Over the time, India has developed a reputation of being a credible designing hub for the global fashion industry with creativity, fabric availability, numerous embroidery techniques and printing options, keeping retailers from across the world interested. Keeping this reputation alive is the by-annual sourcing extravaganza, India International Garment Fair (IIGF), which enters its 30th year with the January edition being the 60th show for the Brand; slated to be held from January 17-19, 2018, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The IIGF platform has grown in stature and today it is the only sourcing platform for buyers with representation from all major garment manufacturing hubs.
The team at IIGF is geared up for celebrations and the 60th edition will witness participation from 300 exporters showcasing all categories of products with around 15 new exporters also making a debut at the event. The excitement stems from many factors, including a strong registration of over 1,000 buyers (retailers, chain-stores, boutiques, importers and wholesalers) and an expectation of resurgence of business after a period of slowdown.
The venue will also feature a huge spinning wheel symbolising the roots and traditional stronghold of the textile value chain in India and will give the visitors a photo-op to carry home along with the business contacts that they make.
Lalit Thukral, Chairman, IIGF is confident that the upcoming exhibition will be a roaring success. “Many people have questioned me on the date clash with the Hong Kong Fashion Week, but I am not worried,” he says confidently. And the assurance comes from the fact that buyers who have India Fashion in their collections and stores cannot afford to skip the fair, though they may decide to spend less time. “For buyers, for whom India is important to their product range, there is no other platform than IIGF to find the right product,” he stresses, adding that over 400 genuine and significant buyers have already committed to being present at the fair.
The garment exhibition has been the stepping stone to success for most of the exporters in India and though many of the big ones do not participant now, they owe their growth to the IIGF platform. “Over the years exporters have got very good orders at the IIGF and having created relationships with buyers connected here, these exporters now have huge ‘booked’ capacities that no longer needs the support of the IIGF,” argues Lalit. The IIGF represents the bridge between the exporter and the buyer, and once the capacity of exporters gets filled they tend to move on.
Today, IIGF represents creativity, smaller orders and all the things that India is known for. If there is one missing link, it is the restricted presence of buying agencies. While these offices regularly search for suppliers, they are not using the IIGF platform optimally. “Buying offices should come to the fair to see what capabilities the exporters have and lines that are being developed. The event presents an opportunity for buying offices to develop future collections…; may be immediate orders may not happen, but connections are made, which are developed over the time. The fair has sustained for so long, which itself is proof of the worth of the platform,” avers Lalit.
The time has come for the exporters and buyers to collaborate to bring in business, especially keeping in mind, the difficulties that the industry has been facing in the last few months. “I feel that it is the responsibility of the buying offices to show support to the industry and participate with their team,” says Lalit. The IIGF represents a cross-section of the industry and the positive outcome of the show will be reflected and passed on to the entire industry.
In a proactive effort to weigh all buyers in the same parameter, the hospitality being extended to international guests is also being offered to buying teams coming from different parts of the country. “This time we are not giving tickets to buyers; instead we are offering in-country hospitality from the airport to hotel to venue and back to the airport, and this privilege includes buyers not only from outside the Delhi-NCR region but also from international destinations. The idea is to facilitate business,” says Lalit. He is sure that no buyer comes to the event only for air-tickets, but because these buyers have business in India so they come. Yet, tickets to select buyers, which had become a contention point with some exporters are being discontinued.
From the buyer’s perspective, questions have been raised, mostly by new visitors on the reliability of exporters participating. Lalit assures that participation in the IIGF is post-screening of the credibility of the exporter and many times before placing an order the buyer seeks the advice of the organising team. “The buyers can rest assured that the right type of exporters is exhibiting. And the exhibitors too can be confident that they will meet a larger section of buyers, not only for the international market but also from the domestic retail and online segment,” shares Lalit.
Participants’ Preparations
After the gap of a year (with the July 2017 edition being held in Ahmedabad), the international apparel fair is back again to the capital and looking to the current critical situation, the show becomes all the more important. As most of the small buyers are looking at IIGF for their buying, preparations are on in full swing. These exporters are confident that India Fashion is still in demand and the fact that the country is an extremely competitive market in the product category that it specialises in a big advantage. “We developed bohemian style dresses and blouses in ethnic vintage print with the look of 1970s fashion. Our focus is on totally new prints and designs in ethnic maxi dresses, and Maya blouses with super colours and prints of Spring/Summer 2018-2019 and Autumn/Winter 2018. In regards to the fabric, we are mostly making in cotton voile, cotton cambric, sheer cotton gauze, rayon staples and rayon crape fabrics,” shares Pradeep Nahata, MD, Karni Exports, Jaipur.
As exporters mature, they are becoming more selective in their presentation. “We are taking a slightly different approach from our competition as we are showcasing a very limited selection of items so that we can display our quality and craftsmanship in great detail without overwhelming our customers. We will be showcasing our new tencel/cotton blended polo shirts and long neck tee shirts along with some very beautiful new designs of winter coats, gilets, sweaters and shirts. We focus on some of the finest and eco-friendly fabrics which mostly we design and create ourselves through extensive research and development. We take pride in the beautiful tencel and cotton blends we have created as well as our exquisite, organic cotton, wool and lambskin products,” says Gurri Kahlon, Founder, Legend and Stick, Stockton, California.
Even the regular buyers are very much positive about the garment fair and they point out that IIGF has managed to bridge the gap between western trends and traditional skills of Indian artisans and that is exactly what pulls these buyers back to the fair, year after year. A regular for many years, Maria Nieto, Creative Manager, Compania Fantastica Spain opines, “I am very happy to meet people here and the fair has proved very good for me.” His opinion is shared by many other buyers.
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