Top 10 Footwear Brands in India

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Top 10 Footwear Brands in India

The footwear industry is a significant contributor to the Indian economy. This industry accounts for approx. 2% of the country’s GDP and employees millions of individuals. To use the ISI mark, footwear companies must get a BIS certificate. This certificate is now a mandatory requirement for most footwear sold in India. 

In this blog post, we’ll provide you with the list of the top 10 footwear brands. Whether you’re planning to buy a new pair of shoes or start your own footwear manufacturing business, this article will help you explore and understand the top brands in Indian footwear industry.

List of Top 10 Footwear Brands in India

 Top 10 Footwear Brands in India

Below, we have provided you with the list of top 10 footwear brands in India. All the brands mentioned in the list have a major presence in the Indian footwear sector:

1. Bata India

Year of Establishment: 1931

Bata India

Bata Corporation is a multinational footwear, apparel and accessories manufacturer and retailer of Czech origin. The company is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1894, by Tomas Bat’a, in the Moravian town of Zlín, Austria-Hungary (today in the Czech Republic). Along with him, his brother Antonin and sister Anna also founded the company. Their family had been cobblers for generations.

Bata has a presence in over 70 countries across the world, and is one of the top 10 shoe brands in India. It has thousands of stores globally, making it a major retailer and manufacturer of shoes. While Bata Corporation is an international footwear company, it has a significant local presence. It is known for adapting its products to meet the demands of regional consumers. 

For instance, it offers affordable school shoes for students in India and winter boots to deal with the cold climate in Canada. The in-house brands of Bata India are Marie Claire, Nine West and Bata Comfit.

2. Relaxo Footwear

Year of Establishment: 1976

Relaxo Footwear

Relaxo Footwear is often regarded as one of the top footwear brands in India. This footwear company was established in 1976. Since then, the company has established itself as a leading manufacturer and retailer in the Indian footwear sector. 

The company commenced operations with a modest ambition and focused on manufacturing quality footwear to serve the diverse needs of Indian consumers. Relaxo is headquartered in Delhi, India. It has expanded its footprint considerably since its establishment.

Relaxo is the second-largest footwear manufacturer in India in terms of revenue. In terms of volume, it is the largest footwear manufacturer in India. The in-house brands of the company are Flite, Sparx, Bahamas and Schoolmate.

3. Woodland India

Year of Establishment: 1992

Woodland India

Woodland is one of the best footwear brands in India. It was founded in Quebec, Canada, and entered the Indian market in 1992. The parent company of Woodland is Aero Group, has been a well known name in the outdoor shoe industry since the early 50s.

In India, the main office of Woodland is located in New Delhi. The shoes manufactured by Woodland are generally made up of genuine leather. They are designed for outdoor adventure, strong durability and grip as well as comfort. 

They are built to withstand demanding conditions and offer style and protection to the customers. They are suitable for adventurous trekking and also for daily wear. Although it is a footwear brand, it also sells a wide range of accessories and apparels. 

4. Campus Activewear

Year of Establishment: 2005

Campus Activewear

Campus Activewear, a leading brand in the footwear sector, was launched as a lifestyle-oriented sports and athleisure brand in 2005. According to sources, although the brand was founded in 2005, the company was incorporated in 2008. In 2021, the company converted to a public ltd company. Its headquarters are located in New Delhi, India.

It is one of the top 10 shoe brands in India, and is known for affordable and durable footwear. By value and volume, Campus Activewear is one of the largest footwear brands in India. 

It offers a wide range of footwear products like slippers, shoes and sandals. It has five manufacturing units and an established presence in the country via exclusive retail distribution.

5. Liberty Shoes

Year of Establishment: 1954

Liberty Shoes

Liberty Shoes is one of the top footwear companies in India. It was established in 1954 by Dharam Pal Gupta, Purshotam Das Gupta, and Rajkumar Bansal. Back then, Liberty Shoes was known as “Pal Boot House”. 

On 3 September 1986, the company was incorporated as a Public Ltd Co under the name Liberty Shoes Limited. Liberty Shoes is one of the most popular footwear brands in India. It is a publicly traded company on both National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange - the two major stock exchanges in India. 

The company has showrooms established not only in India but also overseas. The company began with small operations but now, it is one of the top leather footwear manufacturers in India.

6. Metro Brands

Year of Establishment: 1977

Metro Brands

In 1955, Metro began as a stand-alone store located in Colaba, Mumbai. The store’s name was inspired by the Metro Cinema located nearby. In the month of January in 1977, the company was incorporated as Metro Shoes. The various in-house brands and third party products offered by Metro Brands include Metro Shoes, Mochi Shoes, Clarks, Fila, New Era, Foot Locker, FitFlop, Walkway Shoes, daVinchi and Cheemo. 

The company announced its ability to expand the number of its retail stores due to low rental rates, especially in tier II cities, in 2013. In 2015, Metro entered into a partnership with Crocs to establish exclusive Crocs retail outlets across India. 

In December 2021, the company introduced its initial public offering (IPO) worth Rs. 1,367.5 crore (approximately US$160 million). Later, in March 2023, Metro Brands Limited reinstated Vikas Vijaykumar Khemani as an independent director of the company.

7. Paragon

Year of Establishment: 1975

Paragon

Paragon is one of the top 10 footwear manufacturers in India. It is popular all across India, and its advertisements can often be seen on TVs. The company sells footwear all across the country. While its leading product is rubber footwear, the Paragon brand also provides durable and good quality footwear products made up of Poly-Urethane (PU), Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Thermo Plastic Rubber (TPR) soles. 

The company comprises a special in-house footwear design team that is dedicated to creating new designs and models to serve the demand of consumers in the market. Paragon started in 1975 in Kerala with a daily production capacity of 1,500 pairs. By 1982, after gaining popularity, it expanded to other Indian states. The company now operates through 17 depots across India and works with more than 500 distributors to ensure quick delivery to retail shops nationwide.

It has become one of most trusted footwear brands in India. Today, Paragon produces around 400,000 pairs per day in-house and also outsources production to units in Calicut, Delhi and other locations. This brings total annual production of the company to about 14 crore pairs. Its ISO 9001:2015 certified factories use advanced footwear technology.

8. Adidas India

Year of Establishment: 1996

Adidas India

Adidas India is one the top 10 sports footwear brands in India. It was established in 1996 as Adidas India Private Limited. Its registered office is in Gurugram, Haryana. Adidas India is the Indian arm of the German multinational Adidas - a global leader in sports footwear, apparel and accessories. The founder of Adidas was Adolf Dassler, who founded the company in 1949.

The company markets, sells, and distributes its products to a diverse audience, from athletes to fashion-conscious urban consumers. It sells footwear, sports clothing, accessories and performance gear for men, women and kids. It also sells Adidas Originals, which is a lifestyle brand that sells a wide range of fashion-focused items including iconic streetwear and casual footwear that are different from Adidas's typical performance-oriented sports gear.

In May 2023, Adidas signed a five year agreement with the BCCI to serve as the official kit sponsor for India’s men’s, women’s, and youth cricket teams until March 2028. The partnership gives Adidas exclusive rights to produce match, training, and travel gear.

9. Nike India

Year of Establishment: 2004

Nike India

Nike India Private Limited was established in August 2004, following an earlier licensing agreement that began in 1995. This company is a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of American brand Nike. Nike is one of the top 10 footwear brands in the world, and also one of the top 10 footwear brands in India. 

The Nike brand was established in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman under the name Blue Ribbon Sports. Initially, it operated as a distributor for the Japanese shoe brand Onitsuka Tiger (now known as ASICS), with Knight selling shoes directly from his car. 

In 1971, the company was renamed Nike, Inc., and introduced its iconic Swoosh logo. Apart from footwear, Nike also sells athletic apparel, accessories and sports equipment. It also sells products through its subsidiary brands like Converse and Jordan. 

10. Puma India

Year of Establishment: 2005

Puma India

Puma is one of the top 10 sports shoes brands in India, offering sports footwear for men, women and kids. Puma Sports India Private Limited was incorporated in September 2005, as an Indian subsidiary of Puma. However, the brand finally entered the Indian market in 2006. Even though Puma entered the Indian market later than its competitors like Nike and Adidas, the brand was still successful in creating a strong market presence. 

In today’s time, it is one of the top footwear brands in India. Puma was established in 1948 in Germany by Rudolf Dassler, following his split from his brother Adolf “Adi” Dassler, who later founded Adidas. The two brothers had earlier worked together at the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory but personal and professional conflicts led to their separation. 

This resulted in the creation of two independent companies in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Apart from sports footwear, Puma also sells T-shirts and polo shirts, bags (including backpacks, crossbody bags and totes), gloves, caps, socks, etc. 

Conclusion

In this blog post, we discussed the top 10 footwear brands in India. They are Bata India, Relaxo Footwear, Woodland India, Campus Activewear, Liberty Shoes, Metro Brands, Paragon, Adidas India, Nike India and Puma India.

Want to start a shoe manufacturing business in India? Connect with our experts at Registrationwala for assistance in business registration and ISI mark registration.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author’s personal opinion and may or may not represent views of the general public, institutions or organizations.

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