Courses in Footwear Design

Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) (A-10 A, Sector 24, Noida-201301, U P): The FDDI sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce (Government of India) has emerged as a premier institute imparting specialized training in footwear designing. FDDI has also developed over a dozen independent units within its campus to manufacture footwear components. Recently, the institution received assistance in terms of foreign experts, state-of-the-art equipment, sophisticated chemical laboratory and overseas training of Indian experts.

FDDI also has an International Testing Centre which provide a wide range of testing services for leather, plastic footwear, textiles, paints and sports goods. It has three programmes: (i) Management in Footwear Technology (MFT). Eligibility: Post-graduation in any discipline or engineering degree, (ii) Higher Diploma in Footwear Technology (HDFT). Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline or engineering diploma. The course is accredited by the Textile Institute, London; (iii) Diploma in Footwear Designing (DFD). Eligibility: Graduation in any discipline or BFA. All the courses are of 18 months duration.

Central Leather Research Institute, (CLRI) (Adyar, Chennai-600020): The CLRI is one of the research laboratories of the Council off Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) involved in research in leather technology. In order to provide qualified manpower for leather industry it h as instituted five training programmes at the certificate, diploma, and postgraduate diploma levels.

While two are in the area of leather technology (leather processing), the other three are in the field of leather product design: (i) Certificate Courses in Footwear/Leather Goods/Leather Garments conducted both at Indian Institute of Leather Products (Chennai), and CLRI Centres at Chennai, Calcutta, Jalandhar and Mumbai. Duration: 26 weeks. Eligibility: 55% in SSLC examination, (ii) Diploma Courses in Leather Goods/Leather Garments at CLRI Centres (Chennai, Calcutta and Jalandhar). Duration: 40 weeks. Eligibility: 55% in 10+2 level examination and (iii) Diploma Course in Footwear at CLRI (Chennai). Duration: 52 weeks. Eligibility: 55% in 10+2 level examination.

Central Footwear Training Institute (65/1, GST Road, Guindy, Chennai-600032 and Vikas Sheel Bharat Compound, Transport Nagar, Agra-282001). CFTI was established by the Ministry of Industry. Both the branches offer diploma in footwear design and production in collaboration with the Textile Institute, London. Duration: two years. Eligibility: a pass in 10+2 examination, preferably having one-year practical experience or sponsored by registered small scale industries footwear units. The upper age limit is 25 years.

Indian Institute of Leather Products (102 Mangalapuram, SIDCO Industrial Estate, Behind NEPC, Ambattur, Chennai-600098). Apart from the Certificate Course in Footwear conducted in collaboration with Central Leather Research Institute, it offers four other courses independently: (i) Diploma in Footwear Technology (12 months), (ii) Diploma in Garments Manufacture (10 months),(iii) Diploma in Leather Goods Manufacture (10 months). All the three courses are open to candidates who have passed 10+2 examination. The fourth course, Postgraduate Diploma in Footwear Technology is of 15 months duration.