Leather and Footwear in India
Bata, Relaxo and Indian Shoe Brands
How Bata built a vast Indian footwear business from the 1930s, how Relaxo, Campus and Liberty grew, and how brands compete at different price points.
India’s footwear market has strong brands.
Bata
- Bata, founded in Czechoslovakia, set up in India in the 1930s, building a factory town called Batanagar near Kolkata.
- Bata became so common that many Indians assumed it was Indian.
Indian brands
- Relaxo: affordable slippers and casual footwear (Sparx, Flite).
- Campus: sports shoes for young buyers.
- Liberty: leather and casual shoes.
- Khadim’s, Metro Brands and Mochi in retail.
Price segments
- Mass market: slippers and basic shoes.
- Mid-market sneakers.
- Premium global brands like Nike and Adidas.
Competition
- D2C online brands.
- Unorganised local makers.
Rising incomes
As incomes rise, Indians buy more pairs and higher-priced shoes, boosting the market.
The Bata town
Batanagar, near Kolkata, was built as a company town with housing and schools for workers at Bata's factory from the 1930s.
Thinking Bata is an Indian company
It's a multinational founded in Czechoslovakia, with deep Indian roots.
Key takeaways
- Bata set up in India in the 1930s.
- Relaxo, Campus and Liberty are major Indian brands.
- Brands compete across mass, mid and premium segments.
- Rising incomes boost footwear demand.
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