Footwear is an important part of ones look. In the
present world of fashion and beauty consciousness, a person’s image is defined
by the kind of clothes and shoes they wear.
There has been an increase in demand and choice for
footwear recently that has led to aincrease in the number of companies, both
national and international, entering the market dealing with footwear
production and export. These days footwear is made from leather, plastic,
canvas, jute, rubber and even cloth.
The footwear industry has evolved
tremendously due to the use of sophisticated machinery and skilled manpower. Footwear
designing technology today is a lucrative career option and is an important
area of fashion. Famous and evolving brands innovate footwear through design,
material and market research.
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| Footwear Course |
In India, the profession has become challenging as
it blends the sensitivity of a designer and the artisans capabilities of a
cobbler. Footwear designers create new styles of footwear, and sometimes new
uses for particular designs. Keeping in mind the popular demand in the markets
and also the demands of clients, footwear designers design various kinds of
shoes. Footwear designers also design shoe collections for leading footwear
companies. Patterns are made and graded by them, according to which companies
produce samples. Computer aided design systems have now made the entire process
mechanized.
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| Footwear Institute |
Various
kinds of Footwear Designing Courses are available in India.
Under-graduate, Post-graduate, Diploma and Certificate courses are available in
footwear design. Minimum qualification for under-graduate Diploma or
certificate courses in footwear design is 10+2 pass. FDDI is a Footwear Institute that
provides a good Footwear Course.
To
pursue a footwear course a Post-Graduate Diploma is needed by a graduate in any
stream of education. Admission into most of these courses is made through
entrance exams. Footwear technology courses are offered as B.Tech/M.Tech
programmes which are only open to science and engineering students. Those who
wish to enter into this field must have good manual dexterity as well as a
flair for fashion and foresight regarding upcoming trends in the industry.
The
ability to draw or sketch ideas on paper is also important, as that is the
chosen medium for communicating these ideas to those in charge of production.
Creativity, imagination and good communication skills are also vital for
success in this field.
The opportunities for a foot wear designer are
increasing every day. They can be hired by a footwear design and manufacturing
company or hired by a fashion house or they may do freelance work. 