V Muthukumaran, Global Business Head, Leather Products, Tata International Limited is the new president of the Indian Shoe Federation (ISF).

Established in 1992, ISF has many leading manufacturers and exporters of footwear and footwear components from India as its members. The Federation is committed to promoting the growth of the Indian footwear industry through the adoption of modern, transparent and superior industry practices.

India is the second largest footwear producer in the world with nine per cent of the global annual production. China produces over 60 per cent of the global production. From a basic need-based industry to an indispensable part of the overall fashion market, the Indian footwear industry has come a long way. Cluster development activities in the footwear industry has given a major boost to private capital flow in the organized segment and enhanced the capacity to keep pace with future growth prospects. Athleisure footwear is picking up very fast because of aspirational consumers and the trend is not confined to metros but small cities are generating equal traction. There has been an incremental rise in women’s per capita expenditure. So manufacturers and retailers are increasingly focusing on women’s footwear. Moreover, there is a growing number of women at workplaces and high disposable incomes.