What is made in Kanpur
Kanpur is a tanning and leather-goods city. The Council for Leather Exports describes its saddlery industry as more than a century old, built on vegetable-tanned buffalo hide, and says almost all the units are 100% export-oriented. The CLE page gives India's saddlery and harness exports as US$145.54 million in 2013-14, its latest figure; treat it as dated.
| Recognition | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Export Excellence | Leather products | DGFT, Appendix 1B |
| GI: Kanpur Saddlery | Saddlery goods; certificate dated 31 Mar 2014 (application 159), filed by the Harness and Saddlery Exporters Association | GI Registry |
| One District One Product (Kanpur Nagar) | Leather products, naming footwear, saddlery, bags, belts, garments and wallets | ODOP Uttar Pradesh |
Because hides are tanned locally, the quality of a finished bag or saddle often depends on which tannery lot was used. Ask your supplier which tannery supplies the leather and keep its test reports with the order.
What we check for Kanpur leather products
| Product | Main checks | Full checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Saddles, bridles and harness | Tree symmetry, seat size, leather thickness, stitching, fittings, strap pull | Saddlery and harness |
| Belts | Length per size, hole spacing, buckle fixing, plating, edge finish | Leather belts |
| Handbags | Handle and strap anchoring, panel shade, zips, hardware | Leather handbags |
| Wallets and small leather goods | Card-slot fit, edge paint, stitch line, logo | Wallets and small leather goods |
| Leather jackets | Measurements per size, panel matching, lining, zips | Leather jackets and garments |
| Leather shoes | Sizing, pairing, sole bond, heel fixing | Leather shoes |
The leather goods inspection hub covers the full range.
Saddlery and harness: strength and fit
Saddlery carries a rider's safety, so a cosmetic check is not enough. On site, the inspector measures seat size and checks the tree for symmetry, gauges leather thickness on stress points such as stirrup leathers, girth straps and reins, and checks that stitching is even and fully set. Buckles, D-rings and stirrup bars are checked for the metal on the order: stainless steel and plated steel can look alike when new.
Pull or break-strength tests need a test method and target force from your specification. Without one, we report what we observed but cannot judge strength. Chromium VI in skin-contact leather is a lab test; see chromium VI in leather and lab testing coordination.
Common defects in Kanpur production
| Defect | Products | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked or twisted saddle tree | Saddles | Critical |
| Weak or broken stitching on a load-bearing strap | Harness, bridles, bags | Critical |
| Plated fitting where stainless steel was ordered | Saddlery, belts | Major |
| Leather thinner than specified | All leather | Major |
| Mould or a sour smell in cartons | All leather | Major |
| Shade difference between panels | Bags, jackets | Major |
| Uneven edge paint, loose threads | Belts, wallets | Minor |
Timing and logistics
- Travel: Kanpur is not one of our inspector bases, so inspectors travel in from Delhi NCR. Several factories in the city can be visited on one trip, each on its own man-day.
- Tannery lots: a during-production inspection after cutting confirms leather thickness and shade before the whole lot is stitched.
- Monsoon: from about July to September, humidity raises mould risk on vegetable-tanned leather. We check storage, silica gel and carton condition on the day.
- Festivals: many units slow down or close for several days around Diwali, in October or November, so book early if your ready date falls then.
- Loading: container loading supervision checks carton count and condition as goods go into the box.
How to book an inspection in Kanpur
Send the product, the factory's address and the ready date through the booking form for Kanpur. For saddlery, include sizes, leather thickness, fitting material and any strength targets.
An inspection costs US$249 per man-day. Kanpur 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
Are you a quality inspector in Kanpur?
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.