Organized by AEPC and held at Greater Noida, the 61st Indian International Garment Fair (IIGF) failed to impress most of the exhibitors this time as buyers’ visitation was not up to their expectation. Though companies participating the first time or comparatively new into export were however reasonably happy as they met new buyers. Apart from the big chunk of exporters from Delhi-NCR and Jaipur, a good number of companies from cities like Lucknow, Kolkata, and Ludhiana also participated in the do. Some of the overseas buyers were of the opinion that apparel manufacturers displaying their product lacked newness as only a few exhibitors had something new or interesting in the collection.
Sourcing apparels from India, Vasileios Spiliopoulos VA of Babylon, Greece insisted that Indian garment exporters should increase their focus on product development. “Every year I see the almost same collection in this show which is not a good thing. Few of the other buyers were also of the similar opinion,” said Spiliopoulos. The company is now planning to source apparels from Tirupur.
Disappointed with the overall arrangements of IIGF, Shalabh Kapoor, Director, MLK Fashions, Lucknow told Apparel Resources, “I am quite unhappy with the fair. We may not further participate in the same event and will participate only in overseas sourcing fairs.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Suruchi Sachdeva, NIFT pass out and Proprietor, Trela Tex, Agra which is mainly into domestic market with its brand ‘KidsDew’, said, “There were very few buyers who were interesting into kidswear. I was expecting much more from this show.”
Some of the companies were at the show with their niche products. Like, Choice Sales, Jaipur was the only company which offers event costumes, especially for kids. The company is now expanding its product base and will start blazer manufacturing for students. Girish Lalwani, proprietor of the company shared that the company is expanding into new markets also.
Some exporters are changing the strategy to grow in the current difficult scenario. Affordable Exports, Delhi and MLK Since 1965, Lucknow are now focusing on domestic market while earlier they were totally concentrating on export. Same is the case with KTC Export, Kolkata that offers high value-added ladies garments. Anupam Maity, Senior Merchandiser of the company shared, they recently added basic products to its product basket.
AEPC had claimed that 1054 international buyers from 63 countries registered for the fair. When Apparel Resources approached the organization, it claimed that 569 buyers and 468 buying agents visited the show.
From last some years, less visitation of overseas buyers has become a routine at IIGF but exporters are forced to participate as there is no other such international souring fair in India where they get to meet some of their regular clients.
