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Vol.08  Issue 11/03, 07.11.2008

INDIA - Always In Fashion

India has always been a tremendously rich sourcing ground for fashion creativity. The world's leading fashion makers have very frequently been inspired by the diversity of India's colors, textiles and garments. In short, the country's relationship with great fashion is nothing new. It has always been there, but now, it is changing, as Indians modernize and globalize.

The 9th edition of INDIA FASHION FORUM, to be held on 27/28 January 2009 in Mumbai, Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center, will give industry experts an excellent update on all aspects of the fashion business on the subcontinent.

The Forum includes Conference, Exhibition, Fashion Shows and Fashion Awards, and is, with about 2.000 delegates, over 100 speakers and 100 exhibitors, India's leading event for fashion retail business.

The conference 2009 will chart out in concurrent brain storming sessions with captains of the industry growth paths for various segments of the business of fashion: Clothing & Textiles, Sports & Footwear, Jewellery & Watches, and Premium Fashion & Accessories. Creative fashion shows, the Lycra® Images Fashion Awards (LIFA) evening and the exhibition area, providing space for fashion brands, shopping mall developers, retail concepts, Visual Merchandising and retail support solutions, will accompany the Forum.

Clothing and fashion accessories have the lion's share in the organized retail pie in India with 38.1 % market share (all data taken from India Retail Report 2009). Most of organized retail businesses in fashion have grown fast in the last decade. Also, fashion is the category in which most global brands entered the Indian market and gained substantially. Despite high rentals, fashion and luxury retailers like Guess, Gas, Levi's, Benetton, Reebok, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Nike, Versace, Paul Smith, Valentino, Gucci, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer etc. have opened their largest stores in India and are now planning to only increase their presence in the country.

The overall value growth in 2007 over 2006 was 15.5%, while volumes grew at 5.9%. Based on the existing trend, it is projected that the Indian apparel market will grow to Rs. 1.715 bn by 2010. The menswear segment continues to take up lion’ share (40.2 %), womenswear accounts for 34.8 % market share and 24.9 % for the kidswear and uniform segments. Volumes growth has also been highest in this category at 9.3%. Largely unorganized and predominantly tailored, this category makes for a challenging opportunity for the organized branded sector. Casual and sportswear is another budding avenue where the growth is largely volume-driven. There is tremendous growth in this category, from the super-premium to the mass ranges. Unavailability of the branded stuff at the entry level and also at the top-end leaves an open field for fakes and duplicates to play upon - and this is yet another challenge that needs to be tackled by brands and organized retailers.

Parallel to the opportunities for global fashion brands there are tremendous chances for Shop Designers&Architects, shop fitters and retail support companies. In India, over 20.000 new exclusive brand outlets, 280 hypermarkets, 500 department stores, 600 shopping malls, 1.200 mega specialty stores and 3.200 Supermarkets are to be built by 2011. Besides, more than 10.000 existing stores are to undergo complete facelift. By 2010-11, about 300 million square feet of retail space will need new ideas in design, shop fitting and retail support systems. At the moment, though, shopping centre developers, brands and retailers do not have many choices.

The INDIA FASHION FORUM will open on 27th January 2009 at 9 a.m. and close on 28th January evening after the Awards Ceremony. The delegate fee including 3 nights in the 5 star-Renaissance Hotel is € 1.100.

Images Group, established in 1992 in Delhi, specializes in the publication of trade magazines and yearbooks (among those the India Retail Report), in retail intelligence, online portal services and in the organization of conferences and exhibitions in the retail sector.

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