The Hindu : Business : Kozhikode emerges footwear hub

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 30, 2007
ePaper

Business

Business

Kozhikode emerges footwear hub

Staff Reporter

Companies adopt modern techniques

KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode district is emerging as a major centre in the manufacture of rubber- and PVC-based footwear with the induction of state-of-the-art technology and value-added products by unit-holders in the industry.

Though often behind their competitors in Delhi and Punjab, often regarded as the headquarters of footwear trade, manufacturers here have been quick to catch up with modern techniques and install the latest machinery.

With an eye on the international market, especially through West Asian countries, manufacturers are optimistic of being able to corner at least a small chunk of the trade that is now the hegemony of China. (China accounts for 60 per cent of world footwear trade and India, 6 per cent).

Use of technology

Technologies, such as, air injection, EVA (ethelene vinyl acetale) and PU (poly urethane) have enabled showcasing of a variety of products that are light-weight, attractive and acceptable to consumers, says V. Naushad, director of VKC Group.

“We started with rubber-based hawai footwear in the mid eighties when manufacturers in Delhi and Punjab had the hold over the market in the South. Soon, we shifted to reprocessed PVC and imported technology to manufacture the Califer brand footwear products that are highly suitable for the weather conditions in Kerala,” Mr. Naushad said.

Launching value-added products such as preventive diabetes footwear and children’s sandals has been the initiative of Paul Varghese, MD of Leader Rubber Industries. They have been specialising in rubber-based products.

The unit’s ‘Hawalkar Zori’ brand is to hit the market shortly.

There are close to 150 PVC footwear manufacturing units and 40 rubber-based units in Kozhikode.

Fischer managing director Jose Joseph, who shifted to PVC from rubber, points out the positive as well as the negative aspects of the concentration of the industry in one centre.

“The advantage is that Delhi-based machinery suppliers have set up service centres in the city, and we do not have to wait indefinitely for maintenance. But marketing could pose problems,” he says.

In the last one year, footwear manufactured here has been able to make its presence felt in the South besides having a sizable domestic market that was earlier controlled by producers in the North.

Footwear units

Footwear units sprung up in Kozhikode when match industries had to close down in the mid-eighties. Many of these units were converted to footwear units.

The Kozhikode district committee of the Kerala State Small Industries Association had conducted a programme with a view to help footwear producers.

Efforts are also on to set up the Footwear Design and Development Centre here so that funds from the Centre for such initiatives can be availed.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Business