§1What this business is
Chrome-tanned split leather is cut to standard sizes (24×36, 40×60, 60×90 and 90×110 inches and others), stitched on industrial sewing machines and fitted with straps. KVIC says the aprons are widely used in industries, defence and railways, with scope for export.
Capacity: 74,000 aprons a year.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone with links to factories, safety-equipment dealers or government tenders.
Who it is not for
Someone who wants retail customers — this is a bulk B2B product.
Advantages
- Steady industrial demand for safety wear
- Bulk buyers: factories, defence and railways
- Low machinery cost
- Simple stitching process
Drawbacks
- Margin is thin against the raw-material bill
- Tenders and bulk buyers pay late
- Leather prices swing
- Synthetic aprons compete
Skills you need
- Leather cutting to reduce waste
- Industrial sewing
- Tendering and bulk sales
- Leather grading
Why difficulty 2/5: Simple stitching; the work is in winning bulk orders.
§3Market
Who buys
- Factories and workshops (welding, foundry, forging)
- Defence establishments
- Railways
How it sells
- Industrial safety-equipment dealers
- Government tenders
- Direct supply to factories
Good to know
- KVIC sees good scope for ancillary supply to Indian industry and for export.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flat-bed single-needle industrial sewing machine | As listed | — |
| Cylinder-bed single-needle industrial sewing machine | As listed | — |
| Tools, office equipment, workshop furniture and fixtures | 1 lot | — |
| Total equipment | 1 lot | ₹1,75,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Leather Aprons (PMEGP)
- Chrome-tanned split leatherchosen for low cost, strength and softness; ₹50.00 lakh of raw material a year in the profile
- Thread, straps, bucklesfor stitching and fastening
- Labels and packing material₹75,000 a year in the profile
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST
- Trade licence
- IEC for export
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
PMEGP fits; MUDRA up to ₹20 L; CGTMSE for collateral-free loans; Stand-Up India for SC/ST or women owners (₹10 L and above).
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: equipment ₹1.75 L (flat-bed and cylinder-bed single-needle industrial sewing machines, tools, office equipment, workshop furniture) + working capital ₹9.50 L = ₹11.25 L. Rented shed, own land.
Working capital: Working capital ₹9.50 L; raw material ₹50.00 L a year.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: CLE
- CLE (Council for Leather Exports) covers leather products.
- Exports need an IEC from DGFT.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Leather price rises
- Payment delays from institutions
- Losing tenders on price
- Rejects for size or stitching
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working leather apron making unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Leather Apron Making?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.