From athleisure to business shoes: Leather Fashion Show highlights 2025 trends

The Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.
| Photo Credit: R. Ravindran

In this year’s Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a focus product scheme for the footwear and leather sectors. The Hindu reported that this will generate a turnover of ₹4 lakh crore, and exports of more than ₹1.1 lakh crore, generating employment for 22 lakh people.

On the cusp of this announcement, the Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.

This year’s display focussed on athleisure , along with office and travel accessories, biker jackets, belts, wallets, shoes, boots, and bags for every occasion. Major leather exporter Yavar Dhala said that the show has been held since the early 1950s and made predictions for the upcoming year. “Athleisure seems to be making big waves, but I also see the traditional black and brown business shoes making a comeback,” he said, adding that the State has the highest number of women employees in the leather industry.

This year’s display focused on athleisure, along with office and travel accessories, biker jackets, belts, wallets, shoes, boots, and bags for every occasion. 
| Photo Credit:
R. Ravindran

“Leather is being used even in casual shoes now. It is no longer just synthetic; it is a combination of both. The removal of import duty is going to be very helpful. It is a welcome move by the Government as it brings a lot of foreign investments to Tamil Nadu,” said KR Vijayan, chairman, IFLMEA.

The show began with a kids’ footwear display by Tata International featuring boys’, girls’, and toddler shoes in stylish leather finish, and then moved on to adult footwear from Language. This showcase also featured the highlight of the fashion show — a puppy carried in a bag! “I wanted the puppy to walk on the runway, but we weren’t permitted to do that,” said Bhaskaran Chandra Sekhar, director of the fashion show, adding that this year’s show pushed the boundaries of possibilities by bringing in luxury cars and motorbikes to act as the backdrop for the show.

The evening saw 70 impeccably styled models, including children and 10 showstoppers.
| Photo Credit:
R. Ravindran

According to AR Senthil Kumar, convenor of the show, this is Asia’s largest such event. “Most of the participants are new to the show,” he said at the opening. The evening saw 70 impeccably styled models, including children and 10 showstoppers, donning leather garments and accessories from 11 brands — Tata International, Language, Tohl, Vista, Z-Aglet, Perf, Toni Rossi, Tritan, Aks & Ad, Kompanero, and Ramjee Leather.