ILPA holds fashion show to popularize leather products in Kolkata

Kolkata, Feb.21 (ANI): In a bid to showcase leather products to international buyers, the Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA) organised a fashion show in Kolkata city on Saturday.

The special show witnessed models walking the ramp, flaunting trendy leather accessories and handbags.

The annual fashion show was aimed at growing the customer base for West Bengal state's leather business.

"The basic purpose of the show is trying to get in people from abroad, places like Europe, United States and various other such subcontinents. They are invited here through Indian Trade Promotion Organisation. It is a process by which we create a big customer base thus creating employment for leather goods factories and companies, here from West Bengal," said Arjun Kulkarni, co-chairman, ILPA.

Handbags and belts in a variety of colours and sizes for both men and women ruled the ramp.

Robin Finch, a buyer from UK after watching the show, said that he would opt for India over China to source the leather products.

"This time of the year, for the past 30 years, I have been coming to both India and China to source my leather goods product and surprisingly enough, this is actually the first year that I have decided to give China a miss and concentrate my efforts solely on India because over the last 12 months, Indian products really have been what the markets required, and I had such tremendous success with it. So, really, this is probably the best time I am having with India," said Finch.

India's leather goods industry is rapidly making its mark on the global leather scene. (ANI)