• Footwear (esp. leather uppers): HS 64 (notably 6403).
  
• Accessories: Handbags, travel goods, wallets, belts (HS 4202); leather apparel & clothing accessories (HS 4203); equestrian saddlery & harness (HS 4201)—a Kanpur hallmark.
  

Export snapshot (India-wide; Kanpur is a designated export hub)

• India’s leather, non-leather footwear & leather products exports grew about +25% to USD 5.7 bn in FY 2024-25, per the Council for Leather Exports (CLE).
  
• In FY 2023-24, the combined exports of footwear, leather & leather products were USD 4.69 bn.
• Segment cues you’ll care about when planning assortments:
  
  • Saddlery (HS 4201): India exported ~USD 211 m (2023); top destinations include the US, Germany, UK—relevant for Kanpur suppliers.
    
  • Travel goods/handbags etc. (HS 4202): India exported ~USD 1.95 bn (2023).
    
• Kanpur’s status: Recognised as a Town of Export Excellence (TEE) for Leather Products (DGFT Appendix 1B). The UP government’s ODOP portal calls Kanpur “the largest center of leather industry” and notes a historically high share of national exports.
  

What makes Kanpur specific (and attractive) to buyers

1. Cluster depth & product specialization
   
   • Dense ecosystem across leather shoes (dress, casual, boots, safety), belts/wallets/bags, and an equestrian/saddlery line with GI protection for “Kanpur Saddlery.” GI status supports traceability/heritage labelling.
     
2. Industrial infrastructure
   
   • Effluent treatment capacity has been upgraded under the Ganga program (e.g., 20 MLD CETP for Jajmau tannery cluster—marked “Completed” in 2025 NMCG reporting), and additional CETPs operate at Banthar, Unnao (serving many Kanpur-linked units). This matters for buyer ESG audits.
     
3. Policy & parks
   
   • UPSIDA/UP govt. is building a footwear park near Ramaipur, Kanpur with plug-and-play sheds and a common facility centre (testing/design/packaging) to speed onboarding for export orders.
     
4. Talent pipeline
   
   • The Department of Leather Technology, HBTU (Kanpur) feeds trained technologists into local units; national bodies (e.g., FDDI testing services) cover product testing and development.
     

Quality, specs & compliance

Footwear (general & safety)

• EU PPE (Safety Footwear): EN ISO 20345:2022 + A1:2024 are the current harmonised references for CE-marking; ISO 13287 covers slip resistance test methods. For US orders use ASTM F2413.
  Spec your protection classes (S1P/S3 etc.), toe impact/compression, slip (SR), puncture (P), ESD, and outsole heat/chem resistance.
  

Leather performance (accessories & uppers)

• Typical lab methods buyers cite in specs: ISO 3376 (tensile/elongation), ISO 5402-1 (Bally flex—flex resistance), ISO 11640 (colour fastness to rubbing).
  

Chemicals & restricted substances (EU market)

• REACH Annex XVII:
  
  • Chromium VI in leather ≤ 3 mg/kg (Entry 47).
    
  • Azo dyes releasing listed aromatic amines are restricted (Entry 43).
    
  • Nickel release limits apply to metal trims (Entry 27).
    Ask vendors for batch-wise test reports (EN ISO 17075 for Cr VI; updated azo test methods per Appendix 10).
    

Sustainability badges buyers recognise

• Leather Working Group (LWG) audit/certification is widely accepted for tannery environmental performance—helpful for corporate compliance checklists.
  

Strengths you can leverage in sourcing

• Breadth of range from one hub: Safety boots, dress shoes, sandals, small leather goods, handbags, and equestrian goods—useful for multi-category programs with consolidated QC and logistics. (TEE designation + GI saddlery underpin the cluster’s export orientation.)
  
• ESG trajectory: New/modernised CETPs and state-backed parks reduce buyer risk on wastewater & compliance narratives.
  
• Value engineering: Local testing/design facilities (common facility centres, FDDI services) make it easier to hit spec at target cost.
  

Practical buyer checklist

• Product & HS: confirm HS (e.g., 6403 for leather-upper footwear; 4202 for bags; 4201 for saddlery) on invoices for duty preferences.
  
• Standards (if safety footwear): EN ISO 20345:2022+A1:2024 or ASTM F2413, plus ISO 13287 slip test results.
  
• Leather tests: ISO 3376, ISO 5402-1, ISO 11640 results with lot traceability.
  
• Chemicals: REACH Annex XVII compliance certificates (Cr VI, azo, nickel release) and supplier RSL alignment.
  
• Factory credentials: LWG status for tanneries; social audits for cut-and-sew.
  
• ESG/Infrastructure: ask Kanpur suppliers to reference CETP linkage/permits in bids.