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Leather Business

Leather goods and garments are big business all over the world. These are being manufactured and exported by India and the Indian leather industry is poised to take the international markets by storm.A decade ago fashion in leather garments in India was unheard of. If one wanted a good leather jacket one had to make a trip to the West or Far East. All this has now changed quite drastically. All over the world leather and its products are big business and joining the race are Indian manufacturers of leather garments and goods.

There are two treatments for leather that are used in India. One is the chrome tanned leather and the other is with vegetable extracts which has a more rough and tough image. Aniline dyes are used in both cases to obtain a rich look. Leather is sold at per square foot. The approximate price for a top quality full chrome finish leather is at Rs. 33-40 per square foot, for a second quality at Rs. 27-30 per square foot. Wallets, belts etc are made from superior rejection pieces which are priced at Rs. 16-21 per square foot. The aniline finish is very soft leather which is ideal for top quality garments and has an excellent drape and sells at Rs. 39-45 per square foot. The waxy finish with very little pigment and more natural dyeing also sells a the same price.. Besides the pencil skirt the multipanelled skirt fitted at the hips, is the look of the day. The mobike jackets are big hits with the younger generation with their multiple zips and buttons. For the very high fashion minded there are leather trousers but these are only useful in very cold weather like the north of India. Dresses are simple on silhouette but ornate with sequins or appliqués. The oversized poncho or cape coat is “very popular with a soft rolled collar,” adds Sabharwal. The finish of the leather is so soft that it almost resembles fabric from distance. “Also the colours available are mindboggling-right from black and white to red, green, maroon, rust, chocolate, tan, and deep purple. You name it and it is available for garments. “The leather most favoured for garments is sheep or lamb napa in an aniline finish.

While Europe prefers the very high fashion leather garments that are exclusive, USA goes in for medium price jackets and skirts in leather. As far as styling goes, Italy, France and Germany are the countries where leather styles for garments originate. But India is where they are all fabricated. “If a style is created in January in Europe it will be in production in February in India,” informs Sabharwal. Pricewise, leather garments are very competitive with export prices for jackets ranging from Rs 1600/- to 2500/-, for mobike jackets Rs. 1200/- to 1600/- and skirts Rs. 425/- to 750/-. Indian leather products manufacturers frequent international fairs like the International Leather Fair in Hong Kong, International Men’s Fashion Week, Cologne, Germany, Magic Show, Las Vagas, USA; NAMSB Show New York, USA; Buyers-Sellers meet in Japan and South Korea besides taking part in Indian leather fairs in Madras.

The very encouraging performance of the leather industry has persuaded the Leather Council to propose an export target of Rs. 2600/- crores for 1990/1991 as against Rs. 2000/- crores originally proposed in the eighth plan This should be possible since the number of leather goods manufacturers have increased from 3063 in 1988/89 to 3848 in 1989/90 with nearly 100 units all over India manufacturing items.