Top Shoe Brands in India: A Fusion of Style, Comfort, and Economic Impact
India, a land celebrated for its diverse cultural tapestry, reflects its rich heritage through a vibrant fashion industry. Footwear, an integral component of this industry, offers a fusion of style, comfort, and quality that resonates with the Indian populace. Indian shoe brands have ingeniously carved out their niche, catering to a broad spectrum of consumers.
From intricately embroidered traditional juttis to modern, trendy sneakers, these brands cater to men, women, and children, leaving no demographic unattended. Beyond fashion, they have a significant economic impact, generating employment opportunities that bolster the nation’s workforce. Additionally, their success contributes to developing new commercial real estate projects, giving rise to a dynamic real estate landscape that fuels economic growth.
In this article, we list India’s top footwear companies, exploring their influence on the fashion and economic landscapes and the evolution of commercial real estate.
Business Landscape in India
India’s business landscape is incredibly diverse and robust, with several industries and sectors driving the country’s economic growth. These include agriculture, information technology (IT), manufacturing, financial services, and retail. To encourage business growth and attract foreign investments, the Indian government has implemented various strategies, making India an attractive destination for global businesses. This diverse business environment reflects India’s commitment to economic development across multiple industries, ultimately contributing to the nation’s prosperity and global prominence.
Top Footwear Companies in India
Bata
Company type: Footwear
Location: Nagpur, Maharashtra – 440018
Founding date: 1931
Bata is a widely recognized and prominent shoe brand in India, renowned for its extensive retail presence and significant role as a leading footwear maker. Established in 1931 under the name Bata Shoe Company, Bata has attained widespread recognition in India, becoming a prominent and well-regarded brand renowned for its reasonably priced footwear offerings of superior quality. Bata has an extensive retail network, including over 1,200 stores strategically located in prominent regions nationwide, covering metropolitan cities and towns.
Liberty
Company type: Footwear
Location: Gurugram, Haryana – 122008
Founding date: 1954
Liberty is a well-known Indian footwear company in business since 1954. Its name has become synonymous with fashionable yet reliable footwear for men, women, and children. As well as dress and casual footwear, sports footwear, sandals, and even slippers, Liberty also sells various other products. Liberty Shoes are sold in over 400 locations and exported to several other nations.
Paragon
Company type: Footwear
Location: Kottayam, Kerala – 686016
Founding date: 1975
For almost 40 years, Paragon has been a go-to name in Indian footwear. The company’s name is synonymous with quality footwear for women, men, and children at reasonable prices. Informal and formal shoes, athletic shoes, sandals, and even slippers are available at Paragon. The company’s shoes are known for their durability and comfort because of their premium materials and cutting-edge design. Paragon has an extensive retail network in India, reaching customers in urban and rural locations.
Relaxo
Company type: Footwear
Location: Jhajjar Haryana – 124507
Founding date: 1976
Relaxo, based in India and founded in 1976, is a well-known shoe brand that caters to both men and women with fashionable yet reasonably-priced footwear. It offers a range of footwear options, including dress shoes, athletic footwear, sandals, and even slippers. Over 300 Relaxo storefronts and 50,000 multi-brand outlets spread across India ensure that the brand is accessible to consumers in every corner of the country.
Red Tape
Company type: Footwear
Location: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – 208001
Founding date: 2007
Red Tape, based in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is a well-established footwear brand and ranks among India’s top 10 footwear companies. The brand specializes in crafting men’s casual leather shoes, formal shoes, and sneakers. What distinguishes Red Tape is its focus on high-end fashion footwear, which it achieves through its in-house design studios in the United Kingdom and Italy. This strategic approach ensures that Red Tape consistently delivers stylish and trendy footwear, solidifying its position as a leader in providing premium fashion footwear to customers in India and across the globe.
Hitz
Company type: Footwear
Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh- 282005
Founding date: 1990
Hitz has firmly established itself as a highly dependable fashion brand in the footwear industry. It offers a range of meticulously designed footwear that effortlessly keeps pace with the latest fashion trends, all while using premium-quality materials. This has assisted Hitz to achieve a loyal customer base, making it one of India’s most favored men’s footwear companies. The brand specializes in creating, manufacturing, and distributing high-quality leather footwear for men.
Lancer
Company type: Footwear
Location: Udyog Nagar, New Delhi – 110041
Founding date: 2010
Founded in 1989 with its headquarters in New Delhi, Lancer has become a prominent Indian footwear brand renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Operating from seven state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Delhi and Haryana, equipped with cutting-edge technology and machinery, Lancer offers a wide range of top-quality footwear for men, women, and children.
Lakhani Footwear
Company type: Footwear
Location: Faridabad Haryana – 121005
Founding date: 1982
Lakhani Footwear is a leading producer of sports shoes, beach slippers, and other footwear in India. With a remarkable annual production of 55.5 million pairs, Lakhani Footwear is committed to satisfying its customers’ various requirements. The company has set up advanced manufacturing facilities in Dhar, Haridwar, and Noida to guarantee top-quality production of its products, including leather shoes, canvas shoes, and EVA slippers.
VKC Pride
Company type: Footwear
Location: Calicut, Kerala – 673027
Founding date: 1984
VKC produces high-quality shoes for men and women from its headquarters in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. It is a significant contributor to India’s organized footwear industry and holds the title of the country’s biggest branded manufacturer of PU footwear. Producing around 0.4 million pairs annually, VKC stands as the foremost producer of PU footwear in India and on a global scale. Furthermore, VKC exports its products to various countries, including GCC countries, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Tirumala
Company type: Footwear
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana – 500047
Founding date: 2004
Tirumala Group, a top footwear company in India, specializes in producing and exporting fashionable, high-quality footwear for men, women, and children. With a solid global presence, Tirumala exports its products to the EU, USA, and UK countries. In addition to manufacturing footwear under its brand, Tirumala also serves as a production partner for several international brands, including Zara, Mango, Bershka, Esprit, and Topshop.
Commercial Real Estate Demand in India
Office Space
The Indian footwear industry’s rapid expansion is spurring a heightened demand for office space. The flexible workspace requirements of footwear businesses, especially startups, have fueled the need for coworking spaces and serviced offices. India’s burgeoning startup culture significantly influences this demand.
Rental Property
The robust growth of the Indian footwear industry and urbanization drive increased demand for rental properties. Urban areas, which attract talent and businesses in the footwear sector, are witnessing a surge in housing needs. This demand is fueled by rising disposable incomes, creating a quest for higher-quality housing options.
Impact
In response to the thriving Indian footwear industry, developers increasingly focus on mixed-use developments. These projects seamlessly blend residential, commercial, and retail spaces, catering to the requirements of both professionals and residents within the industry. This strategic shift in real estate development fosters vibrant, self-sustaining neighborhoods, aligning with the evolving landscape of the footwear sector and enhancing its overall impact on India’s real estate scene.
Impact of Footwear Companies on India
The footwear industry has significantly influenced India’s real estate landscape by actively engaging local resources and driving demand. Its presence often leads to acquiring or leasing substantial land for manufacturing units and warehouses, creating a surge in land values. This, in turn, spurs the development of new commercial and residential areas to meet the heightened demand. Notably, cities like Kanpur, known as the “Leather City of India,” exemplify this phenomenon, where the footwear industry has played a central role in shaping the local real estate market, elevating land values, and fueling urban expansion.
Conclusion
India’s footwear industry is a vibrant and dynamic sector that not only caters to the diverse fashion needs of its populace but also significantly impacts the nation’s economy and real estate landscape. From traditional juttis to modern sneakers, Indian shoe brands offer a wide range of options for every demographic. Their success has led to job creation, economic growth, and the development of new commercial real estate projects. As these brands continue to innovate and expand, they will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping India’s future.
Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Rajat Piplewar at rajat@bhume.in.