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 A²õ one of the largest footwear-producing markets in the world, this consumer segment in India thrived on a large share volume of what is called casual footwear at over ** percent as of 2017. While the sectors were primarily categorized into men’s, women’s, and kids’ footwear, the retailers were dominated by the unorganized players.  

Indian footwear market

With a market share of about ** percent, apparel and footwear came second after food and grocery in the retail industry in India. The footwear market in the country was valued at nearly 17 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, fourth worldwide. A majority of these were consumed domestically, and the remaining were exported to the United States and countries in the European Union.  

Indian footwear retailers

Over the years, footwear has evolved from a basic need to an indicator of fashion and style. In this context, it is a vital part of the fashion industry along with apparel, accessories, and jewelry. One of the earliest retailers of footwear in India was Bata, often synonymous with casual footwear, reflecting the popularity of this originally Czech brand. Metro and Liberty were among domestic retailers that offered the most, if not the entire range of footwear. With the expansion of the sports segment, billion-dollar foreign players, including Reebok, Nike, and Adidas, entered the Indian market in the late 1990s. In recent years, the rise of e-commerce has increased the purchase of footwear online.