The story
Kolhapuri chappals have been made by Chambhar (leather-worker) families of Kolhapur and nearby districts for centuries, using vegetable-tanned buffalo leather and no nails. In the early 1900s Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj encouraged the craft and set up tanning and training centres. The chappals are sold in Kolhapur's chappal lines and across India, and are exported. In 2018 the Kolhapuri chappal got GI status covering districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
In numbers
The Chappal Cluster, Kolhapur (SPV: Kolhapur Charmodyog Samuha) had 70 functional units and employment of 350; average investment in plant and machinery was Rs 1 lakh per unit.
Brief Industrial Profile of Kolhapur District, MSME-DI (Ministry of MSME) · 2012Kolhapuri Chappal is a registered GI for India (Karnataka & Maharashtra), Application No. 169, Certificate No. 329 dated 11-12-2018.
GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 169, Kolhapuri Chappal · 2018MIDC lists a tripartite agreement between the Kolhapuri Chappal Cluster, Shivaji University, Kolhapur and the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai.
MIDC focus sector – Leather & Footwear · 2026
GI tag
- Kolhapuri ChappalApplication no. GI Application No. 169, Certificate No. 329 (11-12-2018)GI Registry (IP India) – Application No. 169, Kolhapuri Chappal
Ways in for a newcomer
- Online brand of genuine GI-tagged Kolhapuris with artisan stories
- Export and fashion collaborations (designer and brand tie-ups)
- Supply of vegetable-tanned leather and soles to artisans
- Design upgrades: cushioned soles, women's and kids' ranges
Problems the cluster faces
- Cheap machine-made and rubber copies sold as 'Kolhapuri'
- Rising price and short supply of vegetable-tanned leather
- Young people leaving the craft
- Little use of the GI tag in marketing so far
Businesses to start here
Footwear & Leather Goods Unit →Handmade Shoe Making and Repair →Leather Sandals with PU Sole →Finished Shoe-Upper Leather Tannery →