US-based Irving Tanning Company and India’s Bhartiya International Limited have formed a strategic partnership to design and build a bovine tannery in India, where the companies plan to develop innovative leathers for the global footwear and accessories market.

Irving's CEO, Dick Larochelle, commented, "We are excited to work together with Bhartiya in India on this new partnership. We have been working in India for many years, and feel the timing is excellent for this project. Bhartiya is a seasoned manufacturer of high quality fashionable garments for brands in Europe and the US, and in the development of innovative leathers for these garments. Their experience, local knowledge, and a seasoned management team, combined with Irving's knowledge and experience, provide substantial resources to ensure the success of this partnership."

Having struggled against insolvency, Irving remains one of the largest side-leather tanneries in the United States, with capacity to finish over 30 million feet of leather per year. Established in 1925 and acquired by management and Meriturn Partners, LLC in 2005, Irving operates a facility in Hartland, Maine that employs approximately 200 people. 

Bhartiya International Limited is a global fashion company with offices in China, Hong Kong, Italy, Switzerland, and the USA. It has three factories in Bangalore and two in Chennai.