Cat set to spread its footprint in India

Tata International Wolverine Brands, a joint venture between Tata International, the global trading arm of the Tata group and India’s leading leather and leather-products exporter and Wolverine World Wide recently launched Cat Footwear,

apparels and accessories in India. The Cat merchandise is now available across mono-brand stores, leading department stores, footwear specialty stores and online through partners like Myntra.

Noel Tata, who had built Trent into a Rs 1,000 crores company and launched a slew of brands in India such as Sisley and Zara, is also considering launching more global brands from Tata International. It may be recalled that Noel Tata had launched the Zara brand in India through a JV with Inditex group. He had followed this with another JV with the Inditex group, for Massimo Dutti stores. Tata was also instrumental in signing a franchisee agreement with UK’s Tesco to provide back-end support for Trent’s Star Bazaar stores.

Cat’s launch collection comprises of footwear, apparels and accessories which is inspired by its unique theme, ‘Forged by Work, Driven by Life’. The collection is every style conscious, modern, urban shopper’s delight and fit for any occasion. Cat will have denim, woven pants, heritage inspired graphic tees in men's apparel, denim, woven pants in women's apparel and footwear and accessories. Commenting on the launch, Sanjay Mehra, Managing Director, Tata International Wolverine Brands says, “The Cat collection will provide the Indian consumer with a range of globally-designed products which deliver style and durability to suit varied occasions. Unique in its design, the Cat collection fits well with the Indian consumers.”

Cat lifestyle is shoes, boots, apparel and accessories that represent the long-standing values of the Cat and Caterpillar brands. Known globally for manufacturing high quality work and rugged casual footwear, apparels and accessories, the partnership is committed to developing innovative products with fashion, comfort, durability and technology features. Cat Footwear is a division of Wolverine Worldwide and Cat Apparel is a division of SRI Apparel, Cat accessories is a division of Grown Up Licenses, global licensees of Caterpillar.

Wolverine World Wide is one of the world’s leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children’s and uniform footwear and apparel. The company’s portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Merrell, Sperry Top-Sider, Hush Puppies, Saucony, Wolverine, Keds, Stride Rite, Sebago, Cushe, Chaco, Bates, Hytest, and Soft Style. It is also the global footwear licensee of popular brands including Cat, Harley-Davidson and Patagonia. The products are retailed through leading retailers in the US and across 200 countries and territories.

Tata International is the trading arm of India’s most respected diversified conglomerate having a presence in more than 80 countries. Established in 1962, the company is India’s leading manufacturer, exporter and supply chain integrator of leather and leather products working with the world’s largest brands. It also retails footwear and leather articles in India under the brand Tashi. The company operates through its network of offices and subsidiaries spanning Africa, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and Asia and has spearheaded strategic partnerships and forays into new geographies for the Tata Group.