APLF to Launch New Footwear Related Event in India

NEW DELHI, India, June 25 /PRNewswire/ –

It was announced today that a new trade fair initiative in India to be launched by APLF Ltd, FOOTWEAR, MATERIALS MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY (FMM&T) will take place in Delhi in the Spring of 2009.

This new trade fair will be organised in association with the Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA), one of the leading trade associations servicing the US$ 5 billion Indian footwear industry, with the support of other relevant trade associations.

FMM&T will service this major Indian industry, which is encountering a growth of 9-10% per annum. The new fair will create a platform for both Indian and foreign manufacturers to keep abreast of the latest trends in the manufacture of footwear from design through to the finished product. It will also create a bridge between the footwear manufacturers and the component producers targeting this vast Indian footwear market.

The organisers are also planning a number of seminars to augment the trade fair which will be managed by CMP India who have become one of the largest privately owned Trade Fair organizers in the country.

CMP India is part of United Business Media plc, a global business media group with operations in more than 30 countries and over 5,000 employees. It organises some of India’s largest exhibitions including CPhI (the region’s biggest pharmaceutical show), IFSEC (a leading security show), the Embedded Systems Conference (India’s only semiconductor exhibition) and Hotelex India (a leading hospitality show).

The Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers’ Association (IFCOMA) is a duly registered body and the only trade association of Footwear Component Manufacturers in India. It is a non-profit organization managed by a duly elected apex body called the Executive Committee. IFCOMA has been an implementing agency under the National Leather Development Program (a UNDP assisted program of the Govt. of India) and is duly recognized by various ministries of the Government of India and associated institutions.

IFCOMA has members comprising of manufacturers of Soles, Insoles, Lasts, Toe-puffs, Counters, Linings, Interlinings, Adhesives Metallic Fittings, Chemicals & Compounds, Clicking Dies, Eyelets, EVA Sheets & Compounds, Finishes & Polishes Labels, Laces, Boxes, Leather & man-made materials, etc. representing all the major Footwear Manufacturing hub centers spread across India.

IFCOMA’s objectives are to promote the healthy growth of the Indian footwear component industry in the domestic as well export markets also to promote interaction among members for development of products of international quality & standards, in order to address global competition in the new liberal economic environment.

APLF Ltd, a joint venture between CMP Asia and SIC SA, Paris, has organised annually in Hong Kong since 1994, one of the most important leather related Trade Fairs in the world, MATERIALS, MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY (MM&T) and the twice yearly fashion accessories event — the largest of its kind in Asia — FASHION ACCESS which highlights footwear, handbags, travelware and a wide range of fashion accessories sourced from all over the world. For the last three years another APLF event, PRIME SOURCE FORUM, the annual meeting of the global apparel industry, has been collocated with FASHION ACCESS. Additionally, in partnership with the China Leather Industry Association, APLF Ltd organises the annual ALL CHINA LEATHER EXHIBITION in Shanghai.

http://www.aplf.com

‘Worldclass’ footwear studio to start near Chennai

June 26, 2008

Chennai, June 26: The UK-based Pavers Foresight Smart Ventures Limited (PFSV) will set up a world class footwear design development studio at Ambur with an investment of three million US Dollars.

Talking to reporters at the launch of Pavers footwear products in the Indian market, PFSV President and CEO Stuart Paver said the studio would be powered with Pavers worldwide product development and design team in Europe, China and Brazil.

”The studio will be the first of its kind in India and will provide a unique advantage in developing European comfort footwear customised to the needs of Indian customers,” he added.

The studio would be ready in three months.

Mr Paver said PFSV would be entering into a joint venture with Italy’s largest footwear manufacturer to set up a plant in Tamil Nadu. It would have a production capacity of one million units, which would be enhanced to four million units three years later.

He said Pavers footwears were available in 15 stores in India and it would be upped to 50 stores by the end of this calendar year and 100 by the end of this fiscal.

— UNI

Link http://www.newkerala.com

Press Trust of India / Chennai June 26, 2008, 15:49 IST

Mauritius-based Pavers Foresight Smart Ventures today announced setting up a footwear design development studio in Ambur, near here, at a cost of Rs 12 crore.

The studio would come up in three months with focus on European designs, Foresight Smart Ventures Limited President and Chief Executive Stuart Paver told reporters here.

“There has not been much of developing of new designs and own ideas in the footwear industry in India and this studio would therefore focus on new designs,” he said.

The firm is also planning a one million pairs-a-year footwear plant jointly with a top Italian shoemaker, he said.

He said PFSVL was also keen on other sectors such as real estate in India.

“Our joint venture company, Aditya Moda Realtech, is currently building a residential complex in Ghaziabad and has finalised a 1.2 million sq ft Commercial complex, which would be completed by 2012 and have an endline value of $200 million,” Paver said.

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Samsonite set to put best foot forward

Samsonite is planning to diversify in a big way.

India, Nashik, June 23:

“Our vision is to grow beyond travel goods and diversify into other travel-related merchandise,” Subrata Dutta, chief operating officer of Samsonite (Asia Pacific), said.

After launching travel shoes recently, the American luggage major is planning to introduce eyewear and watches next. “The collection could arrive in India in a year,” Dutta said.

Designed by Italian shoe designer Alberto Del Biondi for high-flying business executives, Samsonite travel shoes use a technology that allows the footwear to expand and contract according to the need of the feet during air travel.

Samsonite shoes were introduced in Italy, Germany and Korea before they were launched here.

“We want shoes to be the second pillar of the company. Over the next three years, we see shoes accounting for 25 per cent of our business in India,” Dutta said.

Though shoes at present account for just about 5 per cent of Samsonite’s business, it is planning to spend 50 per cent of its advertisement budget on footwear.

Once Samsonite shoes find a foothold in the Indian market, the company will look to launch more travel-related products here, Dutta said.

The $1-billion company’s twin brands —Samsonite and American Tourister — enjoy a 36 per cent market share in the Rs 950-crore Indian organised luggage industry.

Both brands together witnessed 42 per cent growth during the last year, beating the industry average of 15 per cent, officials said.

With air travel growing at 25 per cent annually, Samsonite expects the demand for its products to remain firm in India. The company also plans to scale up its retail network with more stores across the country.

“We have 180 exclusive retail stores. We would like to take the number up to 250 by the end of 2009,” Dutta said.

Samsonite started its India operations in 1995 as a 60:40 joint venture with the Tainwala family. Its unit in Nashik, the company’s only hard-luggage plant outside Belgium, is Samsonite’s biggest manufacturing facility in the world.

Source: www.telegraphindia.com

link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080624/jsp/business/story_9455390.jsp

News – India

Bata India sells “Hawai” Brand

The ‘Hawai’ brand of slippers, popular in the 1970’s and 80’s has been sold to Brazilian company, Sau Paolo Alparagatas SA for an estimated Rs3.91 cr

Kolkata: Footwear company Bata India Limited has sold its popular mass brand, ‘Hawai’ to Sau Paolo Alparagatas SA, a Brazilian company for an estimated Rs3.91 crore.

PM Sinha, chairman of the company confirmed the news and said that the Hawai brand of slippers were being imitated by numerous local manufacturers and this was the main cause for the decision to sell out.

On account of declining margins on a brand that was a must have for all middle class consumers in the 1970’s and 80’s and stiff competition from local manufacturers and even Chinese imports, the company took the decision of exiting this category of products.

Meanwhile, Bata India has announced the decision to open 240 new stores during the course of three years.

Source: livemint.com