Aqualite India

What Aqualite India does

Aqualite India is a privately held Indian footwear manufacturer and brand, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Bahadurgarh, Haryana, with a second manufacturing unit in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The company produces comfort-focused, affordable footwear across seven core collections — EVA, PU, HAWAI (flip-flops), Sport Shoes, DIP (Direct Injection Process), Winter, and School Shoes — supplemented by the premium NINE sneaker sub-brand launched in 2025. Manufacturing uses PU direct injection moulding, EVA sole processing, and high-precision stitching with imported advanced machinery; operations are ISO 9001:2015 certified and span 1000+ SKUs across men's, women's, and children's segments, supported by a workforce of more than 5,000.

The business operates a three-channel go-to-market model. Consumer revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer sales on the official website and through listings on Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra, alongside a pan-India network of authorized dealers and company-operated retail stores across Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. A B2B institutional channel supplies schools, NGOs, and uniform vendors with bulk school footwear orders, offering volume discounts, custom branding, and dedicated account management. A third OEM/private-label revenue stream enables third-party brands to outsource design-to-delivery footwear production. Brand marketing centers on the #ComfortDikhtaHai campaign featuring Bollywood director Rohit Shetty as brand ambassador, with multi-language TV, print, outdoor, and BTL activations. The company received a $35.5M strategic investment from Lighthouse Funds in December 2018 and is led by Founder and Managing Director D.K. Gupta, with Sanjeev Kharbanda as CFO.

Name

Aqualite India

Legal name

Aqualite India

Website

https://aqualiteindia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Aqualite India is a private Indian footwear manufacturer and brand producing affordable, comfort-focused slippers, sandals, sports, school, and winter shoes across 1000+ SKUs, sold pan-India via marketplaces, authorized dealers, retail stores, and B2B institutional and OEM channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Footwear Manufacturing

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Footwear Merchant Wholesalers (424340), Footwear Manufacturing (316210)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Rubber & Plastics Footwear (3021), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Sandals, Flip-Flops & Open-Toe Footwear Manufacturing (IMAOAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Footwear Manufacturing (OEM/ODM & Private Label) (CRAAACAJ), Outdoor & Performance Footwear Manufacturing (Hiking/Trekking/Trail) (IMAOAIAE), Workwear, Uniforms & Corporate Apparel Wholesale (CRAOADAF)

Keywords

• Footwear manufacturing
• Comfort slippers sandals
• School shoes India
• Private label footwear
• Sports casual footwear

Headquarters

HQ city

Bahadurgarh

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Retail Footwear Sales: Direct-to-consumer and retail sales of footwear products including slippers, sandals, casual shoes, sports shoes, school shoes, and seasonal collections through e-commerce marketplaces (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra) and physical retail stores across India.
2. B2B Bulk Orders: Bulk institutional orders from schools, NGOs, and vendors requiring timely delivery of school footwear and uniform requirements. Offers volume discounts, custom branding, flexible sizing, and dedicated B2B account managers.
3. Private Label / OEM Manufacturing: Private label and OEM manufacturing solutions for vendors and brands looking to launch their own footwear brand with reliable backend support and adaptable production capabilities. Handles complete procedure from design to delivery.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aqualite India manufactures and sells a wide range of comfort-focused footwear including slippers, sandals, casual shoes, sports shoes, school shoes, and seasonal collections under its own brand and the NINE sub-brand. The company operates two manufacturing units in Bahadurgarh (Haryana) and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), distributes products pan-India through e-commerce marketplaces (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra), authorized dealers, retail stores, and a direct website, and also fulfills B2B bulk orders and private label/OEM manufacturing for schools, institutions, uniform vendors, and partner brands.

Product overview

Aqualite India is a footwear brand offering a diversified portfolio of comfort-focused footwear products across multiple material categories and demographic segments. The core offering spans seven main product lines: EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) Collection (lightweight, shock-absorbing slippers), PU (Polyurethane) Collection (durable, water-resistant footwear), HAWAI Collection (tropical-style flip-flop sandals), Sport Shoes Collection (handcrafted athletic and casual shoes), DIP Collection (Direct Injection Process shoes with enhanced foot support for seniors), Winter Collection (cold-weather footwear), and School Shoe Collection (cushioned, anti-slip shoes for school children). Additionally, the NINE sub-brand represents a premium sneaker and lifestyle line launched for the Autumn-Winter 2025 season targeting urban, style-conscious consumers. All products are positioned around comfort, durability, and affordability for the Indian mass market, with availability across e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra) and a pan-India retail network. The company operates as both a B2C brand and B2B/OEM manufacturer offering private label and bulk orders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NINE: Aqualite's new premium sneaker and lifestyle footwear brand created for today's dynamic and style-conscious consumers. Launched as part of Aqualite's Autumn-Winter 2025 collection, NINE brings a fresh, youthful design perspective that seamlessly blends comfort, trend-setting style, and everyday performance.

Products and services

• EVA Collection

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ SKUs across all segments
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shreyansh InnovationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKolkata-based advertising agency that developed and conceptualized the #ComfortDikhtaHai marketing campaign. Created 60-second TVC, multi-language jingles, print ads, and BTL activations. Creative Head Debdarsan Dutta led the campaign emphasizing comfort through relatable visual metaphors.
• Rohit ShettycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBollywood film director and brand ambassador for Aqualite. Featured in advertising campaign 'Kadmon Ka Karo Sahi Use' with tagline 'Comfort Jo Jachta Hai'. Campaign includes TV commercials and video content showcasing footwear comfort.
• Javed AkhtarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenowned lyricist who wrote the lyrics for the #ComfortDikhtaHai campaign jingle sung across multiple Indian languages.
• Piyush Mishra, Zubeen Garg, Roopam Islam, LV RevanthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenowned singers who recorded the campaign jingle in different languages - Piyush Mishra (Hindi), Zubeen Garg (Assamese), Roopam Islam (Bengali), LV Revanth (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam) for the #ComfortDikhtaHai campaign.
• Global Machinery SupplierscoreOthersInternational suppliers of advanced manufacturing machinery and equipment for Aqualite's production facilities in Bahadurgarh and Gwalior, enabling state-of-the-art footwear manufacturing capabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Relaxo Footwears: Listed Indian footwear major (Relaxo, Flite, Sparx, Bahamas, Schoolmate) with overlapping presence in slippers, Hawai, school shoes, and EVA footwear — directly comparable in product mix, distribution model, and mass-market positioning.
• Bata India: Largest listed footwear company in India with a pan-India retail footprint and extensive wholesale channel. Directly comparable on multi-category footwear, B2B school/institutional programs, and brand-led mass-market positioning.
• Paragon Footwear: Indian footwear manufacturer known for Hawai, slippers, and EVA footwear. Closely comparable product portfolio to Aqualite's open footwear and similar mass-market distribution through general trade and modern retail.
• Action Shoes (Action Footwear): Indian footwear manufacturer offering slippers, school shoes, sports, and PU/EVA footwear. Comparable in scale, product breadth, and B2B channel focus including uniform and institutional sales.
• Liberty Shoes: Listed Indian footwear brand covering formal, casual, sports, and school segments. Comparable on multi-category offering, pan-India distribution, and B2B/institutional uniform partnerships.
• VKC Group (VKC Footwear / VKC Pride): Vertically integrated Indian footwear manufacturer (rubber/PVC soles and footwear) serving mass-market Hawai and slippers. Comparable manufacturing model and value-tier positioning to Aqualite.
• Campus Activewear: Listed Indian athleisure and sneaker brand targeting young consumers through online and offline channels. Comparable in targeting the Indian footwear consumer, multi-channel strategy, and brand-led growth.

Broad incumbents

• Metro Brands: Large listed Indian footwear retail chain (Metro, Mochi, Walkaway, Crocs/FitFlop in India). Comparable category footprint but at significantly larger scale and broader premium positioning, making it a broader incumbent rather than a direct volume competitor.

Emerging players

• Neeman's: Indian D2C footwear brand using sustainable materials and direct-to-consumer model. Comparable in targeting modern Indian consumers with comfort-focused shoes, but operates at smaller scale through online-first channels.
• Flatheads: Indian D2C sneaker brand competing in the premium casual sneaker category. Highly relevant overlap with Aqualite's NINE sub-brand ambition, but represents a focused online-only emerging competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=aQIIOCQGV90
• Instagraminstagram.com/aqualiteindia
• Xx.com/aqualiteindia
• Facebookfacebook.com/aqualiteindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aqualite-india

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aqualite India