DIPP to promote home grown leather brands to compete with the international brands

Indian government is all set to give home grown leather brands like Woodland, Red Tape, Hidesign a marketing and promotional fillip to compete with Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Salvatore Ferragamo of the world through a new scheme.

A senior government official said, "We will provide funds and facilitate through other possible means to take these brands across the globe. There is no reason why India cannot produce the next big luxury leather brand and grow from simply being a contract manufacturer."

Leather is one of the focus sectors under the Make in India initiative with exports in the sector projected to grow at 25 per cent per annum over the next five years.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is interacting with the private players in the sector to finalise the scheme.

Brands would be able to access overseas markets through global exhibitions, trade fairs without having to set up their own individual offices abroad.

Harkirat Singh, Managing Director, Woodland India, said, "India should become an exporter of brands and not just of material in the leather sector...countries like China are pushing their brands. It is a collective effort of the government and private labels."

DIPP is also in talks with the global luxury brands to encourage them to set up manufacturing units in India.