By Yaruqhullah Khan
Bata India is pushing ahead with the expansion of its Floatz brand even as the footwear range remains at the centre of an ongoing legal battle with US-based Crocs Inc. Company executives told Fe that Floatz will continue to drive growth and meet its internal revenue targets, unfazed by the litigation currently pending in the Delhi High Court. While the matter is sub judice, Crocs has not been able to secure a stay order on the sale of Floatz.
Floatz, launched less than four years ago as a casual and washable footwear line, has become one of the fastest-growing products in Bata’s portfolio. The brand surpassed the Rs 100-crore mark earlier this year, the quickest in the company’s history, and is on track to touch Rs 200 crore by the end of the current fiscal. According to Bata’s 2024-25 annual report, Floatz now contributes about 15% of total revenues, up from single-digit levels two years ago, at a time when overall sales have remained stagnant at around Rs 3,500 crore for three consecutive years.
Bata’s expansion plans
The company is betting on store expansion, new product ranges and international pilots to sustain momentum. Bata plans to end FY26 with more than 60 exclusive Floatz outlets and kiosks across India and is piloting the brand in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Senior executives said the company is confident of scaling Floatz to Rs 500 crore well before 2030. Earlier this year at the company’s annual general meeting, Managing Director Gunjan Shah had said he does not see any reason why the brand will not hit that target within the next four to five years. Bata has invested more than Rs 20 crore in product development and recently rolled out Disney and Marvel-themed editions for children.
The brand’s appeal was amplified during the pandemic years, when demand shifted towards casual clogs and washable footwear. Floatz has been growing at more than 30% annually even as other categories have slowed, making it a key component of Bata’s turnaround plans. The company’s position is that the ongoing legal dispute has not affected business planning or supply.
Bata vs Crocs
Crocs has been pursuing claims of design infringement against Indian manufacturers since 2014. The dispute centres on whether the distinct clog shape and perforated upper associated with Crocs qualifies as a shape trademark and therefore a protectable trade dress. In February 2019, a single judge of the Delhi High Court dismissed the suits, ruling that Crocs could not claim passing-off protection over registered design features. A Division Bench reversed that ruling in July 2025, allowing Crocs to pursue the claim, and the Supreme Court upheld the decision in November.
Bata and Liberty Shoes had argued that treating Crocs’ registered design as a shape trademark would effectively create a dual monopoly by extending protection beyond the 15-year limit prescribed under the Designs Act.