The footwear industry is a dynamic and promising sector to pursue a career in, with India being the world’s second-largest manufacturer. Studies show that the growth of the Indian footwear industry will be eightfold by 2030. The leather, footwear, and accessory sector in India is already a significant employment generator with a 2% contribution to the overall GDP of the country. The Indian footwear industry, segmented as leather and non-leather, has a large domestic market as well. Apart from production, India is also the 2nd largest footwear consumer with a world share of 11.7%. Moreover, India is the base destination of sourcing and manufacturing for many leading countries including, the UK, the USA, and Italy.
All good reasons to pursue a career in the footwear sector, right?
Many courses are available in footwear design, starting from diploma to postgraduate level. For instance, Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) has programs that would easily land you a job in the design and production of footwear. It offers four programs at the UG level and two at the PG level, along with other short-term courses. Admission to the courses is based on the results of the All India Selection Test (AIST).
There are short-term courses offered at FDDI that are from one to three months duration designed for those with educational qualifications as low as high school, thus providing an opportunity for school dropouts to learn a skill and earn a handsome salary.
You can be a product developer, footwear trade analyst, footwear development manager, or merchandiser.
An undergraduate program makes you a footwear designer, and you can work for a footwear manufacturer, brand, or retailer. You can be a product developer, footwear trade analyst, footwear development manager, or merchandiser. With a degree in footwear design, you can confidently pursue your entrepreneurial dream as well.
“At the Bachelor level itself, we give them the total concept of production. We do some hand-holding for those who want to become an entrepreneur like help them in securing a loan or having a linkage in the corporate,” says Mr. Sandeep Bhatia, the DGM (training) at FDDI, Noida.
Other than the footwear giants in the industry, online retailing firms like Flipkart, Amazon, Paytm, etc., are also recruiting footwear designers.
Undoubtedly, with a widening horizon, the footwear industry is a promising sector to consider.
Why wait? Buckle up!
To know more about the courses offered by the FDDI, watch Mr. Sandeep Bhatia in Peptalk:
