‘Tales from the Heels’ festival in Hyderabad celebrates India’s rich footwear heritage

Hyderabad: The Pleach India Foundation and the FDDI are organising an event called ‘Tales from the Heels’.

The program aims to bring together scholars, designers, students, artisans and heritage enthusiasts to celebrate India’s footwear traditions. India’s footwear designs have crossed borders and are even seen on international runways, where a luxury brand like Prada recently showcased Kolhapuri sandals.

The public exhibition opened to visitors from November 28 to 30, welcoming footwear enthusiasts, design students, families and the general public to explore India’s footwear heritage and innovation for themselves.

The soul of Indian footwear

More than daily wear objects, shoes in India are carriers of meaning. They are the sacred ‘padukas’ referenced in mythology and sculpture, the finely embroidered juttis and mojris of royal courts and the rugged Kolhapuris woven into everyday life.

Each form embodies regional artistry, social identity and ritual value, while continuing to inspire contemporary designers across the world.

Rich heritage

The exhibition and seminar welcome visitors and participants to trace the remarkable journey of Indian footwear, its histories, its living practices and its global resonances.

By doing so, it connects what we wear to India’s design heritage, which is inventive, resilient and always relevant.

Innovative journey

FDDI, the Footwear Design and Development Institute of Hyderabad, a premier institution under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, recently hosted ‘Tales Below the Heels – India Design Language: Footwear Series’ at the FDDI Auditorium.

The event, organised in collaboration with the Pleach India Foundation, shed light on India’s rich heritage and innovative journey in footwear design.

Distinguished visitors

Several distinguished leaders, designers, scholars and artisans visited.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated the exhibition and delivered an inspiring keynote address.

He praised the initiative as a powerful platform that bridges India’s traditional craftsmanship with modern design innovation. The Governor said that the crucial role of indigenous design knowledge systems is shaping India’s global creative identity and asked young designers and researchers to draw from their cultural roots to start future innovations.

Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary of Telangana, was the guest of honour. He credited FDDI and Pleach India Foundation for preserving and promoting India’s living craft heritage, as such initiatives strengthen the exchange between culture, education and industry to create sustainable growth and global recognition.

Dr Tejaswini Yarlagadda, Chairman of Pleach India Foundation, expressed her appreciation for the combined efforts that resulted in this exhibition. She said Pleach India was fostering design research and cultural preservation, inspiring artisans and professionals to celebrate and evolve India’s footwear identity.

Book of abstracts

A specially curated booklet and the ‘Book of Abstracts’ were launched, 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.

Diverse craft traditions

The Artisan Showcase, where seven master craftsmen from diverse craft traditions exhibited their unique techniques and handcrafted footwear, was a major attraction.

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.

A big success

Visitors thronged to see the exhibits of traditional Indian footwear like Mojari, Jutti, and Kolhapuri Chappal, live craft demonstrations and witness the interactive panels and talks by historians, archaeologists and industry leaders.

The success 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.