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Interview with Mr Rajeev Lakhara

Mr Rajeev Lakhara
Mr Rajeev Lakhara
Managing Director
Footwear Design & Development Institute - Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt of India.
Footwear Design & Development Institute  - Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt of India.

Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), is a society registered under the Societies Act, 1860, sponsored and set up by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India with an objective to train and develop professional manpower for the industry. Rated among top fashion and retail institutions in the world, it is recognized as a centre of excellence conducting wide range of long and short term programmes in Retail Management, Fashion, Footwear Design, Technology, Management, Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, Creative Designing & CAD/CAM, Leather Goods & Accessories Design etc. It is first institute in the world to get prestigious ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification. FDDI has a distinct presence not only in higher education but also offers Industrial Consultancy, Training for industry personnel and conducting Research and Development. Mr Rajeev Lakhara, Managing Director, FDDI, is an Indian Revenue Service cadre officer of 1992 batch. He has completed BE (Civil Engineering) from Regional Engineering College, Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir). His distinguished career spans over 15 successful years that includes responsibilities as the Joint Commissioner/Joint Director (Investigation), Income Tax Department prior to joining FDDI. His customer centric focus and leadership has helped drive the rapid and overall growth of this two-decade old institute, including setting up of its International Testing Center (ITC) having full-fledged Chemical and Physical testing facilities. ITC serves not only footwear & leather industry but also automotive, plastic, glass & textile industries in testing various substances, components and goods. He has grand visions about turning FDDI as a truly world class organization in terms of enhancing its technical capability and establishing modern facilities, while helping micro-entrepreneurs and artisans to benefit from emerging opportunities. Mr Rajeev Lakhara explains to Face2Face team the role of FDDI and the yeoman services it offers.

How does FDDI justify its role as a leading educational institution in the field of leather, fashion and retail sectors?

Footwear Design & Development Institute popularly known as ‘FDDI’ is rated among the premier fashion institutions in the world. It is widely recognized as a centre of excellence. The institute conducts job oriented professional programmes through:

Centre for Retail Management (CRM) Centre for Footwear Design & Technology (CFDT) Centre for Leather Goods & Accessories Design (CLGAD)

FDDI has sprawling modern structure with excellent facilities, highly qualified and trained staff, visiting faculty including top professionals from industry and every other resource required for making the institute number one in the world. FDDI also provides its students and faculty with Wi-Fi Internet connectivity. The entire campus is wireless and offering all-round Wi-Fi Internet access to students and faculty.

The institute's rigorous training programmes are focused on creativity, innovation, leadership, teamwork and the global business climate is reflected in its record of 100 percent placement for all its graduates. FDDI has always enjoyed special preference from Indian as well as foreign employers on account of its excellent performance sustained over a long period of time and its strong brand image.

FDDI alumni include VP’s and CEO’s of some of the renowned companies. FDDI students have been able to get global placement in countries like USA, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, Egypt, China, Singapore, UK, Middle East, Sri Lanka, Kenya etc.

 

What are the challenges and lacunae faced by the sector that impediments this vision of yours?

Being a noticeable player in the world footwear and leather market with exports growing at 8 percent, the Indian footwear and leather industry has its shortcomings in the manufacturing segment, which lacks high-value investment. Coupled with this is the lack of training facilities to build a large base of skilled workers and artisans.

Some bottlenecks, affecting this industry are:
  • Lack of fresh investments to augment tanning capacities.
  • Lack of adequate foreign investment in Footwear manufacture.
  • Lack of a strong component industry.
  • Lack of adequate facilities for design and product development.
  • Lack of image promotion for the Indian products, abroad.
  • Lack of branded products that are able to compete in the global market.
  • Lack of eco-friendly attitude (Foreigners are very much concerned about these things).
  • Dearth of trained and skilled manpower in the domestic industry.
  • Not following the specifications, as per the requirements of the buyer.
  • Absence of proper marketing personnel and strategy.
  • Apart from the above mentioned issues, taxes on machinery and inputs need to be rationalized and key fiscal issues to be addressed like excise duty and CVD exemption on machinery and equipment, lowering import duty on spare parts to 5 percent, central excise exemption on spare parts and removal of CVD on vegetable tanning extracts.

    What potential do you read of the leather and footwear sector from fashion and branding point of view in the coming years?

    The outlook for the sector is positive. However, the industry will need to build strong country brands in footwear and finished goods sector to promote image building and competitiveness.

    Due to anti-dumping measures adopted by the European countries, there are huge opportunities for the Indian industry to respond to the challenges and demands, which may grow manifold.

    The US companies, such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target Metro are looking for entrepreneurs /suppliers with large economies of scales. But, inadequate facilities do not give them the confidence to shift their base from China to India.

    In the coming years, from fashion and branding point of view of the leather and footwear sector the potential lies in:

  • Favourable Raw Material Base: India is the largest livestock holding country, 21percent large animals and 11percent small animals.
  • Large and low cost labour force: About 2.50 million workforce (30 percent women)
  • Comprehensive product range: Capabilities in all categories: footwear, garments, leather goods, saddlery.
  • Social Accountability: Child labour legislation and adequate working conditions.
  • Are there any plans for online education or partnering foreign educational institutions offering in-house training or research facilities?

    FDDI & Pruf- und Forschungsinstitute Pirmasens e.V (PFI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for acquiring a long term collaboration and alliance with each other for exchange of technical know-how for their laboratory and research work with a view to maintain a common standard in FDDI and PFI Laboratories.

    PFI, Germany is an organization engaged in the field of quality control, testing, certification and research for footwear and components and other related fields.

    To facilitate the working professionals of the footwear industry & to extend the benefit of formal training programmes to far off places, FDDI has tied up with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for offering professional programmes through Distance Learning Mode.

    FDDI with IGNOU has started the short-term Distance Learning Certificate Programmes with a focus to create an intellectual and a complete professional through in-depth training & updated course curriculum.

    FDDI & IGNOU is offering three certificate programmes in Footwear Technology:- 1. Certificate in Shoe Upper Cutting (CSUC) 2. Certificate in Shoe Upper Stitching (CSUS) 3. Certificate in Shoe Lasting & Finishing (CSLF)

    The various departments for which the programmes are made are Cutting, Stitching, Lasting and Finishing & admissions to these certificates programme of the University are open throughout the year as per the academic calendar. The duration of these programmes are six months.

    These certificate programmes have been designed to provide the know-how and skills needed to work as a worker/operator, supervisor, and engineer in Footwear industry. It will train to provide effective and efficient services to the learners in these footwear sectors. These are highly skill-oriented programmes and involve intensive practical work.

    FDDI proposes to have tie-ups with some of the overseas institutions and industrial establishments. The future students of this institute will compulsorily have to visit business institutions and industrial establishments abroad for acquiring adequate global exposure, being especially the benchmark of the global visions of FDDI Centre for Retail.

    What are your views on the prevalent state of artisans, their skills/ talent and infrastructural facilities available within India?

    The artisans of footwear sector are similar to craftsmen and artisans of other sectors that are gaining a niche in domestic market. Inspite of excellence in skill, potential of exports, measures taken by the Government to improve their socio-economic conditions, they are mired in poverty and subject to exploitative structure.

    Production is organized as family enterprise. Male members of the family are engaged in process like cutting, stitching, sole pasting, etc. while women do embroidery and children also help in production process. Artisans are not exposed to domestic market outside.

    For the artisans, FDDI organizes various Entrepreneurship Development Programme/workshop at various parts of the country in which artisans participates. During the Entrepreneurship Development Programme/workshop, participants are informed about the various aspects of leather products making. The participants acquire knowledge on various sizing systems, its conversion from one system to another, optimization in cutting of leather, on designing, on finishing and ascertaining product prices with rationalized ways of costing.

    In order to ensure sustainability of the initiatives and ownership of the artisan group, a society named Society for Marketing of Artisan and Rural Things (SMART) has been formed. A display center for ethnic footwear has also been constructed at FDDI, which is helping to meet the most pressing need of this sector and mainstream the product in domestic and international market.

    A website with e-commerce facility has been setup and is available under the URL: www.mojari.com, which is providing the artisan households exposure to collective manufacturing, marketing in the strong niche urban markets.

    FDDI is also training workers and artisan involved in the making of footwear in SME’s and village clusters under the `Human Resource Development’ (HRD) Mission scheme of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.

    Under the scheme FDDI has trained artisans/ SME from Saharanpur, Jaipur, Alwar, Patiala, Abohar, Fazialka, Muktsar, Malot etc. The artisans have been distributed handouts in Hindi and local language prepared specially for the workers working under HRD Mission in a very simple and easily understandable manner. Tools kit specially designed for the artisans of cluster pertaining to their skill area was given after the completion of the training program.

    The training program has been designed in a manner that the trainers visit the units /households for imparting the training to the workers and the artisans.

    What is the potential today for the leather fashion design, technology and management sectors in India?

    Time has experienced innumerable changes in the economic landscape of the country. From protection, India has gradually moved towards open markets. It aims to become a vibrant global economic factor.

    The post liberalization era has opened up a plethora of opportunities for the Indian leather industry. With global players looking for new sourcing options (in addition to China), India stands to gain a bigger share of the global market. Leading brands from the US and Europe are planning to source leather and leather products from India.

    Prospects for fashion design are pretty good, thanks to the huge and still growing demand for 'designer wear' and the equally large volume of exports.

    However as compared to the UK , which boasts of over 150,000 designers or China and Taiwan, which have a population of over 1lakh designers each, India has only around 1,500 – 2000 skilled designers.

    There are only a dozen-odd institutes that produce over 500 designers per annum, whereas the annual demand is for 8,000-10,000 designers. This calls for adopting a multi-tiered approach right from the school to professional level to bridge this gap.

    Now the fashion industry has become so specialized that it encompasses a vast field of studies in design, concept management, design production management, quality control, planning, fashion accessory design, fashion merchandising, marketing and so on.

    What are your institutes special focus areas in reviving the domestic industries, especially from Northern and Southern regions of India?

    FDDI has been a true friend to the Industry in the shape of providing Technology Advisory, HR, Testing and latest updates.

    As far as special focus areas in reviving the domestic industries are concerned FDDI under the ‘Onsite training of workers in footwear industries’ has provided training to renowned footwear companies like Moja Shoes, M & B Footwear, Relaxo, Tryshoera, Mayur Leather Products Ltd., Sarup Tanneries Ltd., Zeta Leather Exports, VSM Overseas, Crew BOS, S.K. Enterprises & Lakhani India Ltd. to name a few. FDDI provided training in different areas of production of footwear i.e. Cutting, Closing, Lasting etc.

    Onsite training imparted by senior faculties and technical experts of FDDI has resulted in increase in productivity, reduction in rejection, material saving & quality improvements and better material usage in the company.

    FDDI, under its expansion plan has opened a sub center at Bangalore and a satellite center at Mumbai. Apart from this it has already opened a CAD center at Chennai to fulfill the long felt need of footwear industry of South India. FDDI is equipped and certified to carry out most of the tests for footwear manufacturing. We offer both consultancy and advisory services to leather units.

    There is huge shortage in the regular supply of trained manpower to the footwear industry at all levels. Though there is a need for creation of training and technical facilities in all regional centers, the requirement in Uttar Pradesh was more critical. This is because there is no specialized institute for footwear training in the eastern UP which is having the major clusters of Kanpur and Unnao.

    Industrialists of Uttar Pradesh had approached several times and also given representations to meet the requirements of professionals and also the training of their employees. To bridge this gap FDDI is setting-up another full-fledged campus at Fursatganj, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh from academic session 2008-09.

    What other specific activities your Institute carries out that places your Institute among the top educational Institutions in India?

    Over the last two and a half year, FDDI has stepped up its efforts to go in for a makeover drive like extension of its academic building, commencement of new programmes such as leather goods & accessories designing, fashion merchandizing & retail management etc. Upgradation is the watchword in every developmental aspect of the institute.

    The institute has been riding on a sound reputation in the corporate sector. Moreover, it is the credibility, placement options, unique teaching methods, various services offered to the industries and credibility that form its USP.

    We have also taken up academic upgradation in a major way. FDDI has also updated curriculum and syllabi of its academic programmes and obtained AICTE approval for Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Footwear Technology) Programme, which is unique of its kind in the area of footwear technology and management and is very popular among the students and industry.

    FDDI is adding feathers in its cap. Besides providing training and consultancy, it has undertaken in-depth evaluation & accreditation for ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 for Common Facility Centers (CFCs) of handicraft products.

    Under the Integrated Development of Leather Sector Scheme (IDLS) under the 10th Five Year Plan (2002-07) of Indian Leather Development Programme (ILDP) of the Govt. of India, FDDI is the implementing agency of IDLS Scheme for leather goods and garments, saddlery, leather footwear and footwear components for modernization and technology upgradation.

    FDDI has brought a revolutionary change in the Indian industries as far as the Chemical and Physical testing of leather, sole, metallic trims & accessories, fabric & components etc. are concerned. Pruf- und Forschungsinstitute Pirmasens e.V (PFI), has collaborated with FDDI which is the world leader in testing of safety shoes having its office at Germany, Hong Kong & China. It is the first time PFI has collaborated with any laboratory in India.

    This collaboration enables Indian industries to get the testing done at FDDI at much lower costs compared to the foreign counterparts and immensely help the industries to enhance the export.

    The collaboration with PFI helps the industry to compete with the international best and enhance the exports from our country, the outcome of which will visible in a short span of time.

    Some other specific activities that FDDI has carried out are: 1. Setting-up of Visual Merchandizing Lab. 2. Modernization of laboratories and workshops by addition of new equipments. 3. Augmentation of library facilities. 4. Support for projects involving new innovation in classroom technology. 5. Training and retraining for the teaching and supporting technical staff. 6. Up gradation of computing and networking facilities. 7. Creation and up-gradation of the infrastructure for R & D effort. 8. Support sponsored research projects in Handicrafts. 9. Development of horizontal and vertical linkages with other institutions, research laboratories, industry and user agencies through multiplicity of programs including EDP & consultancy.
    Published on: 30/07/2007

    DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.