Leather Goods Exporters Eye Bigger Slice of US Pie.

Having emerged as a strong sourcing hub for several Europe-based global brands, Indian leather garments and goods industry has set its eyes on the US to attract more buyers and investments from the world’s largest market for leather garments and leather goods and accessories.

In 2010-11, the US was the fourth largest importer of leather & leather products from India, accounting for 8.72 per cent of India’s total leather & leather products export trade. Country’s total leather exports to the US stood at $335 million in 2010-11. While India has been increasing its exports of garments and leather goods to the US, its present share is just about 5 per cent of the US’s total import of leather garments and leather accessories. Export of leather garments to the US was $21.39 million and leather goods $154.55 million in 2010-11.

Though Indian leather exports have been supplying to some major US brands such as Pierre Cardin, Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, DKNY, Hugo boss, Liz Claiborne, Ann Taylor, Nautica, Kenneth Cole, and Daniel Hector, as well as retail giants like Wal-Mart, the industry sees great opportunities to enhance its share in that country. With its formidable combination of quality craftsmanship and competitive pricing through international manufacturing skills, Indian leather garment and goods makers are boosting their marketing activities through a slew of government-supported initiatives.

About 40 leading Indian manufacturers of leather garments and goods for global brands are to showcase their fashionable and eye-catching leather goods and accessories such as handbags, purses, wallets, portfolios, belts, gloves, among others and leather garments such as men’s and women’s jackets and other fashion wear at a buyer-seller event in New York on October 12 and 13.

“The US is a large importer of leather garments and goods accessories and a big opportunity for Indian firms. With the support of government, we have been stepping up our marketing efforts to further improve our business and share in their imports,” M Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman of Council for Leather Exports (CLE) told Financial Chronicle. Currently about 18 countries, mostly in Europe as well as the US, make up about 94 per cent of India’s total leather garments exports. India is the second largest producer of leather garments, next only to China, which produces 70 million pieces of the total global trade volume of about 120 million pieces.

Source : mydigitalfc.com