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, Salvatore Ferragamo of the world through a new scheme.

“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,” a senior government official said.

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.

“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,” said Harkirat Singh, Managing Director, Woodland India.

DIPP is also in talks with the global luxury brands to encourage them to set up manufacturing units in India. With one of the world’s largest stock of cattle, India gets access to abundant raw material for the industry. 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.

Source: Economic Times