Yes. Red Chief is an Indian footwear brand. It started in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and is owned by the Indian company Leayan Global Pvt. Ltd., part of the RSPL Group (the makers of Ghadi detergent). Leayan Global was set up in 1995 to export leather shoes to Europe, and the Red Chief brand launched in 1997.
Overview
Red Chief is positioned as a premium genuine-leather brand for men. Its tagline is “Power of Real Leather”, and it sells footwear, apparel, undergarments, socks and accessories such as wallets, belts, bags and polishes. It has also recently moved into sports footwear.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Brand | Red Chief |
| Country of origin | India |
| Parent company | Leayan Global Pvt. Ltd. (LGPL), part of the RSPL Group |
| Founder / MD | Manoj Gyanchandani |
| Company incorporated | 1995 |
| Brand launched | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Kanpur, with a corporate office in Gurugram |
| Main products | Men’s leather footwear, apparel, belts, wallets, bags, accessories, and now sports shoes |
| Manufacturing | Own tannery and plants in Kanpur, Haridwar and other cities |
| Sister brand | Comfort Walk, launched in 2021 for affordable footwear |
| Sales channels | Exclusive stores, multi-brand outlets, and Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra |
Origin
The group’s roots are in Kanpur. RSPL (Rohit Surfactants Pvt. Ltd.) was best known for its low-cost Ghadi hand-wash detergent, and leather was not its original business. Gyanchandani noticed that India’s leather shoe market was unorganised and that good men’s shoes at affordable prices were hard to find. He launched Red Chief in 1997, funded from the family business’s profits. The first exclusive Red Chief store opened in Kanpur in 2011. The brand focused on North India first, then expanded to other regions.
Ownership
Red Chief is owned by Leayan Global Pvt. Ltd., a private Indian company that is a vertical of the RSPL Group, based in Kanpur. The group is described as a diversified business of about ₹5,800 crore. I found no foreign ownership in the sources I checked.
FAQ
Is Red Chief made in India?
Largely, yes. Almost 80 percent of its products are reportedly made in-house. Some production is also done by vendors in Agra.
Is Red Chief an international brand?
No. It is an Indian brand that sells mainly in India, though the parent company began as a leather footwear exporter.
Is Red Chief genuine leather?
The brand markets itself on genuine leather. It has its own tannery and manufactures leather goods end to end. Its sports shoes and some other lines may use other materials, so check the product listing for each item.
How much do Red Chief shoes cost?
Its leather shoes were reported at roughly ₹2,500 to ₹4,000. That figure is from a few years back, so current prices may differ.
Where can I buy Red Chief?
It sells through exclusive outlets, multi-brand stores, and Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra. Store counts differ between sources and years. Older reports mention about 175 exclusive stores, and another source mentions about 5,000 multi-brand outlets.
Is Red Chief related to Ghadi detergent?
Yes, through the same parent group, RSPL.
