15/07/2021
From offline to online: Bhairab Shoe cluster marches forward
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The modernization of the footwear industry started in the late 80s of the last century. Some district-based local cottage footwear enterprises were also operating at that time to meet limited local demand. They could not enter into the premium market due to the sub-standard quality of the products. They were struggling with several drawbacks like lack of access to finance, lack of modern technology, lack of access to the premium market, scarcity of modern design, lack of product diversification, etc. Some public-private organizations have tried to provide them with capacity development support, however, the support was not adequate enough to upgrade the overall situation of the cottage and micro footwear industry. There was no coordinated value chain intervention since the inception of the Sustainable Enterprise Project (SEP), funded by the World Bank and Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF).
Under SEP, People's Oriented Program Implementation (POPI) is implementing a sub-project in the leather processing and shoemaking sub-sector at Kishoreganj. In this sub-project, under a sub-component called ‘eco-labeling and access to premium market’, POPI is implementing activities like awareness programs, training and workshop on environmental, business and product certification. As MEs have limited capacity, they could hardly focus on environmental issues. SEP has taken an audacious task to improve the environmental condition of the cluster. Several awareness programs have been arranged and an environment forum has been formed. The environmental condition of the cluster is improving gradually. Some factories are adopting environment-friendly practices.
For years, almost similar design, which is mostly copied from Chinese and Indian design, shoes were manufactured in the cluster. Now, a software-based design facility has been introduced and hand-made shoes are manufactured targeting the niche market. Now, foreign buyers are requesting sample products. Eventually, they will be able to export their goods in the near future. The most notable intervention in access to the premium market is the introduction of the e-commerce site, called Bhairab Shoe Mart