What is made in Agra
Agra's footwear trade mixes factories and home-based work. In the same November 2019 release, the Ministry of Skill Development put the city's base at about 250 mechanised or semi-mechanised units and 5,000 cottage units. With work split between factories and cottage units, one order can pass through several sites before it is packed.
| Recognition | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Export Excellence | Leather products | DGFT, Appendix 1B |
| One District One Product | Leather products and footwear; stone and marble engraving handicrafts | ODOP Uttar Pradesh |
| GI: Agra Leather Footwear | Leather footwear; certificate dated 31 Jul 2023 (application 721) | GI Registry |
| GI: Agra Stone Inlay Craft | Inlay work in marble and stone; certificate dated 27 Mar 2025 (application 661) | GI Registry |
| GI: Agra Durrie | Flat-woven cotton durries | Handloom Export Promotion Council |
What we check for Agra products
| Product | Main checks | Full checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Leather shoes and boots | Size marking against the last, left and right pairing, toe shape, sole bond, heel fixing, shade within a pair | Leather shoes |
| Leather sandals | Strap and toe-post strength, buckle function, footbed bonding, dye rub-off | Leather sandals |
| Belts | Length per size, hole spacing, buckle fixing and plating | Leather belts |
| Handbags | Handle and strap anchoring, panel shade, zips, edge paint | Leather handbags |
| Marble and stone inlay | Inlay gaps and filler, cracks, polish, crate packing | Marble and stone décor |
| Durries | Lie-flat, size, dye bleed, edges | Dhurries and kilims |
See the footwear inspection and leather goods inspection hubs for the other product types.
Footwear: what is checked on site and what goes to a lab
On site, the inspector measures, pairs and flexes sampled shoes, pulls at soles and heels by hand, checks the material labelling and opens cartons for mould. That finds most workmanship problems. For shoes sold in the EU, Directive 94/11/EC requires the material of the upper, the lining and sock, and the outer sole to be marked, by pictogram or text, so the inspector compares that marking with the materials actually used.
Some risks only a lab can confirm. Leather articles that touch the skin must not contain 3 mg/kg or more of chromium VI under EU REACH; see chromium VI in leather. Sole bond strength, flex resistance and banned substances such as DMFu are also lab tests. We pull and seal samples through lab testing coordination, and the lab is one you choose or we suggest.
Common defects in Agra production
| Defect | Products | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Nail or tack point inside the shoe | Shoes, sandals | Critical |
| Mould on uppers or in cartons | All leather | Major |
| Sole or heel coming away under hand pull | Shoes, sandals | Major |
| Wrong size marking or mixed sizes in a pair | Shoes, sandals | Major |
| Shade difference between left and right | Shoes | Major |
| Crack in an inlaid piece | Stone inlay | Major |
| Adhesive stains, uneven stitching | Shoes, bags | Minor |
| Small filler mark between inlay pieces | Stone inlay | Minor |
Timing and logistics
- Travel: inspectors come from Delhi NCR by road. Firozabad, the glass town, is about 40 km east, so visits to both can share one trip; see inspection in Firozabad.
- Monsoon: from about July to September, humidity raises the risk of mould on leather in sealed cartons. We check silica gel, storage and carton condition on the day.
- Split production: a during-production inspection on the first lasted pairs catches sizing and shade problems before the whole run is made.
- Festivals: many units slow down around Diwali, in October or November.
How to book an inspection in Agra
Send the product, the factory's address and the ready date through the booking form for Agra. Include the size run, the approved sample photos, label artwork and any lab tests you need.
An inspection costs US$249 per man-day. Agra is in Band C, so travel is charged at actual cost and quoted before you book; see pricing. The report arrives within 24 hours of the inspection with a verdict of Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
Sources
- Ministry of Skill Development release on Meet at Agra 2019, via National Skills Network (11 Nov 2019)
- DGFT: Appendix 1B, Towns of Export Excellence (Agra: leather products)
- IP India GI registry: Agra Leather Footwear (application 721)
- IP India GI registry: Agra Stone Inlay Craft (application 661)
- HEPC: GI handloom products, Uttar Pradesh (Agra Durrie)
- ODOP Uttar Pradesh: Agra (leather products and footwear; stone and marble)
Are you a quality inspector in Agra?
We work with vetted freelance inspectors near the factories we check. You take assignments in your own area, inspect to our checklist, and Clear To Load pays you, never the factory. Apply to inspect with us.