Celebrating India’s Footwear Heritage, Innovation, and Design Culture
HYDERABAD, NOVEMBER 28, 2025: The Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI), Hyderabad, a premier institution under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, proudly hosted the grand inauguration of “Tales Below the Heels – India Design Language: Footwear Series” today at the FDDI Auditorium. The event, organised in collaboration with the Pleach India Foundation, showcased India’s rich heritage and innovative journey in footwear design, attracting distinguished leaders, designers, scholars, and artisans.
The ceremony was honoured by the esteemed presence of Jishnu Dev Varma, Governor of Telangana, who formally inaugurated the exhibition and delivered an inspiring keynote address. He lauded the initiative as a powerful platform that bridges India’s traditional craftsmanship with modern design innovation. The Governor emphasised the critical role of indigenous design knowledge systems in shaping India’s global creative identity. He encouraged young designers and researchers to draw from their cultural roots to drive future innovations.
Jayesh Ranjan (IAS), Special Chief Secretary of Telangana, graced the event as the Guest of Honor. He commended FDDI and Pleach India Foundation for their dedication to preserving and promoting India’s living craft heritage, highlighting how such initiatives strengthen the synergy between culture, education, and industry to create sustainable growth and global recognition.
Dr Tejaswini Yarlagadda, Chairman of Pleach India Foundation, expressed deep appreciation for the collective efforts that culminated in this landmark exhibition. She reiterated Pleach India’s commitment to fostering design research and cultural preservation, inspiring artisans and professionals alike to celebrate and evolve India’s footwear identity.
The event also featured the launch of a specially curated Booklet and the “Book of Abstracts,” which capture extensive research insights, heritage narratives, and creative interpretations central to the project. These publications serve as valuable resources for students, academics, and industry professionals engaged in footwear design and development.
A highlight of the event was the Artisan Showcase, where seven master craftsmen from diverse craft traditions exhibited their unique techniques and handcrafted footwear. The showcased crafts included Mojari, Jutti, Pulla, Chamba footwear, Kolhapuri Chappal, Gujarat’s Bharwadi Desi Joda craft, and traditional Pabu shoe-making, representing India’s regional diversity and living craft lineages. Their presence significantly enriched the exhibition, reinforcing the importance
The public exhibition opened to visitors from 28- 30th November 2025, welcoming footwear enthusiasts, design students, families, and the general public to explore India’s footwear heritage and innovation firsthand.
The successful inauguration of “Tales Below the Heels” underlines FDDI’s ongoing commitment to excellence in design education and industry collaboration, spotlighting India’s evolving design aesthetics in the footwear sector and inspiring the next generation of creative leaders.
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