• By Kamakshi Bishnoi
  • Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:49 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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What do India, Pakistan, Serbia, Indonesia and several other nations have in common? A deep-rooted love for Bata! The brand, that every country believes to be its own, originated from the Czech Republic and was founded by Tomas Bata and his siblings in 1894. To overcome his financial difficulties, Tomas decided to sew shoes from canvas instead of leather, making it affordable for all. 

In India, Bata feels as local as tea and cricket, in Kenya it is known for its school shoes and in Europe for its trusted name in timeless footwear. By blending global quality with local culture, the brand became a ‘local brand’ for the whole world.

Bata followed a township model in which they built townships near areas where their employees worked. They created schools, housing, hospitals and education for their employees and their families. This point was highlighted by an Instagram user, named anushcache, who has a following of 103K and is known for her content on businesses and brands.

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The company created townships and established the Batanagar factory near Kolkata in the 1930s, which became the first Indian shoe manufacturing unit to receive ISO 9001 certification in 1993. Other townships of Bata included Bataganj in Patna, Batapur in Pakistan, Batadorp in Netherland, Batawa in Canada and Batatuba in Brazil. These Bata townships are known as Bata-villes. 

From logos to advertisements, Bata adopted the specific tastes and requirements of different nations. By offering durable and affordable footwear, Bata positioned itself as a brand for the masses, resonating with consumers across the country. 

In India, the brand focused on advertising the product in regional languages making it familiar for all. The company introduced a range of products catering to the diverse tastes and needs of Indian consumers.

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