§1What this business is
Leather straps and split linings are cut, skived, pasted and stitched; buckles are fixed with rivets; uppers are lasted over a PVC insole and cemented to ready PU soles with mock welts. KVIC says sandals stay on the foot in crowded buses and trains, and sell well in India and hot-climate countries.
Capacity: 72,000 pairs a year of gents' sandals.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An experienced footwear maker who can rework the costing and has dealer outlets.
Who it is not for
A first-time founder relying on this profile's numbers.
Advantages
- Footwear is a daily need
- Ready PU soles cut out several steps
- Demand in India and hot-climate export markets
- Clusters supply skilled workers and components
Drawbacks
- The KVIC profile shows a loss at every capacity level
- Large working capital (₹16.56 L)
- Branded and Chinese footwear compete hard
- BIS rules for footwear apply
Skills you need
- Upper cutting and skiving
- Lasting and sole cementing
- Footwear sizing and quality
- Dealer sales
Why difficulty 3/5: Known process, but the profile's own numbers do not make a profit.
§3Market
Who buys
- Men in cities and towns
- Footwear retailers
- Importers in hot-climate countries
How it sells
- Footwear dealers and shops
- Wholesale footwear markets
- Export orders
Good to know
- KVIC names Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore as big city markets for sandals.
- The profile sells the year's 72,000 pairs for ₹27.36 lakh.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flat-bed single-needle stitching machine with 0.33 HP motor | 3 | — |
| Strap cutting machine, 0.5 HP motor | 1 | — |
| Upper leather skiving machine with table and stand | 1 | — |
| Hand-operated strap folding machine | 1 | — |
| Buffing and roughening machine | 1 | — |
| Polishing machine | 1 | — |
| Sole cementing press, 4-bed, with air compressor | 1 | — |
| Trademark embossing | 1 | — |
| Total equipment | 1 lot | ₹5,65,400 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Leather Sandal with P.U. Sole (PMEGP)
- Upper leather and split lining leatherfor straps and linings
- Ready-made PU soles and synthetic (PVC) insolesPU is more durable and saves operations
- Latex or rubber solution and adhesivefor pasting and sole cementing
- Buckles, rivets and mock weltsfittings
- All raw material₹16.56 lakh a year in the profile
From: KVIC Project Profile — Leather Sandal with P.U. Sole (PMEGP)
Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar
Central Footwear Training Institute, Agra · Agra →Central Footwear Training Institute, Chennai · Chennai →Alison Singh and Co · Agra →Atlas Trading Corporation · Delhi →Bengal Tanning Company · Kolkata →Benson Industries · Howrah →Bharani Agencies · Chennai →Chemet · Mumbai →Footform · Kolkata →Indian Leather Machines · Mumbai →Kohinoor Leather Co · Kolkata →Modern Leather Stores · Kolkata →
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST
- BIS certification under the footwear Quality Control Orders — check the current dates and any relief for micro units
- Trade licence
- IEC for export
- Trademark for your brand (optional)
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
PMEGP fits on paper, but the bank will need a viable plan — fix the costing first. CGTMSE for collateral-free loans; Stand-Up India for SC/ST or women owners.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: rented work shed ₹60,000 + equipment ₹5.65 L (stitching machines, strap cutter, skiving machine, strap folder, buffing and roughening machine, polishing machine, 4-bed sole cementing press with compressor, trademark embossing) + working capital ₹16.56 L = ₹22.81 L.
Working capital: Working capital ₹16.56 L — the same figure as the year's raw material.
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 footwear.
- Exports need an IEC from DGFT.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Loss-making as costed
- Leather and PU sole price swings
- Unsold sizes and designs
- Compliance with footwear standards
§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 sandals with pu sole 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 Sandals with PU Sole?
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.