. The process has now become highly mechanized, involving the use of computer-aided design systems. 

The tasks performed in the area of design include development and grading of patterns. Shoe collections are also designed for leading footwear companies. The shoes are generally designed keeping in mind the demands of clients, and the popular demand in the market.

MANUFACTURE

The manufacture of footwear involves three different processes. The most advanced and the most expensive of these is cementation. Here, the `sole' is cemented to the `upper' through the use of highly advanced machinery. Through this method the most expensive and high quality shoes are produced. 

The other method is the Direct Injection Process (DIP), wherein the `upper' is injected on to the sole. Although leather shoes can also be made through this process, it is mainly used in the production of many varieties of synthetic sports shoes. 

The third process is the Direct Vulcanization Process (DVP). This is a comparatively cheaper alternative, and canvas shoes are usually made through this process. In a manufacturing unit, it is the task of supervisors to handle the supervision of the production of shoes.

MARKETING

The Indian footwear industry is increasingly emerging as an important industry, particularly for the export market. However, marketing of Indian footwear is done both for the domestic and International markets. The Ministry of Commerce is making great efforts to encourage the marketing of footwear. 

Various shoe fairs and exhibitions are organized for this purpose. The leading footwear companies appoint their own marketing managers, who, together with advertising agencies, organize campaigns to advertise their footwear collections and assist in working out marketing strategies.