►Main production areas and characteristics
Main production areas
Delhi-Noida Industrial Area (North India):
Concentrated small and medium-sized makeup brush OEM factories, mainly serving local brands and low-priced export orders, close to the capital for logistics and foreign trade.
Mumbai-Pune area (Maharashtra):
Some foreign enterprises (such as Korean makeup brush OEM factories) set up factories here, taking advantage of port to export to the Middle East and African markets.
Kashmir and Rajasthan:
Traditional handicraft center, famous for animal hair (goat hair, camel hair) processing, producing high-end natural brushes, but with limited production capacity.
Concentrated small and medium-sized makeup brush OEM factories, mainly serving local brands and low-priced export orders, close to the capital for logistics and foreign trade.
Mumbai-Pune area (Maharashtra):
Some foreign enterprises (such as Korean makeup brush OEM factories) set up factories here, taking advantage of port to export to the Middle East and African markets.
Kashmir and Rajasthan:
Traditional handicraft center, famous for animal hair (goat hair, camel hair) processing, producing high-end natural brushes, but with limited production capacity.
Industrial model
Family workshop production:
Small workshops hand-make brush heads and assemble brushes, with low-cost but unstable in quality.
Foreign OEM factories:
Korean and European brands set up OEM bases in India (such as some brushes of Huda Beauty), focusing on cost-effectiveness.
Small workshops hand-make brush heads and assemble brushes, with low-cost but unstable in quality.
Foreign OEM factories:
Korean and European brands set up OEM bases in India (such as some brushes of Huda Beauty), focusing on cost-effectiveness.
►Technology and Capacity
Technology
Mainly Handmade：
More than 90% of production relies on manual labor, few automated equipment for bristle trimming, hair transplanting etc, poor process consistency.
Raw material limitations:
More than 90% of production relies on manual labor, few automated equipment for bristle trimming, hair transplanting etc, poor process consistency.
Raw material limitations:
Animal hair: medium quality local goat and camel hair, insufficient fine grading technology( for example XGF goat hair needs to be imported).
Synthetic fiber: Depends on imports from China Zhejiang and Guangdong, local production has just started.
Synthetic fiber: Depends on imports from China Zhejiang and Guangdong, local production has just started.
Production capacity
Fragmented production capacity:
The monthly production capacity of a single Indian makeup brush factory is usually less than 100,000 pieces, and the total national production capacity is less than 5% of China.
Export share:
Mainly exported to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and African markets, a small amount is sold to Europe and the United States through cross-border e-commerce (such as Amazon), but the proportion is less than 5%.
The monthly production capacity of a single Indian makeup brush factory is usually less than 100,000 pieces, and the total national production capacity is less than 5% of China.
Export share:
Mainly exported to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and African markets, a small amount is sold to Europe and the United States through cross-border e-commerce (such as Amazon), but the proportion is less than 5%.
►Supporting chain
Supply of raw materials
Animal hair:
Rajasthan and Kashmir supply coarse goat hair and camel hair, but lack high-temperature sterilization and hair scale softening treatment technology.
Synthetic fiber:
Indian local chemical fiber factories (such as Reliance Industries) can produce basic nylon fiber, but high-end microfibers (such as Toray imitation gray squirrel hair) need to be imported.
Brush handle/accessories:
Wooden handles and plastic handles are mainly produced locally, but processes such as electroplated metal tubes and antibacterial coatings rely on imports from China (Guangdong and Zhejiang).
Rajasthan and Kashmir supply coarse goat hair and camel hair, but lack high-temperature sterilization and hair scale softening treatment technology.
Synthetic fiber:
Indian local chemical fiber factories (such as Reliance Industries) can produce basic nylon fiber, but high-end microfibers (such as Toray imitation gray squirrel hair) need to be imported.
Brush handle/accessories:
Wooden handles and plastic handles are mainly produced locally, but processes such as electroplated metal tubes and antibacterial coatings rely on imports from China (Guangdong and Zhejiang).
Shortcomings
Mold development:
Complex brush handle molds need to be purchased from China, local mold factories can only produce simple styles.
Surface treatment:
Painting, UV coating and other technologies are backward, and problems such as paint peeling and burrs are prone to occur.
Complex brush handle molds need to be purchased from China, local mold factories can only produce simple styles.
Surface treatment:
Painting, UV coating and other technologies are backward, and problems such as paint peeling and burrs are prone to occur.
►Enterprises and Market
Local brands and OEM factories
Bombay Shaving Company：
A local Indian personal care brand, launched natural bamboo handle makeup brushes, focusing on the concept of environmental protection, but the bristles are relatively hard.
Viseart OEM factory：
Some French brands produce low-end synthetic brushes in India and sell them at a premium using a “handmade” label.
A local Indian personal care brand, launched natural bamboo handle makeup brushes, focusing on the concept of environmental protection, but the bristles are relatively hard.
Viseart OEM factory：
Some French brands produce low-end synthetic brushes in India and sell them at a premium using a “handmade” label.
Foreign investment
Korean companies:
CLIO and AmorePacific use OEM factories in India to produce air cushion powder puffs and portable brushes to reduce costs.
European companies:
Some niche British brands (such as Spectrum Collections) outsource basic makeup brushes to India, emphasizing "handmade Eco makeup brushes".
CLIO and AmorePacific use OEM factories in India to produce air cushion powder puffs and portable brushes to reduce costs.
European companies:
Some niche British brands (such as Spectrum Collections) outsource basic makeup brushes to India, emphasizing "handmade Eco makeup brushes".
►Challenges and Trends
Main challenges
Low labor efficiency:：
The average daily output of Indian workers is only 60%-70% of that of Chinese workers, and the training cost is high.
Backward infrastructure:
Unstable power supply and low road transportation efficiency affect delivery cycle.
Lack of international certification:：
Most Indian makeup brush manufacturers cannot pass ISO 9001 and REACH (EU Chemicals Regulation) certification, limiting exports to high-end markets.
The average daily output of Indian workers is only 60%-70% of that of Chinese workers, and the training cost is high.
Backward infrastructure:
Unstable power supply and low road transportation efficiency affect delivery cycle.
Lack of international certification:：
Most Indian makeup brush manufacturers cannot pass ISO 9001 and REACH (EU Chemicals Regulation) certification, limiting exports to high-end markets.
Trends
Policy promotion:
The Indian government subsidizes the manufacturing industry through the "Make in India" plan to attract foreign investment and build a makeup brush industrial park.
The rise of local brands:
SUGAR Cosmetics and MyGlamm have launched affordable brushes, focusing on the concept of "vegan-friendly".
Technology upgrade:
Some makeup brush manufacturers have introduced second-hand hair transplant machines from China (such as equipment produced in Ningbo) to improve production efficiency.
The Indian government subsidizes the manufacturing industry through the "Make in India" plan to attract foreign investment and build a makeup brush industrial park.
The rise of local brands:
SUGAR Cosmetics and MyGlamm have launched affordable brushes, focusing on the concept of "vegan-friendly".
Technology upgrade:
Some makeup brush manufacturers have introduced second-hand hair transplant machines from China (such as equipment produced in Ningbo) to improve production efficiency.
►VS Chinese makeup brush manufacturers and Vietnam manufacturers
| India | China | Vietnam | |
| Labor cost | $150-250/month | US$500-800/month | $250-400/month |
| Technology | Mainly manual, automation rate <10% | The entire industry chain, automation rate> 50% | Semi-automated, foreign technology input |
| Animal hair resource | Abundant Goat and camel hair, but backward processing technology | Leading XGF goat hair and chinchilla hair | Dependence on imports |
| Export market | Middle East, Africa, Mainland | Global (mainly Europe, America, Japan and South Korea) | Europe, America, Japan and South Korea (tariff advantage) |
| Policy Support | Make in India” subsidies, but weak enforcement | Mature Supply chain localization policy | Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA/CPTPP) |
►Summary and suggestions
Advantages:
Extremely low labor costs, suitable for labor-intensive processes (such as manual hair transplantation).
Rich local animal hair resources ,high potential for the development of natural brushes.
Rich local animal hair resources ,high potential for the development of natural brushes.
Disadvantages:
The industry chain is fragmented, the technology level is backward,difficult to accept high-end orders.
Low International recognition, quality risk.
Low International recognition, quality risk.
Suitable cooperation:
OEM of low-end synthetic brushes and disposable brushes.
Niche brands that emphasize the concepts of "handmade" and "natural".
Testing regional orders in emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa.
Niche brands that emphasize the concepts of "handmade" and "natural".
Testing regional orders in emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa.
If customers pursue stable quality and fast delivery, India is not the best choice; but if extreme cost control and high tolerance for quality, Indian makeup brush manufacturers can be used as a supplementary supply chain.
