India’s First-ever Khadi Fabric Footwear, Designed by KVIC, launch ; to be Available Online
KVIC launches khadi footwear, eyes Rs 1,000 cr market share. Initially,15 designs for ladies and 10 designs for men.
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New Delhi, Oct 21 | Khadi Village Industries Corporation (KVIC) on Wednesday launched a range of footwear made of khadi fabric and said that it targets a Rs 1,000-crore market share in the first year.
The footwear range for both men and women was launched by MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari, Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi, and KVIC Chairman Vinai Saxena.
Speaking at the launch function, Gadkari said: “Global footwear industry is valued at Rs 1.45 lakh crore. KVIC will generate immense demand for khadi footwear with its range of products.”
“Khadi footwear is a unique product. International quality and use of fine fabric like Patola silk, Banarasi silk, cotton, and denim will attract youngsters who can purchase it online. This footwear are cost-effective,” Gadkari said.
He said that Khadi India needs to also tap the accessories items like women’s purses, wallets, and women’s bags made of khadi, which have high global demand, particularly in the European countries.
Sarangi said that khadi footwear was not only environment- and skin-friendly but also reflected the hard work of artisans put in to make fabric for this footwear.
The KVIC Chairman said of the footwear market worth Rs 50,000 crore in India, it planned to bag a market share of at least Rs 1,000 crore in the first year.
Saxena pointed out that KVIC was hopeful of good demand for its non-leather footwear globally, including 15 designs for ladies and 10 designs for men.
The KVIC said that exquisite khadi products like Patola silk of Gujarat, Banarasi silk, Madhubani-printed silk of Bihar, khadi denim, Tussar silk, Matka-Katia silk, cotton, tweed, and khadi poly cloth were used to make this footwear unique and trendy.
The khadi footwear price ranges from Rs 1,100 to Rs 3,300 per pair and these will be sold online through the KVIC website. Earlier, KVIC had successfully launched its khadi wristwatch in association with Titan which has been a trendsetter.
India’s footwear industry is worth around Rs 50,000 crore including exports worth close to Rs 18,000 crore. The initial target is to capture at least 2 percent of this industry, added Saxena. For the ongoing festival season, the ministry had in August launched a gift box containing masks for customers to gift their families and friends. The box developed by KVIC included four handcrafted silk masks in different colours and prints.
In the same month, KVIC had received a repeat order — biggest so far for the supply of 10.5 lakh high-quality face masks to the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS). KVIC had hit Rs 88,887 crore in turnover for FY2019-20 out of which Khadi saw a 31 percent growth from Rs 3215.13 crore in FY19 to Rs 4211.26 crore in FY20. (Agencies)
