About

ILPA Infrastructrue Development Foundation

IIDF offers a comprehensive design package, including drawings, patterns, specs, costing, and material sourcing. It serves a diverse customer base and provides technical assistance through machine demonstrations, training, and unit setup. Human Resource Development is prioritized with courses in Design, Pattern-making, Production Methodology, and CAD, along with worker training. IIDF also creates customized training programs tailored to industry needs.

Freya IIDF plays a proactive role in connecting markets with entrepreneurs, upgrading craftspersons’ skills, and driving technological transformation. It offers design (including CAD), pattern-making, and prototype production services, along with training and up-to-date fashion/market trends. IIDF promotes marketing/export linkages, facilitates buyer-seller meets through ILPA BSS, and is a key player in the International Leather Goods Fair. Strategically, it serves as a platform for policy discussions on leather goods sector development. Operationally, it:

1. Combines traditional skills with modern designs and technology.
2. Sets quality and standardization benchmarks.
3. Links artisans and micro-entrepreneurs to global markets.
4. Provides demand-based support services.

Set up at the initiative of the National Leather Development Programme (A UNDP-assisted unit of the Government of India) in 1997, Freya is the first of its kind Leather Goods Design Studio in Asia. Today Freya is a not for profit centre operating without Government funding. It provides a broad spectrum of services to micro, small and medium scale leather goods manufacturers. It is a full-fledged design shop that caters to the demands of the domestic and international market.
1. It plays a pro-active role in the strategy to Mesh Markets with entrepreneurs.
2. Upgrades skills of crafts-persons.
3. Helps catalyse the technological transformation of the sub-sector.
4. It provides design (including CAD) services, pattern-making and prototype production facilities.
5. Imparts training in design and pattern-making.
6. Serves as a resource center for the latest information on fashion/market trends, colours and designs.
7. It promotes marketing/export linkages, facilitates buyer-seller meets.
8. It runs a state of the art common facility centre.
9. At the strategic level, Freya has positioned Itself as a platform for policy-based discussion on the development of the leather goods sector.
1. Combines traditional skills with the latest In designs, and new technologies with age-old craft.
2. Sets benchmarks for quality and standardisation.
3. Links artisan groups and micro-entrepreneurs with global markets.
The objective of the studio is to be a powerful force for sustainable human resource development. This is achieved by providing design support, technical assistance, consultancy services and information to artisans, micro enterprises and small and medium scale entrepreneurs, - thereby upgrading their skills and knowledge base, helping them to build their capacity to create employment or earn livelihoods and consequently upgrade their economic status.
1. Artisans
2. Micro Enterprises
3. Small Scale Entrepreneurs
4. Exporters
1. Provide Design Support
2. Technical assistance and advancement
3. Conduct Short Term Course in Design, Pattern-making & Production Methodology
4. Conduct Short Term Courses in CAD
5. Impart Training to upgrade skills
6. Provide opportunities for employment and business.
7. Dovetailing contemporary designs with artisans' skills.
8. Provide incubation facilities to the budding entrepreneurs.
1. Drawings.
2. Precise patterns.
3. Prototype development.
4. Specification sheets.
5. Costing Sheet.
6. Comprehensive information about material sourcing.
1. Demonstration and usage of machines.
2. Training personnel in the use of machines.
3. Improved production technology.
4. Assistance in setting up of units.
5. Recommending machines and equipment.
6. Recommending layout of Workstations and installation of equipment.
1. Besides regular courses in Design, Pattern-making, Production Methodology and CAD it trains.
2. Floor level workers thereby providing a skilled workforce to the industry.
3. It also designs customized on-site training programmes for specific requirements put forward by the industry.
1. Providing support to nascent enterprises through capacity building, appropriate equipping and exposure to new technologies.
2. Facilitating market linkages by helping artisan groups develop and create markets for their products, either directly or indirectly.
3. Providing a platform for better interaction between exporters, material suppliers and fabricators of leather goods.
4. Maintaining a resource center and data bank to enhance knowledge about domestic and international market requirements.
5. Conducting training courses in design and pattern making and impart training in upgrading production techniques.
6. Conducting training in CAD for Leather Goods.
7. Designing catalogues and brochures.
8. Providing factory layouts and recommending machines and equipment.
9. Common Facility Centre for the industry.
The main activity of the studio is to provide original designs based on specific fashion forecasts, season-wise. Many exporters, some well established, utilize this facility. Products designed by Freya IIDF have been displayed at Mipel Fair, Milan, Asia Pacific Leather Fair, Hong Kong and Offenbach Fair, Germany and also at the Buyer-Seller Meets organized by the Council for Leather Exports. The studio has assisted several artisan units to upgrade products by providing contemporary designs whilst keeping ethnicity intact, improving product quality by providing precise patterns and technical inputs and finally by providing market linkages. The studio organizes design and pattern-making courses for professionals from the leather sector and for those wanting to join the industry. The studio is equipped with state of the art machinery and industry members use it to enhance their knowledge regarding upgrade of their units. Freya IIDF is often required to give demonstrations in the use of machines and their attachments. Factories wanting to upgrade have used IIDF's services for demonstrations and training of workers. Several manufacturing units and artisans use it for job work under the supervision of studio personnel. It has been our endeavour to assist the manufacturers supplying to domestic markets with globally accepted designs thereby raising the standard of their products. The thrust has been on trying to promote the small entrepreneurs and artisans. Artisans supplying to the local market are being assisted. Up to date designs and precise patterns are being provided, to help them enhance their market share. Wherever possible market linkages are being provided for the artisan groups. Fabricators supplying to the domestic markets request for contemporary designs and interact with the studio for technical assistance and material sourcing. Alternate materials have been considered either by themselves or in combination with leather. The studio has worked with Jute-cotton, micro-fibre,canvas and other eco-friendly materials. Besides these ongoing activities, IIDF has provided faculty support for the Pattern-making and Assembling Courses at The National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata. IIDF collaborates continuously with Small Industries Service Institute (MSME) and has provided faculty support in the Entrepreneurial Development Programmes. Demonstrations and practical classes have been conducted for candidates interested in joining the mainstream leather industry. Technical and design support is being provided to the new entrepreneurs through Freya IIDF and market linkages are being provided on a regular basis. National Centre for Jute Diversification has commissioned IIDF for several training workshops in different States. Sasha, an NGO engaged in exports and with Fair Trade outlets uses the services provided by the studio to develop marketable products. Workshops in design development and skill up-gradation are held for their artisans.
Design Studio & Members
Initially IIDF started with the a few Members in the year 2009 At Bantala, Kolkata Leather Goods Park and the number of Members are gradually increased day by day to 76 members.
1. Footwear Design Development Institue.
2. Central Leather Research Institute.
3. National Institute of Fashion Technology.
4. National Institute of Design.
5. Entrepreneur Development Institute of India.
6. Intracen Geneva.
7. Lineapelle Italy.
8. Assomac Italy.
9. United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
10. I L & FS.
11. National Centre for Jute Diversification.
12. Micro Small & Medium Enterprises.
Freya has published technical handouts detailing production procedures - from pattern making to assembling and construction. It has also prepared an Audio Visual training module for basic machines used in leather goods production. Freya offers a complete package - from concept to reality, It has a wide , varied and regular client base. It helps the industry and the leather goods manufacturers to achieve targets. It is committed to a process of improving its own efficiency and effectiveness in becoming a stronger force for the benefit of the leather goods industry.

Freya IIDF 'one-stop-shop'

Freya IIDF has carved a niche for itself as a 'one-stop-shop' providing a wide range of services: design, technical support, quality control, marketing assistance and training.