Leather design is a specialised field of design that involves the use of leather in creating products such as footwear, bags, wallets, jackets, belts, and other fashion accessories. A leather designer typically works with tanners and manufacturers to create unique and functional leather products.
Scope: Leather design is a field that offers a wide range of career opportunities for skilled professionals. Graduates in this field can work as leather designers, product developers, quality controllers, and marketing executives in leather goods companies, fashion houses, and manufacturing units. Additionally, there are opportunities in the leather goods export market and in the leather manufacturing industry.
During the course, students learn about various aspects of leather design, such as:
Leather processing and technology: Students are taught about the process of tanning, finishing, and dyeing leather, and how to create different types of leather textures and finishes.
Design techniques and principles: Students learn about design principles, color theory, drawing techniques, and software applications used in leather design.
Leather product development: Students learn about the various stages involved in leather product development, from ideation and concept development to prototyping and final production.
Quality control and testing: Students are taught about quality control standards and testing methods used to ensure the durability, safety, and comfort of leather products.
Marketing and sales: Students learn about branding, promotion, and sales strategies for leather products, including market research, pricing, and distribution.
Additionally, some leather design courses also include internships and industry projects to give students hands-on experience and exposure to the leather industry.
Course: To pursue a career in leather design, students can enroll in a Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in Leather Design course or a Master of Design (M.Des) in Leather Design course. These courses are typically 4-year and 2-year programs respectively, and they cover topics such as leather technology, leather goods design, leather product development, leather quality control, and marketing. Some of the leading institutes offering leather design courses in India include:
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Raibarely etc.
Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Noida
In abroad, some of the top institutes offering leather design courses are:
Polimoda International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, Italy
Ars Sutoria School, Milan, Italy
London College of Fashion, UK
Domus Academy, Milan, Italy
De Montfort University, UK
Future: The future of leather design is promising, as the demand for high-quality leather products is expected to rise in the coming years. With the increasing popularity of sustainable and eco-friendly fashion, the leather industry is also looking towards more sustainable ways of producing and using leather. This is leading to a growing demand for designers who are well-versed in sustainable leather design practices.
Additionally, with the advent of new technologies such as 3D printing and digital prototyping, leather designers are now able to create more complex and intricate designs, which can be mass-produced with greater efficiency. The use of smart materials and the incorporation of new technologies such as wearable technology and IoT in leather products is also expected to be a key trend in the coming years.