`Madras' is the brand name of the high-fashion shoes produced by Madras Europe SRL, an Italian company. The company has also a factory in Japan, named Madras Japan.

Speaking to The Financial Express, Fransesco Piccolotto, president of the company said, "We sell shoes worth $200 million all over the world. Our Madras connection, you may call it Chennai now, dates back to 1945. Even now we buy a lot of leathers and shoe uppers from Chennai. We have friends in most of the leading companies in Tamil Nadu." Piccolotto is happy with the quality of leathers supplied by the state. "The companies in Tamil Nadu should try to offer better quality products by conducting more research and development works," he opines.

Theyshould aim at selling under their own brand names. He wants the Indian companies to import more hi-technology and high quality components and produce for a wider world market.