Unique Khadi footwear launched

Union Minister for MSME, Shri Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first-ever high quality Khadi Fabric Footwear, designed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The footwears are made of Khadi fabric like Silk, Cotton and Wool. Shri Gadkari also launched the online sale of Khadi footwear through KVIC’s e-portal www.khadiindia.gov.in.

Highlights

    • Khadi fabric footwear is a unique products had high potential of capturing the international market.

    • Such footwears are cost effective, environment-friendly and skin-friendly.

    • At the same time, it would create additional employment and higher income for our artisans.

    • KVIC is planning to develop alternatives to leather accessories like ladies’ handbags, purses, wallet in handcrafted Khadi fabric that has a huge potential in foreign markets.

    • It is calculated that by developing and marketing such products overseas, Khadi India can capture a market worth Rs 5000 crore.

    • Currently, the footwear has been launched in 15 designs for ladies and 10 designs for men.

    • Exquisite Khadi products like Patola Silk of Gujarat, Banarasi Silk, Madhubani-printed Silk of Bihar, Khadi Denim, Tussar Silk, Matka - Katia Silk, a variety of Cotton fabric, Tweed Wool and Khadi Poly Vastra have been used to make th footwear unique and trendy.

    • Available in a wide range of designs, colors and prints, the footwear have been designed to suit clothing for all purposes - formal, casual and festive occasions ranging from Rs 1100 to Rs 3300 per pair. 

    • Idea behind launching Khadi Fabric Footwear is to tap the international market where a large section of international consumer is increasingly going vegan and hence, Khadi will become a preferred choice of this segment.

    • Using fine fabric like Cotton, Silk and Wool in footwear will lead to higher production of fabric by artisans as well as increase in its consumption.

    • The size of Indian footwear industry is approx. Rs 50,000 crore which includes exports worth nearly Rs 18,000 crore. KVIC's initial target is to capture at least 2% of this Industry that is estimated to be around Rs 1000 crore.

    • This launch coincides with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Local to Global”.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)