Footwear Technology : Am Amazing Career Option

Making of good footwear requires sophisticated machinery and technically skilled professionals who must be competent to handle all the processes related to shoe making.

The work :
The work in the footwear industry can bebroadly divided into three categories: designing, manufacturing and marketing.

Design involves creating new patterns and styling the older footwear ; this process utilize computer-aided design system and also involves developing and grading of patterns.

Manufacturing means everythingfrom preparing the raw materials for use to cutting, stitching and adding the finishing touches to the footwear. It is a highly mechanised process handled by skilled technical managers.

Marketing involves selling the various types of footwear. This in turn, calls for knowledge of both the domestic as well as the international market. People in this area organise shoe fares and exhibition and marketing managers work with advertising agencies to work out marketing strategies.

Footwear specialist can be employed bas managers in the production of marketing fields or as supervisors in the factories. Those with a flair for designing can choose to work as footwear designers while the technicians can work with the actual making of the footwear.

Education and skills-
Both degree and diploma courses are available in footwear technology. Eligibility is 10+2 with Science subjects.

BTech in footwear technology is a 3 years course. During the first four common semester the emphasis is given on concept and skill building in various areas of design, manufacturing, technology and developing of the overall personality. In the final year students are offered specialisation in production technology or specialisation in design/ merchandising. Option of the specialisation is given on the basis of their performance and aptitude.

Key skills:

• Capability to work for long hours and meet all deadlines.

• Creative and good at visual conceptualization

• Imaginative and innovative

• Dexterity, hardwork and dedication are key requirements for those in the manufacturing segments.

Job prospects :

Footwear professionals may work in domestic companies like Bata, Lakhani, Action and Liberty or in multinational companies like Nike, Reebok, Woodland and Lee Cooper. Major production centres located in various cities in TamilNadu, Mumbai, Jalandhar, Agra and Delhi. One can also start business on one's own. Owing to rapid strides by fashion and footwear industry, footwear technology has emerged as an exciting career option. The export industry is also picking up and is planning to reach 400 million pairs in the next 5 years! So there are ample employment opportunities in the field of footwear technology, footwear manufacturing, trading, retail, wholesale and import or export industry both in India and abroad.