ISF's National Footwear Quiz 2026 Tests Rising Talent in Chennai
LW Desk
As India's footwear and leather sector looks to build a stronger pipeline of industry ready talent, platforms that connect academic learning with real world expertise are becoming increasingly valuable. One such effort took shape on August 18, 2026 in Chennai.
The Indian Shoe Federation (ISF) hosted the National Footwear Quiz 2026 at CSIR-CLRI, Chennai, drawing active participation from students of the Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI), the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), and the Department of Leather Technology, Anna University.
ISF President P. S. Suresh inaugurated the event, welcoming contestants and guests. Ramesh Subramaniam, ISF Consultant, served as Quizmaster, leading participants through four rounds covering general awareness, design and fashion, quality, and manufacturing and machinery. Mohd. Sadiq, Chief Scientist (Retd.), CSIR-CLRI and Consultant to ISF, coordinated the overall program.
Senior industry figures Dr. K. J. Sreeram, former Director, CSIR-CLRI and Head, Leather Technology Department, Anna University; M. Sundaresan, Executive Director, FDDI; and K. Murali, Director, CFTI attended the event to encourage the students. The event closed with certificates and prizes for the winners.
Why It Matters
Such quizzes offer more than a test of trivia. By assessing students across design, quality, and manufacturing, they reveal how well academic training matches real industry needs, while exposing students early to professional standards and expectations.
They also strengthen ties between key training institutions, as students from CFTI, FDDI, and Anna University build professional networks on a shared platform connections that often carry into their careers.
With India's footwear sector under growing pressure to match global quality and design standards, cultivating well rounded technical talent early supports long term competitiveness, making initiatives like this a meaningful investment in the industry's future workforce.
