The Indian Government has greenlit the establishment of a state-of-the-art design studio and a leather fashion training centre at the Kanpur Leather Cluster (KLC) complex in Unnao, offering a major boost to the area’s tannery industry. Supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Exim Bank of India, this initiative, promises to be a game-changer for the region’s leather sector.
Kanpur Leather Cluster to empower 2 lakh families
Currently employing nearly two lakh families with an annual turnover of ₹9,000 crore, the leather cluster will benefit from cutting-edge technology including Shoe Master Software, CAD CAM, 3D printers, and material scanners. The studio will collaborate with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Raebareli to offer six-month diploma courses in Fashion Design and Production, equipping local youth with the skills required to meet industry needs.
This initiative seeks to empower more than 2,500 MSME units by offering local access to cutting-edge design resources and training. Rajendra Kumar Jalan, National President of the Leather Export Council, highlights that this will eliminate their reliance on design centres in Chennai, Mumbai, and other cities.
With this development, Kanpur’s leather industry is set to boost its domestic and export potential, creating new opportunities for local designers and manufacturers.
