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FASHION SCOPE

London Bridal Fashion Week on schedule despite Coronavirus

lthough a large number of fashion weeks and trade show organisers across the world are either cancelling or deferring their events due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Ocean Media, the organiser of London Bridal Fashion Week will hold its event as per schedule. 3Registrations for the event, scheduled at Excel in London from March 22-24, are following normal patterns, and have increased by 12 per cent so far. “We appreciate people’s concerns as coronavirus has been receiving a high level of media coverage. However, it does not pose much risk to UK individuals and there are no restrictions on trade or travel in the country. As the first major show in the European calendar, it is important to give retailers an opportunity to conduct their buying at a time when the risk is low and contained in the UK,” said a representative of Ocean Media, Organiser of the event.” As a responsible event organiser,

it is our prerogative to address the health and safety needs of those who attend our events,” it added. Nicola Garton, Chair of the Retail Bridalwear Association (RBA), announced her decision to support the event and encourage all retailers to attend as planned. “We shouldn’t allow speculation and hype to deter us from an opportunity to see the fabulous new collections from our suppliers,” she said. William Dicks, Chairperson of the British Bridal Suppliers Association (BBSA), added “It’s imperative for the industry to have a strong and successful trade show to kick off the new selling season. BBSA and its members are fully committed to attending LBFW and making it a successful show. UK has so far seen little more than 50 cases of coronavirus and while there’s a certain amount of nervousness among businesses, the authorities and consumers, life in general is largely carrying on as usual.

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FASHION & LIFESTYLE

Footwear brand Neeman’s raises $1 million funds

ootwear brand Neeman’s has raised $1 million (Rs 7 crore) in pre-series A funding led by Anicut Angel Fund and other angel investors. The brand will use the funds for expanding its business, product portfolio, and marketing. This investment will support the brand’s journey, as it scales up in a growing footwear market in India while targeting aware, responsible, comfort-seeking and fashionconscious customers. Neeman’s was founded in 2017 by Taran Chhabra and Amar Preet Singh and projects itself as an all-day wear brand claiming that it makes use of recyclable and chemical-free materials for its products. The brand recently launched its eco-friendly merino shoe brand in collaboration with The Woolmark Company on its e-commerce site. The collection includes classic sneakers, jogging shoes, and loafers in a range of colors.

markets. Nearly 70 per cent to 80 per cent of its turnover is from men’s footwear. Lakhani currently has a strong presence in states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Lakhani makes sports shoes, beach slippers, leather shoes, canvas shoes and EVA slippers. The company has made its mark in the footwear industry by manufacturing shoes that are high on style as well as comfort. It has been manufacturing shoes for leading brands and has established a strong alliance with the global sports apparel manufacturing giant, Adidas. The company has been providing this brand with sports shoes for the last 21 years. Lakhani has state-of-the-art plants in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

Royal enfield accessories business to spread wings beyond indian shores oyal Enfield is eyeing international markets, particularly in Europe and the Asia Pacific region to grow its nearly five-yearold apparel and accessories business. Under the segment, the company sells protective

gear such as helmets, riding jackets, gloves, trousers, shoes, shirts, T-shirts, key chain, mugs, belts and wallets. Royal Enfield motorcycles are in demand and sell in a large number of countries. So the company will focus on those markets where its motorcycle presence is already strong. For example, the brand is known in Europe, the UK, specifically. APAC is another market seen as holding huge potential. While currently the company’s range is focused on India, most riding products meet international norms, and are supplied to international markets as well. Specifically for India, the company intends to introduce products that are value for money and are competitive in terms of pricing and suitable for the Indian terrain. The company has invested a lot of time in developing products especially for India as the weather and terrain here are different from those in other markets. So for instance Royal Enfield is working with riding groups very closely. It is researching products that can be offered to cater to emerging market needs.

Sports brand Lakhani expands in West Bengal, South India

akhani is planning to strengthen its retail presence in West Bengal and South India. Depots will also come up in West Bengal to reach out to other parts of the east. The brand expects to generate revenues of around Rs 400 crores over the next four to six years. The company had reported a turnover of Rs 105 crores in fiscal ’19 and expects to close the current fiscal year at around Rs 165 crores. Lakhani has a strong presence in Tier II markets and may also explore Tier I and metro

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INDIA ENTRY

Reliance Brands brings Balenciaga to India

eliance Brands is bringing luxury fashion house Balenciaga to India. Balenciaga was founded in Spain in 1895. Balenciaga has stores in countries like Japan, Greece, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Chinese mainland. The iconic brand is known to have played a significant role in shaping global fashion through its haute couture creations and its modernistic silhouettes and is known for its product lines spanning handbags, shoes and ready to wear accessories. Reliance Brands an arm of Reliance Retail, has a portfolio of over 45 international brands that spans segments like luxury, bridge to luxury, high premium and high street lifestyle. Reliance Retail operates over 682 stores for these international brands. Balenciaga is now owned by luxury giant Kering. Balenciaga was acquired by Kering in 2001. Besides Balenciaga, other brands in Kering’s portfolio include Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Alexander Mcqueen, Ulysse Nardin, Boucheron and Brioni. Reliance Brands, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries which sells luxury labels like Ermenegildo Zegna, Brooks Brothers, and Bally in India, is sprucing up its luxury portfolio. Genesis Luxury which sells brands like Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Jimmy Choo and Canali in India was acquired by Reliance Brands in 2018. Reliance Brands has brought iconic American jewelry brand Tiffany to India.

H&M Group plans to bring fashion label ‘Cos’ to India

transforming their perception and reading of the space. This crafts a construct where a gradual, orderly unfolding of events takes place – visualisation, deliberation, and realization – with the box becoming a performance space, more for the spectator than for the installation itself. In a 21st century, digital world fixated on fast-paced transitions through time, this ‘parade’ of mannequins explores the idea of self-actualization; by juxtaposing human emotions in a spatial context, it intends to epitomize this experiential human journey and invoke a corporeal dialogue over a visual one. The ‘Parade of Souls’ is currently open at the STIR Gallery in DLF Chattarpur Farm until April 30, 2020

Bhaane brings French footwear brand Veja to India

outlets for its home furnishing vertical and may also use one floor of its largest store of about 40,000 square feet in Mall of India in Noida to sell H&M Home products.

Swiss luxury fabric brand Jakob Schlaepfer launches pop-up in India

After opening about four dozen outlets of its flagship H&M, Swedish fashion house H&M Group now plans to bring another fashion label, Cos. The brand plans to open two outlets in the Delhi region and Mumbai starting next year. Cos, an abbreviation of ‘Collection of Style’, is a mid-market fashion brand priced slightly higher than H&M with more than 290 outlets in 44 countries. The world’s second largest fashion retailer is also exploring possibilities for its other labels to tap India’s growing fashion market. Its other brands include Weekday, Monki and Araket. The brand is encouraged by strong quarterto-quarter sales for its flagship brand in India. Buoyed by the addition of new stores and aggressive pricing strategy, it reported a 45 per cent increase in sales in India for the year ended November 2019 at Rs 1,491 crore. The fast-fashion giant will also open its home furnishing vertical H&M Home that sells products such as cushion covers, blankets, curtains and accessories. The company also plans to open standalone

Swiss luxury fabric maker Jakob Schlaepfer made its first inroads into the Indian market with the launch of a pop-up installation at the STIR Gallery in DLF Chattarpur Farms, New Delhi. Conceptualised by architect Akshat Bhatt of Architecture Discipline in creative collaboration with fashion designer Amit Aggarwal, the installation titled “Parade of Souls” comprises a set of mannequins that stand dramatically within a glass box with exaggerated drapes in nine hand-picked Jakob Schlaepfer fabric pieces. The ‘Parade of Souls’ proffers itself to be more than just a representation of the textile brand’s incredibly transformative oeuvre of work and crafts a series of layered experiences through the glass box that houses it, facilitating meaningful engagement with the visitors. The mannequins seduce the observer visually,

Clothing brand Bhaane has brought French low-impact footwear brand Veja to India. Veja sneakers are made from eco-friendly materials with a sustainable production process. A small selection of the brand’s V-10 men’s and women’s sneakers will be available in VegNon Veg’s flagship store in New Delhi. VegNon Veg is a multi-brand sneaker store. Urban-contemporary clothing brand Bhaane opened in 2012. The product is meant to highlight the person wearing it and not to highlight the clothing itself. This was driven by the realization that that it’s important to have a tangible access point to share what the brand and community are about. The pricing point for Bhaane has made it accessible to the urban youth. Another advantage is the backing of a large manufacturer. The idea is to create a community of young creatives in India. For Bhaane, the medium is clothes, but it often associates with like-minded brands who use a different medium to do so. Veja prides itself on making sneakers differently and its vision combines fair trade, ecology, the economy, social initiatives and the environment. Veja uses organic or recycled and fairly traded cotton for the canvas of the shoes and wild and fairly traded rubber for the soles. Recycled plastic bottles are also used to create technological fabrics.

10 BRAND WATCH Women’s brand Imara signs on Kareena Kapoor as brand ambassador

areena Kapoor Khan is the new brand ambassador for Imara, a women’s ethnic wear brand. Imara is a part of Universal Sportsbiz’s fashion apparel portfolio. The fashion line has been conceptualized as a contemporary interpretation of the conventional and offers a refreshing take on ethnic designs. Imara finds inspiration in India’s rich heritage and has reinterpreted these timeless designs with an eye to the future of Indian fashion. The brand has a progressive take on ethnic wear and the classic ethnic pieces have modern silhouettes. The target audience is a woman who is modern, fierce and independent. The brand loves experimenting with classic silhouettes by adding that contemporary twist so that the woman of today can make Imara a part of her everyday wardrobe. Imara has moved from ethnic wear to ethno chic fashion. The brand felt celebrity endorsement would help consumers gain confidence in Imara. It and would add more weight to the brand because a celebrity lend their name only if they believe the products are of great quality, top notch aesthetic and something they see themselves using.

VIP adds luggage to women’s handbag brand Caprese

Differentiated products based on gender are actually a need gap in some product categories. Luggage is one such category. VIP Industries has over five decades of experience in the luggage sector. Apart from Caprese, VIP runs brands like Skybags, Carlton, VIP Bags, and Aristocrat.

exaggerated-sole sneakers entered the men’s ranking for the first time. In footwear, Prada’s Monolith boots entered the hottest women’s products list, with searches for the new style growing 994 per cent in the fourth quarter. The index has been compiled from analysis of online shopping behavior of more than nine million shoppers a month and also adds in Google search data and social media metrics.

SS Homme rebrands itself, changes name to Sarah & Sandeep SS Homme will now be known as Sarah & Sandeep. The new name represents the designer duo at the helm of the brand operations, Sarah Shaikh Gonsalves and Sandeep Gonsalves, who are known for being menswear specialists and connoisseurs of the minimal design aesthetic. The Sarah & Sandeep flagship store houses the latest collections by the designers and at the same time provides bespoke consultations for business wardrobe and festive styling. Each Sarah & Sandeep bespoke consultant is trained in giving the best possible bespoke consultation for both Indian and western designs.

Lyst selects off-white as the hottest brand

VIP’s brand Caprese includes women’s travel luggage in addition to women’s hand bags. The recently launched range is available on the brand’s online portal and at various physical points of sale across the country. The move comes as a recognition of the dearth of offering in the luggage category that is specifically developed to appeal to modern women. It is this gap in the market which VIP is now addressing with luggage that is visibly differentiated and created to appeal to women of today who consider their luggage as an extension and reflection of their evolved persona rather than just a utilitarian product. Increasingly women are looking for products that are a marvelous blend of both fashion and functionality. This new range of women’s luggage is a fashionable travel partner for this modern woman. The products are not only visually different but have features more conducive to women’s packing needs. The range is priced between Rs 4000 and Rs 8000, and comes in various sizes.

Off-White is the hottest brand on the planet, reveals latest Lyst Index. The brand is known for T-shirts, hoodies, sneakers and accessories. Search volume for Off-White hoodies grew 90 per cent in the fourth quarter. Searches for Bottega Veneta rose 32 per cent. Off-White is followed by Gucci, Balenciaga, Moncler, Versace, Fendi, Prada, Valentino, Saint Laurent and Burberry. Branded products remained key during the period and the Gucci logo belt was the world’s hottest fashion product. It averaged 1,65,000 online monthly searches and is a serious contender for hottest product of the decade. But not all the favorite products were branded. Overall, seasonal demand for insulated outerwear and robust footwear was the biggest driver in the quarter, while the impact of influencers continued to be seen in these product areas. Sneakers also remained popular. The Alexander McQueen

The rebranding initiative comes after the brand has developed a more design-focused approach towards formal western and Indian styles. The intent is to grow as a designer label and to create extraordinary styles for men. The new collection celebrates the evolutionary heroic attributes of Indian grooms and is made of festive attire that represents the progress towards contemporary cultures. The highlights of the collection are carefully crafted couture sherwanis that have been hand-embellished with the use of beads, pintucked bandhgalas with mock flaps and bandi sets made with intricate fabric manipulation. The aim was to create festive styles for modern men who endeavor to adapt, change and pave the way for the evolutionary process. The design is future forward.

12 BRAND WATCH Kartik Aaryan roped in as Flying Machine jeans’ brand ambassador ndia’s first homegrown denim brand, Flying Machine, launched a new campaign for the season, with Kartik Aaryan. With this collaboration, the brand seeks to connect with the fun, quirky and cool youth that Kartik Aaryan is said to lead and influence. The campaign shows him flaunting the freshest and coolest styles of the coming season, with the youthful candour and appeal that only he can. The collection boasts of edgy colours and flattering denims, that add oomph to the Spring-Summer collection of 2020. Its parent company, Arvind Fashions is home to over 20 national and international brands. With 1,500 stand-alone stores and 5,000 departmental and multi-brand stores across India, Arvind Fashions is a pioneer in introducing global brands into India. The company has successfully introduced ARROW, the first international menswear brand in India in 1993 and today licenses several brands like GAP, GANT, Aeropostale, U.S Polo Association, The Children’s Place, Ed Hardy, Sephora among others. Arvind Fashions was responsible for establishing Flying Machine, India’s first iconic, home-grown youth apparel brand in 1980.

Ranbir Kapoor is the face of Single

Ranbir Kapoor has signed up as the brand ambassador for men’s wear brand Single. The brand from fashion retailer Universal Sportsbiz offers T-shirt styles such as typo tees, omber, tie and dye and pop color tees, denims, joggers, shorts and easy casual shirts. The target is young men who like to look their best without trying too hard. Single is available online on fashion platform Myntra and offline at Shoppers Stop and Central stores across India. The brand embodies Ranbir Kapoor’s sense of style and at the same time gives every man the opportunity to up their style quotient while becoming the cynosure of all eyes. Universal Sportsbiz, founded in 2012, is backed by the cricketer and celebrity Sachin Tendulkar and owns a number of sports apparel brands including Wrogn which it launched in 2015. Other apparel brands include the women’s wear brands MsTaken and Imara. Imara is for women and promoted by Shraddha Kapoor. Collections at Imara include tops, kurtas, sets, bottoms and a wide range of ethnic wear. Wrogn is promoted by Virat Kohli and is designed to attract young men, who have the courage to make their own choices in their lives. Universal Sportsbiz has an etailing platform, Collectabillia, which sources and sells sports memorabilia and autographed merchandise of iconic players.

Kapaas n Resham to foray in the US market In line with the goal of taking the beauty of the

Indian handwoven garments and the fashion culture of the country to the world, fashion brand Kapaas n Resham is extending its reach to women in the United States. In India, the brand is known for creating handwoven cotton and silk garments for women in both Indian, Indian fusion, and western wear. It offers a plethora of garments, drapes, and stoles in the purest form, including silk and cotton. The label currently has hundreds of customers across the world, enjoying their clean cuts and a couture finish in contemporary designs.

The India-based fashion brand stays true to the essence of the Indian fashion culture, procuring all its fabrics from the weaver communities of Odisha, Telangana, Kutch, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and helping weavers get their creativity to the world. Kapaas n Resham has an exclusive range of garments from Indian Ethnic Weaves, including Kotpad Dresses and Designs, dupattas and sarees, Tassars, and Mangalgiries.

Gujarat-based Sajke creates a niche with ethical fashion

Sajke brings forward sustainable, ecofriendly and ethical fashion clothing created by artisans who handcraft their art in an environment-friendly manner. The brand,

based in Gujarat, offers an exquisite artisanal crafts collection that boasts of bespoke clothing and jewelry. Organic dyes are used on the 100 percent cotton products. The target is a woman who is kind-hearted, well-aware, independent and believes in donning trendforward yet sustainable fashion. No stage in the production of any garment causes any harm to the environment. The endeavor is to produce sustainable garments without compromising on aesthetics. The human touch is apparent, with fascinating variations that cannot be replicated by machines. Painstaking effort goes into every stage of making each fabric. It is a celebration of ecological integrity. Plants, nature and people are involved at each step. Sajke’s craftsamen endeavor in making timeless designs. The brand encourages its craftspeople to revive the beauty that depicts the versatility of one of the oldest crafts of India, but with a modern touch. The clothes lines and jewelry collections are depictions of eloquent work on soft handloom-spun fabric made for the modern, aware woman. ⁣In this age, where machines churn out fabric imitations, Indian crafts are created, with meticulous detail, by hand, with great skill and care. This factor alone makes the artisanal craft of great value and appeal.

Women’s ethnic wear Chidiyaa focuses on natural, simple aesthetic Women’s ethnic wear brand Chidiyaa has a natural, simple aesthetic. The brand offers hand-printed saris, separates, accessories. The latest collection features striped kurta sets, bright silk blouses, hand printed saris and polka-dot print pieces. The target audience is a woman who is a dreamer. Founded in 2016, the brand has flagships in New Delhi and Gurgaon. The New Delhi store has a modern, industrial aesthetic with a cement floor and walls mixed with shelves made from natural wood and mannequins made from bent wire. The space has a neutral color palette and the high ceilings give the feeling of open space. The brand holds a large number of pop-up stores to showcase its designs across India’s metros where it does not have a brick-and-mortar presence. The brand also holds shopping events in Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Chidiyaa, meaning sparrow, is driven by a passion for crafts and tradition from all over India. The brand keeps the silhouettes classic while paying great attention to the purity of the fabrics used. Prints and weaves are designed in house and curated from artisans across villages in India. From exclusive hand blocks from the deserts of Kutch to weaves from Andhra and silks from Benaras, the brand presents age-old crafts with a niche contemporary twist.

14 BRAND RETAIL Uniqlo set to open third store in India

including Calvin Klein and Levi’s. Back in 2018, Lotus Make-up India Fashion Week held a rainbow-theme grand finale to celebrate LGBTQIA+ rights with 40 fashion designers. The fashion industry has arguably led the way towards equality post-article 377 and used creativity to champion diversity.

Louis Philippe adds another store in Odisha, its seventh in the state

apanese fashion retailer Uniqlo will soon open its third store in India at DLF Avenue mall in Delhi. Japanese brand Uniqlo one of the world’s top fashion retailers opened its maiden store in the country in Delhi in October at Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, followed by its second store in Gurugram’s DLF CyberHub that draws a large office going crowd. The retailer’s third store in Delhi’s Saket area will be spread over 21,500 square feet of retail space over two floors. It operates more than 2,200 outlets in 23 countries, including China, the US, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. Uniqlo’s first store in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj is spread over around 35,000 sq. ft. in scales across three levels. The stores feature prominent storefront branding through UNIQLO’s unique red colour. The second store is located at DLF Place Saket.

Shoppers Stop opens 90th store in India

Shoppers Stop recently opened its 90th store in India with a outlet in Hyderabad. The new store spread over 30,000 sq ft has brought together more than 200 brands including MAC, Clinique, KIKO Milano, Bvlgari, Armani among others. The store also has OMNI channel capabilities, including Click-and-Collect from the Shoppers Stop website and app to access inventory from the entire chain of 90 stores across the country. The store is designed by Schwitzke & Partners and is truly international. It brings back the joy of shopping through inspiring displays, spacious trial rooms and classy and modern internationals. Shoppers Stop also houses exclusive brands like Jones New York, Glam Lifestyle by Disha Patani. The store also houses a drop box that is open to all donations which will be passed to families in rural India through the NGO Goonj.

House of Masaba launches new pop-up in Jaipur The House of Masaba has launched a popup shop for its latest collections in Jaipur. The popup was set up in collaboration with multi-brand luxury boutique Chrisalis. It will

run until February 13 and feature the brand’s new ‘Chronicles of Femininity’ collection as well as items from Masaba’s spring/summer 2020 collection giving the cities shoppers the chance to browse the brand’s clothing offline. Gupta also launched a new LGBTQIA+ positive campaign for her Valentine’s collection with the slogan “Pyar Kiya Toh Gender Kya.” The campaign features Gupta’s friend Anisha Sharma and her partner Bhakti C who model floaty, printed garments and talk about their love. Shruti Venkatesh and her partner Haima Simoes also feature in the campaign.

Following the termination Article 377, a number of Indian fashion brands have expressed their support for the LGBTQIA+ community in campaigns and on the runway. As an increasing number of Indian brands embrace a more inclusive vision of beauty, a number of LGBTQIA+ models have also found fame including Nepali transgender model Anjali Lama who is based in India and has recently modeled for international brands

Leading premium menswear brand Louis Philippe has launched a new store in Bhubaneswar spread over 1200 sq. ft. This is the brands seventh store in Odisha. The new store offers the brand’s latest collections including Permapress, The Finest Wrinkle Free, the timeless Gods and Kings Range, the superior and the exclusive Luxury Wedding, LP Luxor and the highly performance-driven Athwork Line. The store also offers latest styles from LP Sports and LP Jeans to lend a sharp style and finesse to men’s wardrobe. Louis Philippe lends a sharp style and finesse to men’s wardrobes. Permapress features a clean and minimal aesthetic in slim silhouettes and classic colors. Key pieces from the collection feature shirts constructed with high quality two ply cotton fabrics with patented finishing. For suits and blazers, premium poly/ wool fabrics with stretch add on flair and functionality along with a natural comfort for all weather. Exclusive features include utility pockets which enhance the craftsmanship. Louis Philippe aims at exceeding customer expectations and enhancing their experience at its stores by offering excellent quality, superior craftsmanship and an unparallel retail experience. The stores have a vast ensemble of premium fashion trends for every occasion. Louis Philippe which defines class, elegance, and status is a purveyor of fine clothing for the discerning gentleman. The brand was introduced in India in 1989 and three decades later the brand logo, the crest, is prized for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. Louis Philippe stands for design, craftsmanship, innovation, functionality and performance. With clean and refined aesthetics, the range of clothing comes with functionalities which leave a lasting impression.

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16 BRAND RETAIL Metro Cash & Carry to open five more stores

etro Cash & Carry plans to open five more stores in India this year. These will be in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Metro Cash & Carry, based in Germany, retails a wide range of fast moving consumer goods including clothing, luggage, cosmetics, personal care goods, and accessories as well as groceries. It entered India in 2003 and operates in 17 cities including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad. Metro Cash & Carry is a business-to-business wholesaler, serving the needs of traders, hotels, restaurants, caterers, offices and institutions. Metro is a €59 billion company globally and half of that business comes from the cash and carry format. The business has seen a profit in India for its past two financial years and thinks India is a big growth market, with opportunity for growth in both physical stores and e-commerce. As part of its expansion plans for the country, it has partnered with around 2000 kirana stores in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. These have been provided point of sale devices which feature an app that allows store owners to order goods from Metro online and get sales reports. The device also facilitates card payments.

Citykart to open stores in smaller cities

channel to widen its consumer base in the country. Nearly 15 per cent of sales comes from the e-commerce platform and an additional five per cent of the sales come from its own website. Asics has opened its first store in Sri Lanka and is also looking at other South Asian markets like Bangladesh. Initially, Asics will look at increasing the presence of the brand through the distribution route and later look at opening stores. Growing health consciousness among Indian consumers is fuelling the demand for performance products in the footwear segment, especially in the running shoes category.

Torani launches first flagship store in New Delhi

far, New Delhi-based Citykart, has utilised 30 per cent of the funds raised in expanding its footprint and product range. Citykart will continue to offer exciting products to middle income consumers as per their fashion preferences. The aim is to tap untapped retail opportunities by opening modern retail stores across various small towns and cities of India and strengthen its back-end operations.

Asics to open 15 stores

Citykart plans to open 30 to 35 stores especially in Tier III and IV cities. As of now, there are 53 stores in 47 cities across UP, Bihar, Nagaland and Assam. Stores range in size from 8,000 sq ft to 13,500 sq ft. All stores are company owned and company operated. The plan is to go into Orissa and tap the northeast. Launched in 2016, Citykart is an accessible and affordable value retail chain dealing in categories including fashion, furnishing and general household articles. It caters to fashion aspirations of customers in non-metro cities with apparels and accessories like bags, sunglasses, wallets and footwear. The spring/ summer collection comprises trendy outfits in quirky prints and lively colors. The business has grabbed the attention of leading investors in the country including IDFC Alternatives and India SME Investments. So

Asics plans to open 15 new stores in 2020 across metros, Tier I and II markets of India. As of now, the brand has 43 stores across the country, which are run by franchisee partners. But, in the long term, it could also look at opening company-owned stores under the FDI policy for single- brand retail. In addition, Asics intends to ramp up local sourcing to be able to open its own stores through the single-brand retail route in the long term. The brand has started exporting to countries like Thailand. The Japanese sportswear company is also betting big on the online

Ethnic wear brand Torani launched its first flagship store in New Delhi with its festive 2020 collection ‘Kala sha Kala’. The new store’s entrance features a palatial arched doorway and gold lettering with the brand’s signature elephant mascot. The inside of the store brings to mind a summer wedding as hundreds of roses and flowers hang from the ceiling. A tree stands in the middle of the store adorned with bells and guarded by a large statue of a cow and other ceremonial items are placed throughout the store to add to the opulent and sacred atmosphere mirrored in the brands designs inspired by Indian mythology. Miniature versions of Torani’s designs are displayed on the walls in glass frames and a cement floor and ceiling add a neutral touch. Clothing is colour coded with hues ranging from bright, turmeric yellow, to mint green.

18 BRAND RETAIL Value fashion retailer Easybuy to open 200 stores by 2022

andmark Group’s value fashion brand Easybuy plans to open 200 stores by 2022. It aims to cross a store count 100 in 2020 itself. To achieve this, it plans to expand its store network to North and East India. It also aims to continue to open stores in South India until it has a store in every district headquarters. The retailer recently entered the East Indian market and opened three stores in Orissa and two in West Bengal. Easybuy will continue to build on its presence in the region and begin expanding into North India. The brand will expand with an average store size of 5,500 square feet. For retail expansion, the brand plans to adopt the omnichannel route through its key parameters such us offline presence, capabilities in terms of supply chain, technology, etc. Launched in 2014, Easybuy retails menswear, women’s wear, and children’s wear as well as accessories.

Max fashion expands store network in Goa

Fashion brand, Max Fashion recently expanded its store network in Goa by launching its fourth store in the state at Mapusa. Spread over 13,000 sq. ft, the new store offers menswear, womens wear, kidswear or accessories. Max Fashion is a prominent fashion brand and its products are sold online and on Android & iPhone apps. The brand is owned by the Landmark Group and is said to have pioneered the concept of ‘latest fashion at great prices’ in India thereby offering the discerning shopper a vast choice with international fashion and quality. The brand’s product portfolio includes apparel, footwear and accessories that are of the latest fashion trends. Globally Max has over 400 stores across 19 countries, while in India, there are more than 300 Max stores across 110 cities.

is experimental and doesn’t want to look like anyone else on her most important day. The store also has men’s wear and accessories. Notable items include a Nehru-style bomber jacket made from metal yarn. Accessories are also placed throughout the store including a range of triangle-shaped metal handbags and slip-on heels. A large screen that resembles a wall of water showcases Dadu’s signature wire-textile technique and platforms for shoes and accessories are reminiscent of ancient Greek ruins. Historical touches coupled with smoothly curved furniture and even curved walls create a highly conceptual mix of the modern and the ancient. This bridal wear brand opened in 2007. The design philosophy is lead by instinct which lends an alternative perspective to the use of traditional materials by the way of unorthodox yet intuitive hand craft techniques and vice versa. Often this involves deconstruction, modification and reassembly into a new form. Common design details feature micro elements being enlarged into macro proportions or on a similar strain printed patterns being built into three dimensional surfaces.

Women’s wear brand Osaa opens flagship in New Delhi

Rimzim Dadu opens flagship in Delhi’s luxe mall

Rimzim Dadu has opened a new flagship store in New Delhi’s luxe mall DLF Emporio. This is Dadu’s first flagship store after 12 years in fashion. The store houses saris and lehengas made from metal wire. Hair-thin wires are softened and then each wire is cross sewn individually to make unique surfaces. These saris are meant for the new Indian bride who

Women’s wear brand Osaa by Adarsh has opened a flagship store in New Delhi’s Ambawatta One in Mehrauli to showcase designer Adarsh Makharia’s latest collection of bridal and ethnic wear. The store houses Osaa by Adarsh’s latest collection ‘Nishiki’ with a selection of sariss, lehengas, suits, and gowns. Makharia conceptualised the store in collaboration with scenographer Swarup Dutta. The space features opulent chandeliers, a living-room-esque seating area, and long, wooden rods used to display intricately embellished traditional wear on a soft, neutral background. The pieces in the new collection are inspired by Japan’s art of gold weaving with intricate three-dimensional patterns woven with multicoloured threads, Makharia launched his womenswear label in 2013 and the brand is based in Kolkata. The brand specialises in bridal couture and works with artisans and craftspeople across India.

20 COLLECTIONS Vero Moda showcases Spring Summer 2020 collection in Mumbai

o mark its 10th anniversary Bestseller India Group’s in-house brand Vero Moda showcased its Spring/Summer collection at the Lalit Hotel in Mumbai. The creative bespoke concept was directed by Nuno Rosa, Creative Head of Visual Merchandising, & E-Commerce Styling Manager at VERO MODA INDIA in collaboration with Brandmela Group. The colorful, dynamic and fashionable versatile collection had a great blueprint as yellow background of circular top parasols was placed, across the set display, which added the summer vibe into the brand presentation. To link the three main lines that the brand has in house as Vero Moda, Vero Curve and Vero Moda, the brand created an equal display module using a group of three painted mannequins placed on top of circular textured podiums along with a transparent acrylic sheet of 8ft of a vibrant pink panel.

Ogaan showcases new Eka collection in Mumbai

Grado’s latest range celebrates blue

colorful button holes and embroidered details and obi-style belts and kimono-esque jackets add a Japanese flavour. Designer Rina Singh launched Eka in January, 2011. The brand won the Elle Graduates Award in 2015, the Vogue India Fashion Fund in 2016, and was a Woolmark Prize finalist in 2016. Eka retails from multibrand stores across India and online.

Vrisa new collections is mix of prints and embroidery

Multi-brand luxury womenswear boutique Ogaan presented sustainable clothing brand Eka’s spring/ summer collection at its store in Kala Ghoda. The event gave Mumbai’s shoppers their first chance to shop the brand’s spring/ summer collection which was made in part by artisans from remote craft clusters in Telangana over the past year. Eka’s latest collection featured signature loose, relaxed silhouettes and natural fibre textiles. With a color palette of neutral tones and powder pinks, the collection is nuanced and demure. A touch of whimsy is added with

The Jaipur-based brand Women’s wear, focuses on sustainable fashion and preserving India’s textile and craft heritage through modern design and has two lines Vrisa and Vrisa Classic. Vrisa references the tribal aesthetic of borders between Rajasthan and Kutch to create a collection rich in Bandhani prints and Kutch embroidery. Multiple pieces are layered together to create an effortlessly cool look. Vrisa is all about elegance and delicacy put together. Its cultural influence of states with a taste of modern outlook is shown through its sophisticated clothing. All the pieces are handcrafted and handmade with love, keeping in mind the cultural beauty of different states. The label improvises on the age old craft and textile of the country while throwing in a myriad cuts, patterns, hand embroideries, stitching, detailings along with the delicate play of basic colors. Sustainable clothing is what it is working on. The brand retails from its flagship stores in New Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai and its dedicated e-commerce store.

Women’s brand Vrisa’s new collection mixes a multitude of floral prints with textured, floral embroidery to create the image of a lush, spring garden. The brand’s signature loose, fusion wear silhouettes and full skirts present a relaxed yet romantic take on femininity.

Grado’s new collection celebrates the color blue. Reminiscent of the evening sky, this color signifies life and vitality. This new range is available in cotton, blends of poly cotton, poly viscose and fine wool blends. With an enormous array of shades in place, the range boasts of classic blue, teal, turquoise, azure, cyan, Prussian blue, steel blue, among others. The range of blues encompasses both classic styles and more modern hues. Blue is a color of timeless elegance. The shades range from pastels which are great for bundis to deeper tones for formal wear. Aquamarines and turquoise are new shades which are seen in contemporary fashion and that have been developed in-house. Grado is a coming together of synergies from legacy brands Grasim and OCM, with an intent to offer the entire product basket to consumers – ranging from synthetics to cottons to worsted under the same brand umbrella. The brand offers a plethora of fabrics in the men’s and women’s wear segments– suits, shirts, trousers and jackets. Its color trends are fast-paced and ever-shifting similar to fashion trends. The design team travels around the globe to sense the pulse of the market. This year’s color, blue, is set to instill calm, confidence, and connection. Grado’s brand ambassador is Amitabh Bachchan.

COLLECTIONS Arvind launches United by Indigo

rvind has launched a denim collection named United by Indigo. The collection features fabrics made with Hybrid Lycra that uses Lycra and T 400 yarns in combination with cotton yarns. United by Indigo includes Infiknity, a new line of fabrics that focuses on knit constructions for indigo-inspired active wear, and Mutants, which combines the rugged aesthetic of traditional denim with the comfort of knits. The collection also offers updates of the mill’s existing product ranges Azurite, Boomerang and Self-Edge. The overall theme for United by Indigo is denim and denim-inspired fabrics with soft, plush textures—a trend that taps into the demand for comfort and garments that fit into consumers’ 24/7 lifestyles. Arvind, one of India’s largest denim manufacturers, was established in the 1980s and now powers major brands throughout Europe, the US and Asia. It has partnered with Gap to open an innovation center and invest in a water treatment facility to eliminate the use of fresh water at Arvind’s denim mill in Ahmedabad. These initiatives set them up to save three billion liters of fresh water and preserve the local community’s freshwater resources by the end of 2020. Arvind is constantly inspired by consumers’ free-spirited pursuit of an experiential lifestyle.

H&M to sell Sabyasachi Mukherjee designed saris in India

to November financial year, and reported sales growth of 45 per cent in 2019. With China facing factory shutdowns due to outbreak, H&M may look at increased sourcing from India for its global needs. However a large numbers of H&M stores are located in the US and Europe, and since India doesn’t have a free trade agreement with them, sourcing from India is expensive.

Groversons Paris Beauty unveiled new summer collection Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) will soon offer saris for Indian women. The Swedish retailer stocks fast fashion created in-house and teams up with designers for one-time collections, but so far has restricted its merchandise to western wear. This is for the first time H&M will be selling ethnic wear. The saris have been designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee and will be mass-priced. Basically H&M is trying to create interest for the collection with merchandise going beyond the conventional western wear. In India, ethnic wear is the single biggest category in women’s wear, accounting for over 70 per cent of the segment with saris controlling a third of the market. H&M has opened a store a month in India on an average so far since its entry in October 2015. The retailer has 47 doors and follows a December

Groversons Paris Beauty, a high-end lingerie brand showcased the new summer collection for the year 2020 through a fashion show with international models for all the top retailers and distributors of Patna. The event was hosted at Hotel, The Panache on behalf of Groversons Paris Beauty on 09th February 2020 from 12:30 am onwards. This event highlighted Groversons Paris Beauty exclusive range of printed & padded T-shirt bra, Premium & fancy lace Bra, Sports

Bra, Plus size Bra, Sleepwear and Brief collection in front of more than 300 retailers and distributors. The new summer collection had a wide range of peppy prints ranging from stripes to florals with a combination of vibrant hues of pink, lavender, aqua blue, butter yellow and many more. After the launch, Mr Siddharth Grover, Director, Groversons Group, said “Launching new collection is always a special moment and a tremendous achievement. It prompted us to give something back to our valuable women customers that have stood behind us and made this journey possible.”

Neva launches Sweatfree spring summer collection 2020 Neva Garments Limited is proudly launching all new SweatfFree Spring Summer collection 2020. These days people have become more conscious regarding health and fitness. During exercise some people face sweat problems so, Neva introduces Sweatfree Technology treated Activewear Collection. Mr. Nirmal Kumar Jain (The Managing Director of Neva Garments) stated that along with other fashion wear collection, Neva dedicatedly focused on activewears by giving its 100% in order to give best of the both worlds to our customers. To achieve this goal Neva collaborated with R|Elan (Reliance`s Company). Neva used R|Elan Kooltex 2.0 fabric which will absorb the sweat from skin and will transfer it to the Upper layer of fabric to evaporate the sweat into the air without leaving any odour. The person will always feel fresh and active without any sticky skin.Our this new collection is very comfortable, stylish and eye catchy. It has vibrant colours. Neva always believe in providing the international quality products with some innovative techniques at reasonable prices. The director of Neva Garments Ltd, Ms. Niti Jain has announced that the collection is now available at your near by stores. So don’t delay anymore to grab your favorite style.

22 COVER STORY

Spotlight on India as global brands tap on local tastes to make inroads

Several global brands have already made inroads in India over the past few years. Buoyed by their success, many Asian brands now plan to enter this lucrative market. Meanwhile, some successful global brands have also tweaked their product basket to introduce ethnic lines to attract more Indian consumers

ashion and accessories brands from around the world are waking up to the growing purchasing power of the aspirational Indian consumer. A rapidly growing middle-class and increasingly powerful manufacturing sector is making the country too important for international brands to ignore. A recent McKinsey report suggests, over 300 international brands are expected to open stores in India in the next two years.

Global brands gain ground with large sales volumes International brands like Zara, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren are

• Over 300 brands are expected open stores in India in the next two years. • Since its launch, Zara has sold over $100 million worth of products in India • H&M plans a sari collection in collaboration with Sabyasachi Mukherjee • Asian brands like Udon Komadori, Lush Addiction, Seoul Garden, etc plan to enter India in the next one year • Launching ethnic ranges helps global brands drive walk-ins from those consumers who do not wear western outfits seeking newer avenues for growth in India. Having over 17 stores in the country with more in the planning state, Zara has become the first brand to sell over $100 million worth of products in India. The Swatch group has

made a mark with large sales volumes for its brands. For nearly a decade, the brand’s stores in India were run by the Tata Group. However, it plans to soon build its own apparel range that will be available at half the price.

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There is likely to be 10 per cent growth in the number of brands entering India over the next one year as compared to a year ago. Brands from Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, China and Korea are looking to enter the Indian fashion market in next one year. Unlike Zara, H&M has been more aggressive in store expansion. Averaging nearly one store every month, the brand has opened around 41 outlets in the country so far. The Swedish retailer also offers its merchandise at a lower price. The brand opened its first India store in October 2015. It plans to soon launch an India specific festive collection which will offer locally-inspired paisley prints, along with bright sequined jackets for women, and shirts for men. The launch of this collection will be supported by a digital marketing campaign. Another player that has done immensely well in India over the last 12 years is the PVH Group. The group operates leading brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein brands, and has set up more than 200 selling points across India including 97 exclusive stores. As a luxury watch and accessories brand, Michael Kors is already present in three Indian metros and offers a wide range of products such as apparel, accessories, watches, eyewear, fragrances and much more.

Going local to attract desi customers H&M’s move to localise its offerings for the India market comes after Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo launched a kurta collection in collaboration with local designer Rina Singh. One of Japan’s largest fashion brands, Uniqlo opened its Indian first store at the New Delhi’s Ambience Mall in October 2019. The 35,000sq. ft. store is the first of the three outlets that the brand opened in India in the current year. The other Uniqlo stores have come up in Gurugram’s Cyber Hub and South Delhi’s tony DLF Mall recently. The brand, whose pricing is influenced by the high import duties imposed on apparels in India, plans more outlets in the National Capital Region and Mumbai, Bengaluru. As per Tomohiko Sei, Chief Executive of the brand, eventually they plan to open across all big cities in India. H&M recently announced plans to introduce a sari collection in collaboration with designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Experts cite a high growth rate seen in the ethnic apparel segment as a reason for this newfound interest in the category. According to Technopak, the total Indian ethnic wear market is valued at Rs 70,000 crore; women’s ethnic wear has an 85 per cent (Rs 59,500 crore) share in the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10 per cent till 2022. While a large share

of this market remains unorganised, existing organised players such as FabIndia and Manyavar have tasted success. Moreover multinational brands are not looking at a pure-play offering in this segment, but plan to leverage this category to drive their growth further into the country. As Rajat Wahi, Partner at Deloitte India says, the objective is to make the brand a bit more local. Launching ethnic ranges helps global brands drive walkins from those consumers who do not wear western outfits.

Asian brands eyeing Indian market Buoyed with the success of European brands and some Asian brand like Miniso and Uniqlo, several Asian brands such as UdonKomadori, Lush Addiction, Seoul Garden, Killiney and Spice Box have planned their India entry over the next one year. As Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Frabcguse India

Holdings notes, there is likely to be 10 per cent growth in the number of brands entering India over the next one year as compared to a year ago. Brands from Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, China and Korea are looking to enter the Indian fashion market in next one year. Low cost retailers such as Miniso and Yoyoso, Korean lifestyle brand Ximiso, and Japanese retailer of household and consumer goods, Muji have already set their foot in the country. In fact, since its arrival Miniso claims to have generated sales of Rs 700 crore in its first year from 26 outlets.The brand currently has 102 stores in India and plans to open another 800 stores by the end of 2020. VRP Telematics owned 2358 fast fashion that retails Korean fast-fashion and has stores across India, is planning to increase the reach across India, with a special focus on the emerging cities. As per Chandana

24 COVER STORY Gupta, Director-Sales, VRP Telematics, three factors will bring huge momentum to fast-fashion products in the country. Firstly, India is a country with a huge millennial crowd with penetration of mobile phones at grass-root level. Secondly, India is the largest middle-class population their aspiration for looking good has always been high who look for fashion at affordable rates. Following education/medical equipment, beauty and saloons, food and beverages, fashion have the maximum demand in terms of the franchise.

Promoting healthier fashion Besides focusing on affordability, these brands are responding to the industry’s call for action on ‘healthier’ fashion. With sustainability gaining traction across the globe, they are going all out to align their operations with better environmental practices. H&M Group has avowed to use cotton from sustainable sources only. Similarly, Uniqlo has announced a revised Environmental Policy

which identifies five areas of action – climate change, energy efficiency, water stewardship, waste management and resource efficiency, and chemical management. Brands are also mulling alternate ways of being more responsible. In contrast to fast fashion, they are opting for slow fashion which offers longevity, longer production cycles and is more qualitative. This can be seen from the example of Uniqlo which recently partnered Japanese retailer Toray to develop a new technology to incorporate recycled materials into its collections.

Inculcating patterns

positive

shopping

Meanwhile many brands are offering clothes on rent as fractional sharing permits many to experience or use the product without having to own it entirely. This not only reduces the consumers need to buy excess products but also alleviates the environmental burden as

“Multinational brands are not looking at a pure-play offering in ethnic segment, but plan to leverage this category to drive their growth further into the country” well. Proving to be a boon for such customers, The Clothing Rental, a rental service offers original pieces of clothing on rent to its clients. This helps its consumers to be trendy yet sustainable. And brands are also educating customers about positive shopping patterns that benefit everyone. For example, Uniqlo has launched an initiative called ‘Eco Bag’ that focuses on eliminating plastic shopping bags. These efforts are changing mindsets with the consciousness to produce and wear better growing, leading to a more eco-friendly future.

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Oxemberg launches two new denim ranges branded clothes, they are willingly to pay a higher price for comfort, style, fabric, colors etc. “Buying capacity has increased and one is more willingly to spend extra on buying good things,” adds Awasthi. “One of the biggest changes is the growing importance of ‘customer service’ where grievances are addressed instantly by brands,” he opines.

Local collaboration to aid global brands With more brands penetrating the Indian market, a new gateway for customers to choose new colors, textures, styles etc, has opened. “However, rural market is still dominated by local players as customers prefer buying from traditional shops,” says Awasthi. He feels, it will take some time for international brands, to build trust in the minds of these consumers as their buying capacity is less. “Joint venture with local players will help global brands make better inroads,” Awasthi sums up.

he entry of global brands in Indian markets has changed the branded RMG segment. Gone are the days when clothes were made in plain and basic styles and were available in limited colors. “Now, they are available in a variety of fabrics, textures, shades, styles and patterns,” says Prashant Awasthi, Marketing Head, Oxemberg which recently launched two new jeans range. “Our X-Factor jeans are designed to provide extra balance, focus, energy and confidence; ‘No Care’ jeans have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and spill-proof properties to shield an individual from harmful bacteria present in atmosphere,” explains Awasthi.

Digitalisation leads to more choices Being a country of festivals, there are outfits available for all occasions, office, wedding, functions etc. “Today, it’s a market of OOTD (outfit of the day) and selfies as people like wearing new outfits and clicking photographs. Being a world of rapid digitalisation, international brands launched their own websites to introduce new offers, campaigns, loyalty programs, etc. This enables their consumers to compare outfits and choose as per their preference,” says Awasthi. With a growing number of people choosing

26 IF EXCLUSIVE

1090F to Expand retail footprint

aunched in 2006 by Creative Lifestyles, 1090F is a leading women’s western wear brand. In a relatively short span of time, the brand has seen tremendous success in overseas markets like the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Nepal and Iraq. At the moment, the brand is engaged in consolidating its operations by closing down non-profitable stores and improving bottom lines. “Once we finish this process, we aim to resume our retail expansion and set up more MBOs across India,” explains Rahul Mehta, Director, Creative Lifestyles.

Celebrating classy, trendy styles in a fresh color palette Aimed at women in the age group 25 to 35 years, 1090F is positioned to meet the needs of the fashion conscious Indian consumer, who aspires to be on par with international trends but is sensitive to Indian norms and

sensibilities. “Our creations are designed to celebrate fresh shades and latest trends. The colour palette, cuts and styles, fabrics, trims and accessories are well-planned and executed. Classy, trendy, westerns enable our customers to create their own individual styles,” adds Mehta.

Western styles replace traditional attires From being confined to just party wear, Western wear today has evolved to being fully acceptable at the work place and festivals. “Higher population of youth, growing modernisation, exposure to international fashion and urbanisation are driving segment growth. Western wear such as denim, leggings, jeggings, etc, are replacing traditional salwars especially in metros,” Mehta opines. Women’s western wear make up around 35 per cent of the entire western wear market. Of this, the market for women’s T-shirts is around

10 per cent. “The market is largely confined to women in the range 30-35 years in metros and 20-23 years in other regions,” he notes, talking about the women T-shirt segment in general.

Social sensitivities restricting growth of premium brands Social sensitivities restrict the use of T-shirts among women, especially in the mature age group. “As T-shirts tend to be figure hugging, many women are not comfortable wearing them” says Mehta. Hence, the share of super premium brands in this segment is minimal. Non-branded T-shirts, priced around Rs 1, 000, make up around 80 per cent of the total market. On other hand, T-shirts from better known brands sell in the range Rs 1,200Rs 1,500. “In future, this category is expected to record exponential growth as the percentage of population below 35 years is likely to grow rapidly” adds Mehta.

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Popular women’s lingerie maker Groversons launches first international range

ncepted with the aim of making comfortable and fashionable lingerie for every Indian woman, Groversons has been building a lingerie heritage for over six decades. The brand caters to a wide variety of taste with its styles, fabrics, colors and patterns. Recently, Groversons launched its first international range that “uses premium lace, rose gold adjusters and premium fabrics,” explains Siddharth Grover, Director of the brand.

Boosting self-confidence comfortable lingerie

through

A brand that sells over 100 lakh lingerie pieces a year Groversons is known to offer the perfect bras for daily and formal wear. “We offer comfortable lingerie that boosts a woman’s confidence and self esteem,” states Grover. Skin-friendly breathable fabrics are used, ideal for the fast and challenging life of women. “However, our fabrics, prints and designs keep evolving as per customer demand,” he adds. Groversons has five brands that cater to the specific needs of various sections of the society. These are: Paris Beauty, Miss-T, Sunaina, Winta and Shalini. “Paris Beauty has three different sub-brands: Sparsh, Super Girl Bras and Poems,” adds Grover. Focusing on quality, the brand offers a wide variety aimed at teenagers to plus-sized women. “Endowed with the responsibility of offering the best quality and price efficiency, we have a wide range of lingerie from bras to panties, shapewear, swimwear, loungewear, activewear, nightwear and thermalwear.” Starting at a price range of Rs 400 onwards,

prices products depend on the fabric and styles used. “Each is priced differently fluctuating according to market scenario,” Grover opines.

Changing trends builds up brand consciousness Grover believes factors like growing number of working women, changing fashion trends, rising information level, media exposure, and the launch well known foreign brands have made Indian women more conscious about the range of brands that should fill their wardrobes. “The old practice of stacking lingerie in a corner of the wardrobe has changed. Tastes

have evolved with undergarments becoming more of a fashion statement today,” he observes. “The lingerie industry has rapidly evolved from its initial purpose. The credit of this metamorphosis goes to globalisation, technology and innovations,” he states further. In future, the market is expected to grow at an impressive 12 per cent. “Not just in the metros women in Tier I, II and III too are also becoming conscious about the designs and styles of intimate wear. With new styles like barrettes, innovation in sports innerwear range etc, there is a huge opportunity for growth,” he sums up.

28 IF EXCLUSIVE

Women’s brand Mustard Fashion to expand retail across India and beyond

ever losing its focus on quality, Mustard Fashion is constantly improvising its working. The brand, that manufactures and markets designer apparels for women in regular and plus sizes, recently launched an ethnic wear and Indian partywear collection. With a presence both online and offline, Mustard Fashion offers kurtis, western tops, T-shirts, tunics, trousers, jeggings, denims, capris and palazzo. Through its intensive research, the company learnt Indian women are rarely satisfied with western fits available in the market. “Therefore, we came up with the concept of customised fittings for Indian body type. A perfect fit with comfort is our biggest USP,” says Saurabh Gupta, Founder & Director of the brand.

Not enough focus on plus size fashion Gupta feels, working women are increasingly gravitating towards fusion wear for greater comfort and style. Hence, the brand focuses on urban working women, aged 20-50 years, who seek variety and experimentation. “Of all shoppers in India, plus-size women represent 68 per cent. Yet, we have just a small percentage of people working for these women,” he opines. He believes, the Indian apparel market not only offers great promise but also several challenges. “The industry has grown over 21 per cent over the past three years. Compared to the luxury market, which saw mediocre growth in 2016, fast fashion retailers are growing in large numbers,” he adds.

Expanding retail presence With 32 stores in 16 cities, Mustard Fashion believes different customers not only have different shopping needs but also different preferences. “Hence, we have adopted an O2O model that caters to our service across the nation,” Gupta says. In future, the brand aims to set up more EBOs and franchisee models to offer apparels across the nation and overseas.

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Bodycare to improve brand performance with new collections, retail channel

he soon to be launched lingerie range from Bodycare Creations will focus on the needs of modern woman. “We will add new patterns such demi-cups to our existing bra range besides experimenting with new light and pastel colors,” notes Sanjay Dawar, Director of the brand. The fabric for this collection will mostly be cotton “As it provides unmatched comfort for all seasons,” observes Dawar. Additionally, the collection will include stripes, polkas and abstract prints.

Strengthening retail network Bodycare recorded a balanced performance

“We hope to add more volume to our online sales as an omnichannel presence not only optimises multiple sales channels but also brings about a high level of integration among them” last year and this year, it expects to improve by adding new retailers to its already robust chain. “We also plan to open exclusive brand outlets in Noida. This will help us get direct feedback from customers helping us plan our products,” adds Dawar.

Exploring omnichannel for a seamless experience The brand has an omnichannel presence and is present on all known marketplaces in India. “We hope to add more volume to our online sales as an omnichannel presence not only optimises multiple sales channels but also brings about a high level of integration among them,” views Dawar. Though the brand is yet to explore this strategy completely, “We know this is the need of the hour as it not only provides a seamless experience but also helps retain customers,” Dawar opines. The brand also aims to launch mult.iple products in various categories in the next few months.

30 IF EXCLUSIVE

AKS Clothing to continue focus on in e-commerce

idhi Yadav, Founder and Creative Head of AKS Clothing believes brand building is a committed, persistent and intellectual exercise. The brand, which recently launched three new collections, offers premium fast fashion at affordable rates. “Our products include capes, tunics, long maxi with collars, lehengas, indo-western tops and spaghetti kurtas, cold shoulder maxi, crop-tops, and kurtas among others. These fusion dresses are the best option to meet the changing demands of our professional customers aged from 25 to 40 years,” says Yadav.

Multiplicity of choices makes fusion popular Yadav believes, fusion wear has become popular amongst women in the last few years as it offers more choices in women’s wardrobe with growing options like a long maxi with collar, skirts, crop tops, tunics, halter tops, and sleeveless long spaghetti kurtas. “It combines the elegance of traditional Indian women’s wear, and comfort and functionality of Western wear to transform traditional salwars into palazzos, churidar into leggings, patialas into skirts, kurtis into floor-length dresses, even tunics. Women who spend a major part of their day in offices and markets prefer these dresses as they offer both style and buoyancy,” adds Yadav. The market for fusion wear is evolving quickly and isn’t limited to metros anymore. “Women in smaller cities are also being targeted by fusion wear brands as they are not only well educated but also financially independent. Hence, they prove to be valuable potential customers for many offline and online brands,” notes Yadav.

A growing market for Indian brands Many Western brands have included fusion fashion in their portfolio. However, they do not completely focus on it. “This offers a huge market for Indian brands to explore,” Yadav opines. As a recent BBC report reveals, fusion wear market in India is likely to reach Rs 22,619 crore by the end of 2020. “This clearly indicates how quickly the market is evolving. The major cause for this is changing lifestyle of Indian women,” he states further. Currently, AKS Clothing focuses only on the online retail and offers quality products through channels such as Myntra and its own exclusive website. “We do not own any EBOs, MBOs or LFSs as we aim to achieve greater success in the online segment before moving towards the offline market,” Yadav explains. The brand’s current plan includes expanding and increasing its reach in the online retail segment and generating revenues worth Rs 1,000 crore in the next three years. “We aim to take our brand’s expansion in the e-commerce segment to a new level,” Yadav sums up.

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Ethnicity brings Indian fashion alive with new collections

evolving rapidly amongst Indian men and women. “Television, streaming services, web films and social media platforms are inspiring demand for traditional wear. As more women are joining the workforce, there is also a demand for comfortable and trendy work wear.” According to him, demand will continue to grow as “India is a land of color and celebrations and our customers believe in the concept of deep-rooted Indianness.”

eing ‘India inspired; Ethnicity aims to offer exceptional shopping experiences to enliven Indian expression of fashion. The brand, which plans to launch a new festive collection soon, introduces capsule collections inspired by Indian art forms every fortnight. “We fulfill rising demand of our customers by offering them a good mix of traditional wear, formal wear and fusion wear,” says Ameet Panchal, Managing Director of the brand. “All Indian wear categories such as work and fusion wear, festive wear, wedding wear and loungewear are available with us,” he adds.

Special emphasis on development, finishing

Revamping visual language across mediums

fabric

Catering to everyone through its seamless combinations of vintage and New Age products, Ethnicity lays special emphasis on fabric development, finishing, skin friendliness, supple drapeability and soft touch of its garments. “Our designs are created keeping customers preferences in mind. We put a lot of effort in creating timeless and seasonless garments,” Panchal explains. Panchal believes there is a shift towards Indian wear across all categories of women

customers. “Though Western clothing has infiltrated trends and customers preferences across the world, ethnic and fusion clothing continues to be in demand across India.” Panchal points out design sensibilities are

To cater to the growing demand, Ethnicity is focusing on its long term success with clear sustainable goals. The brand has planned several new initiatives for marketing. “We aim to create consumer-centric products besides revamping our visual language across all mediums,” Panchal observes. Currently present across India through 35 EBOs, 163 MBOs and LFSs, Ethnicity aims to introduce new stores across key locations such as Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Lucknow, Trivandrum, etc. We also aim to expand to Tier II and III cities in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, etc. “Our aim is to be known as a one-stop shop for ethnicwear in India,” he sums up.

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Northmist eyes the international market with new products online and offline consumers. Customers are becoming aware of the necessity to protect our planet and make it a sustainable place to live in. Though their willingness to pay extra for organic T-shirts is still low, it is definitely showing an upward trend,” Mazumdar explains. Currently millennials from metros and Tier 1 cities are becoming conscious about their choice of clothing. “However, awareness is gradually spreading to Tier II and III cities also,” says Mazumdar adding, “The future of Indian apparels is definitely sustainable clothing as demand for organic garments is rising with every passing day.”

Going international with new partners

ndia’s first organic cotton menswear brand Northmist, has mostly stayed pivotal to its initial ranges of products. However, now, the brand plans to diversify its product range. “We plan to launch women’s wear and a recycled cotton sweatshirt collection in the next few months,” notes Arijit Mazumdar, Founder & CEO of the brand. The brand has been getting numerous orders from Tier II and III cities and is reworking its marketing strategies to target these customers.

Standing apart with real time orders and fast processing With an inventory of over 30 products, Northmist offers 100 per cent organic cotton T-shirts in three categories: polo neck, round neck full sleeves and round neck half sleeves. “We operate a low inventory model with a turn-around time of just seven days besides procuring raw materials from exclusive suppliers with certified sustainable practice. Real-time orders and fast processing, coupled with ensured and exclusive raw materials allow us to stand out in the crowd,” asserts Mazumdar. Northmist sources most of its raw materials either in-house or directly from exclusive vendors and suppliers. “There has been a rise in awareness amongst both our

To leverage this demand, Northmist aims to increase both its online presence through e-commerce platforms and online market places and enhance offline presence in multibrand stores. The brand currently retails through own website and on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, The Better India LBB, Ajio,etc. “In addition, we have offline presence in multi-brand outlets such as Organic World and Go Native. In future, we plan to target Tier II cities and also international marketplaces. As Mazumdar informs, “We are in talks with several international marketplaces who have reached out to us for partnerships.”

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Customized saris, signature collections, Odhni all for ethnic wear

reference for ethnic wear for festivals, weddings and other special occasions besides daily wear has given a huge boost to the segment. Keeping this in view, ethnic wear brand Odhni launches two new collections every month alongwith special collections during festivals periods. The brand recently launched an exclusive signature collection ‘Dejhoor’. “We also launched ‘Foreever Red’ collection on Valentine’s Day, and plan to a summer collection soon,” informs Punit Jain, Director of the brand.

Customising ethnic wear to make it more functional A one-stop shop for ethnic wear, Odhni offers saris, lehengas, salwar suits, bridal wear, Indian ethnic wear, etc. Some of the brand’s most famous offerings include readymade designer and customised saris. “We can transform a regular sari into a concept sari. Any kind of customisation can be done if we are provided with sufficient time,” asserts Jain. As women spend a major part of their day in offices and markets, they prefer clothes that offer both style and buoyancy. These women have made ethnic wear more functional by combining it with Western wear. “Hence, we too have transformed our salwars into palazzos, churidars into leggings, patialas into skirts and kurtis into floor-length dresses,” adds Jain.

Exploring opportunities in small cities The brand currently retails through three large format stores in the Delhi-NCR region. Its flagship store in Vishanth Kunj is the largest women’s apparel store in Delhi. “This store caters to the needs of women from different backgrounds and houses collections from leading brands of Kolkata, Surat, Mumbai, and Delhi,” notes Jain. However, Odhni plans to explore a few Tier II cities as well. “The number of people visiting malls in these cities is increasing which provides us an opportunity to showcase our collection,” says Jain. With the summer season, the brand expects an increase in demand for versatile clothes in vibrant colors. “This is the onset of the wedding season. Hence, we expect a spike in demand for breezy and unconventional wedding,” adds Jain. To explore this demand, the brand recently partnered WNW Kolkata, a

leading couture brand. It also launched a new showroom for Amyra Jewels in Delhi. “The aim of this showroom is to adorn women in some of the most beautiful jewellery available in India. We aim to open 30 such showrooms across Delhi-NCR in the next five years,” Jain sums up.

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Rangriti taps growing demand for ethnic wear with accelerated retail growth

ffering traditional clothes with a modern twist has been the USP of ethnic wear brand Rangriti which recently launched a new range of fashion jewelry across India. The brand, established to cater to the middles class, offers jackets, kurtas, shrugs, Indie tops, bottom wear like palazzos, skirts, fusion pants, slim pants, stoles, scarves and ethnic Jewellery. “We offer all kinds of outfits, for office or party. Compared to international retailers, our prices are affordable,” states Sanjeev Agrawal, CEO of the brand. Rangriti also runs a campaign that aims to offer customers a variety of clothes at affordable prices for various functions like weddings, etc. “Known as ‘Parineeti for Rangriti’, the campaign enables us to offer a fantastic mix of dresses, kurtis, lehengas and shararas to our customers,” explains Agrawal.

Ethnic wear retains popularity Though the Indian apparel market has been consistently influenced by upcoming trends,

ethnic wear has retained its importance in people’s lives. “Changing lifestyles and increasing fashion awareness has lead to a significant growth in this segment. A recent study reveals, Indian ethic wear market is expected to rise to Rs 51,866 crore by 2027,” notes Agrawal. Some major drivers of this growth include a rise in Indian female population and boost in female workforce. “Growing demand for ethnic wear is leading to a rise in preference for Indo-Western clothes in both casual and formal wear. People are sporting such looks at not just the airport but also at meetings and in parties,” Agrawal says.

Targeting revenue and retail growth Rangriti was launched as an affordable brand targeted at the unbranded segment, and provide superior quality products at a good price to customers. “Today, we have 94 stores in 56 cities and plan to launch more exclusive stores in the coming years,” Agarwal informs. Besides having its own e-commerce platform, Rangriti is also retailed online through Flipkart, Amazon, Ajio, Myntra. It is also available in large format stores like Reliance Trends, Central and Lifestyle besides many others. The brand targets business worth Rs 900-Rs 1,000 crore in the next financial year. “We plan to set up atleast 100 stores over the next twothree years. Our focus will be on penetrating the Tier II and III markets,” Agrawal sums up.

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Shingora to increase online presence, cover more regions across india

tarting with a single handloom in 1976, Shingora has come a long way to become a premium luxury brand. A leading manufacturer of scarves, shawls, throw blankets, cushion covers, shrugs, ponchos, ties and belts, the Shingora recently launched a new collection focusing on duppattas. “Made from a wide range of colors, designs and techniques, the duppattas allow customers to mix and match and create their own salwar suits,” notes Amit Jain, Managing Director of the brand. loungewear are available with us,” he adds.

An ode to modern Indian bride Shingora launches four collections per year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter along with a premium summer and a premium winter collection. “Our biggest launch includes the ‘Contempor-aari ‘collection that fuses traditional with contemporary styles. Embedding array technique in geometric patterns with different color stories and themes, the collection is an ode to the modern Indian bride,” Jain explains.

New mesh and iron grills to attract customers Aiming at something extraordinary, the brand recently developed unique mesh grills

and pop-ups. “Inspired by Maison & Object the annual trade fair held in Paris, the mesh and iron grills attract customers with its variety of VMs and displays that include products like stoles, scarves, shawls, mufflers, ties, belts, pocket squares, silk squares, hijabs, lohis, Swarovskis embroideries, dobbies, jacquards etc,” Jain says. Expanding offline presence With a presence in many large format stores and multi-brand outlets, Shingora retails across India. It has exclusive brand outlets in Gurugram, New Delhi, Udaipur and Ludhiana and also retails through around 56 MBOs across India. Shingora has established its presence in large format stores such as Shoppers Stop, Meena Bazaar and Globus. Currently present in over 65 locations across the country, Shingora is looking to extend its offline presence to over 100 locations by the coming year. “We aim to focus on Tier II and III cities by setting up pop-stores,” Jain avers. The brand believes online presence plays an important role in increasing sales. It has a presence on multiple portals such as Amazon, Myntra, Jabong, Nykaa Fashions to boost sales. “We also have our official website that provides all information about the brand and products. In sync with our offline operations, our social media presence helps in making

our brand language clear to customers,” Jain observes. The brand also runs online advertisements to engage more people in daily operations. In future, the aim is to expand online operations to more regions across India.

36 IF EXCLUSIVE

“Indian ethnic with fusion touch”

ounded in 1995 Doll is one of the most established and leading brand - a well-recognised name in the field of ethnic Indian designer wear for girls. With its line of ethnic yet chic wear for girls, Doll offers an exclusive haute couture and a prêt line which showcases our traditional aesthetics in a contemporary way. Our carefully crafted designs originate from India’s rich and deep-rooted traditions extending not just across the country, but internationally as well.

Director

Jayesh Shah- 9322228063 / Milin Nagda- 9820228063

With highly experienced craftsmanship we offer a wide collection of exquisite designer wears which are original in the source, crafted with handpicked material and assembled with

Manan Shah

doll_india

dollindia

doll_india

www.dollindia.com info@dollindia.com

vibrant colours to give more than what a client has asked for. Doll offers Ghagra cholis, Ball gowns and shararas for girls in the age group of 5 to 13 years. The brand uses pure silk, Banrasi fabrics , embroideries with minute and detailed handwork. Recently, they’ve launched a new sub brand by the name of Diva by Doll that catrers the age group of 6 months to 4 years old. We have introduced two special sizes – 10 & 12 (6 to 18 months) for infants and newborns and received an overwhelming response, says Manan Shah, director of the brand. He continues, “This Segment has helped our brand grow and expand our target market throughout the country”.

doll_india

dollindia

www.dollindia.com info@dollindia.com

DOLL, Shed 9/A, Elphinstone Bridge Road, Near Parel Cotton Press Factory, J.B. Marg, Parel (E), Mumbai- 400012.

Jayesh Shah– 9322228063 / Milin Nagda– 9820228063

Jayesh Shah- 9322228063 / Milin Nagda- 9820228063

STYLE FEATURE

doll_india

dollindia

www.dollindia.com info@dollindia.com

DOLL, Shed 9/A, Elphinstone Bridge Road, Near Parel Cotton Press Factory, J.B. Marg, Parel (E), Mumbai- 400012.

DOLL, Shed 9/A, Elphinston

DOLL, Shed 9/A, Elphinstone Bridge Road, Near Parel Cotton Press Factory, J.B. Marg, Parel (E), Mumbai- 400012.

IF EXCLUSIVE

Birla Century targets profits through brands and exports businesses

ffering a wide range of premium textiles including bottom weights, suitings, finer fabrics, and household linen since 1897, Birla Century now aims to focus on its brands and export businesses.“We aim to shift 60 per cent of our business to brands and exports in the next two years. For this, we plan to move away from the trader segment to OTC and RTS businesses which offer better margins. Our aim is increase our OTC and RTS business from 3.5 lakh meters per month to 7 lakh meters each per month,” says Ashish Mehrishi, Chief Marketing Officer of the company

Aggressive growth plans As timing, quality and pricing are crucial in both businesses Birla Century is expanding operations aggressively and hopes to be well placed in both these segments. “We offer products in both apparel and home furnishing segments. Our products in the apparel division include yarn dyed shirting fabrics and bottomwear. Yarn dyed shirting fabrics span 25 per cent of our entire production

while peach dyed fabrics span the remaining 75 per cent. Our yarn dyed fabrics are used for making both formal and casual wear,” he explains. The company offers two ranges in its OTC business; yarn dyed OTC and whites and dhotis. “Dhoti is our trademark business. We plan to increase this business from 35,000 meters to one lakh meters next year. We also plan to increase our Whites business to about two lakh meters next year.” Birla Century aims to venture into brands and export business for better profitability, and to work on a plant level. The company also aims to venture into printing business and manufacture around half a million printed fabric. “As this was the only product missing in our apparel division, we felt the need to add it on a big scale. We plan to set up this business by April-May 2020,” Mehrishi informs.

Issues plaguing industry The apparel market is currently affected by various factors such as trade war. People are also suffering due to high GST costs while payment cycle is affecting the working capital. “However, we are working on these issues and hope to minimise their impact.”

Consumers are demanding maximum designs in minimum quantities. This is affecting many domestic shirts brands. “Their ‘End of Season’ sale has gone horribly wrong as buying patterns have shifted to two months which has delayed the cycle of payments and inventories.” However, there is always a market for brands that offer innovative and good quality designs. Players are running at 30 to 40 per cent capacities yet their prices have not changed. Mills are oversupplied. Things have become extremely difficult for manufacturers as profit margins have shrunk. However, we are not affected much as we handle diverse segments like OTC retail, brand and exports business. We are on track to make our plant completely green. In future, Birla Century plans to expand its OTC and RTS businesses to Tier II, III and IV cities and other remote areas. “Efforts are on to reach out to consumers and understand their basic needs and serve them to our capacity. Though our brand recall is not satisfactory, people are aware of us and the legacy of Birla Century,” he sums up.

38 IF INSIGHT

Experiential retail, big data, technology, social commerce will drive Indian retail

ver the last few years, retail has emerged as one of the most vigorous and fast-paced industries in India with retailers using latest technologies and new generation tools like data analytics, social commerce, CRM solutions, etc. Indeed traditional and unorganised retail formats continue to dominate the Indian retail market. However, organised retail is also growing at a faster pace with the industry expected to grow at a CAGR of 12 per cent to reach $1,400 billion by FY 2024. Consumers expect seamless shopping experience across every channel; brick and mortar stores, e-commerce platforms or mobile apps. Brands can achieve this by using innovative retail formats and technologies such as experiential retail, immersive technologies, big data and social commerce. Focus on experiential retail: As a majority

of millenials’ choices are based on their experiences instead of products, retailers need to develop a customer-centric approach that enables their consumers to interact with the brand and give their feedback as well. Immersive technologies: Offline stores are redefining convenience by implementing immersive technologies that allow consumers to simply walk in, find their preferred products/ outfits through a virtual inventory and try the outfits via virtual mirror without actually having to do it physically. This combination facilitates seamless experience for the consumers. In fact, by 2020, the retail industry will emerge as the top spending industry on AR and VR. Big Data: After revolutionalising the online retail industry, Big Data is now foraying into the offline retail space to create a significant effect on its future. This data enables retail businesses to understand their customer expectations by predicting the popularity

of products and identifying the relevant customers for each one of them. Social commerce: With millennial consumers becoming more demanding over time, it is becoming increasingly challenging for retailers to get their brands noticed by the consumers. Social commerce platforms help these retailers to increase their brand’s awareness and drive direct engagement with customers through pictures and videos of products or brands posted by the latter. Thus, the expectations from modern retail have undergone a complete transformation. Today, retailers focus not only on enhancing the shopping experience but also on guide their consumers towards making the right purchase decisions by understanding their profile. Now, they need to focus on making this a rewarding year for their stakeholders by streamlining their operations.

IF INSIGHT

Innovations and rising demand boost Indian swimwear brands

ith increasing health consciousness and more people indulging in water related activities, India’s swimwear segment is witnessing a huge growth with growing demand for various styles and colors across all age groups. Earlier, swimwear was considered the exclusive apparel of professional swimmers. But easy accessibility to resorts, beaches and international destinations has made it an integral part of retailers’ selling agenda. Brands are designing high-cut styles to elongate and lengthen and look amazing on almost all body shapes. They are also pairing high-cut bikini bottoms with a wide waistband to add a flattering finish on the waist. One such brand Lycot offers blend of modern fabrics to create another dimension in fluid fashion. The brand’s comprehensive range of active wear is 100 per cent chlorine resistant and prevents snagging and fading. Made of quick dry technology, the swimsuit retains its original shape and fit after every swim to offer its user unparalleled comfort.

Innovations in fabrics To lure customers, brands are innovating with their offerings. Introducing innovative designs and styles for its 2020 collection, Enkay offers flowery prints, leather finish and water proof fabrics in its swimwear collection. The brand uses fabrics such as Vita, which is not only sand proof but also chlorine proof. Similarly, Manish Bokaria of Bodycharms Swimwear has introduced sublimation prints long with spandex and polyester. MadMax offers swimsuits in nylon fabric with new prints and latest styles which offers easy movement in water.

Fitness activities driving demand Factors such as the increasing participation in fitness activities by the millennials and geriatric population and the increasing number of participants in Paralympics are driving the demand for swimwear. The market is evolving like never before. Since the advent of internet and e-commerce, the consumers are maturing into their specific styles which make it easier for brands to target specific types of users now. As Sanjay Murjani, Founder, She Emporium points out demand for swimwear is increasing as people have now become more health conscious. The company, which is witnessing about 10-15 per cent increase in this category, currently operates two swimwear brands: Mitushi and its in-house brand Scoopy. He reveals women prefer full and covered pieces

because of the tan and chlorine in water, they don’t want to damage their skin. Males prefer knee length swimwear which is neither too long nor too short.

Promising future The future of swimwear market looks

promising as more and more Indians are taking up swimming as a part of their fitness routine. Leaders expect the industry to grow at about 15-20 per cent. However, to stay ahead of competition, brands need to tap changing consumer behavior and change in fashion trends.

40 IF INSIGHT

Tier II cities driving sportswear market

ier II and III towns in India are driving demand for sportswear. The main factor behind this is the growth in e-commerce sales. A host of smaller cities, those like Surat and Indore, now are ordering more branded sportswear because of the ease of purchase. The sporting culture in these towns has also matured with cities like Surat, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh organising marathons. Of Asics’ total sales through its own website last year, about 35 per cent was from smaller towns. This has given the Japanese sportswear company the confidence to open its mono stores in such cities. For Under Armour, the American sportswear brand and one of the world’s largest, such sales from Tier II and III cities contributed more than 60 per cent to its overall e-commerce sales last year. Such sales for Puma now contribute 40 per cent to the topline compared to 20 per cent five years ago. In 2019, the German sportswear brand opened 30 stores in these markets and has witnessed 15 per cent like-to-like growth in these stores.

Both Amazon and Flipkart have been focusing on the next set of internet users from beyond the top ten cities to drive sales growth. In the last festive season sale, both e-tailers

saw a surge in the number of such customers, not only driven by aspirations but also aided by Hindi interfaces on the apps.

Five ethnic wear brands beating competition

hough big brands like Manyavar-Mohey, Meena Bazaar, and Neeru’s are largely dominating the Rs 35,000 crore ethnic wear industry in India, five new companies are giving a tough fight to these leading names. One of them is Koskii that offers lehengas, sarees, dresses, gowns, fabrics, and more. After steady growth over eight years, in 2019 the company raked in Rs 35 crore revenue and plans to mark Rs 50 crore this financial year, all this while being consistently profitable. Similarly Odhni, which manufactures garments including suits, sarees, gowns, IndoWestern kurtis, and accessories, has one of the largest retail stores for women’s apparel in Delhi. In 2019, the company raked in a turnover of of Rs 80 crore. A Chandigarh-based business, Bharatsthalli is a fair trade marketplace for sarees it sources directly from artists and artisanal communities. In 2019, the company records a turnover of more than Rs 20 lakh receiving approx 400450 saree orders every month. Delhi-based brand, Greenways offers a wide variety of women’s ethnic wear, sourced from different parts of the country, including Gujarat,

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. From Banarasi, Paithani, to kanjivaram and bandhani, the company offers a wide variety of fabrics. The last of these brands, Tjori is a multicategory, online-first artisanal ethnicwear

brand that offers apparel, wellness, home, and mother and child products. The brand focuses on handmade products and the goodness of traditional Indian ingredients. Starting with a capital of Rs 10 lakh, the brand now clocks in an annual turnover of Rs 50 crore.

IF INSIGHT

India could exploit the opportunity presented by Coronavirus

he Coronavirus (COVID 19) outbreak in China is likely to affect Indian textile and apparel industry, in many positive ways. A recent press release by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) reveals, the prevailing situation along with uncertainty over the commencement of production is posing a major issue for Indian manufacturers who are dependent on raw material supplies from China. However, it is also compelling global apparel brands to look at India as an alternate manufacturing destination. On an average, India exports 20-25 million kg of cotton yarn a month to China. Prices of cotton yarns declined 3-4 per cent in domestic market as traders are anticipating a decline in demand from China on account of the prevailing situation. Any further prolonging of the virus will result in a decline in China’s imports of cotton yarn, impacting India’s exports. India will have to divert its surplus cotton yarn to the domestic market, further reducing the price of cotton yarn.

Diversification to increase lead times and costs India imports synthetic yarns worth $460 million and $360 million worth synthetic fabrics from China annually. It also imports over $140 million worth accessories like buttons, zippers,

hangers and needles. With the outbreak of this epidemic, textile factories in India have halted operations since the Chinese New Year. If this situation prevails, Indian garment manufacturers will have to look for alternate sourcing modes including local sourcing, which in turn may increase the cost of their finished goods by 3-5 per cent. Moreover, identifying vendors in such a short time can take a toll on lead times, quality and cost. China imports large quantities of medical protective gears such as surgical masks and protective clothing from across the globe. This has raised sales of such products in other South East and Western nations to such an extent that its supply is not able to keep up with the demand.

Indian manufacturers fail to emerge as perfect alternative On January 31, 2020, the Indian government

banned exports of all personal protection equipment, including clothing and masks to avoid any shortage in India. However, it soon lifted this ban to help China battle the disease. The government also provided a major relief to Chinese synthetic yarn manufacturers by abolishing the 2.5 per cent of anti-dumping duty levied on Purified Tephthalic Acid (PTA) in order to strengthen the country’s synthetic textiles industry. However, as most of central China and Hubei is at a virtual standstill, importing PTA from China is not a viable option at the moment. This situation can be advantageous for India as buyers who travel to China from Europe and USA to negotiate with garment exporters can be diverted to the country. One factor that plays in China’s favor is that a number of companies have already produced garment for the Spring/Summer season. However, if the situation prevails for next couple of months and China fails to control the virus epidemic, buyers will be left with no option but to explore other sourcing destinations. In such a situation, Bangladesh and India stand more than Vietnam, Cambodia or any other South East Asian supplier. On its part, India scores on account of its robust supply chain. However, manufacturers neither have the scale nor the cost competitiveness to present themselves as credible alternate.

42 IF INSIGHT

India’s luxury market grew at six per cent

ndia’s luxe market is growing at 6.6 per cent. Hermes’ revenue from operations in India rose 11 per cent from the previous year. Net profit increased 55 per cent. Louis Vuitton’s net profit in India rose 24.5 per cent in fiscal 2019. However Christian Dior which deals in leather bags, fashion apparel and accessories reported a net loss for the fiscal year. Christian Dior has four stores in New Delhi and Mumbai, while Hermes has just two in the same cities. Luxury opportunity clearly looms large and attractive in India. However, considering the cultural diversity, geographical divide, the challenging environment and other technicalities, a luxury brand would do well to take note of the key performance drivers currently prevalent in India. The Indian luxury industry is seeing lucrative avenues. With the millennials and Gen Z seeking authenticity over brand name, the true mix and match culture is at its peak. With luxury brands trading down and high street fashion brands trading up, the trend is an amalgamation of the two. From

cars to watches to fashion and accessories, the new luxury consumer is preferring to buy a pre-owned highly positioned luxury product

over a new product from the lower level of a luxury brand.

India’s retail sector grows over nine per cent

he Indian retail market is growing between 9 to 11 per cent. And it is expected to cross $1 trillion-mark by 2025 with top five retailers taking a bigger slice of the market and more than doubling their share from less than five per cent to over 10 per cent in the next decade, says a Boston Consulting Group and Retailers Association of India report. But they have to rethink their value proposition and operating model. Participating in ecosystems will be a key driver of success. Building cost-efficient and technology-enabled operations and partnerships would be key to success in the days to come. Retailers have to continuously innovate to address challenges posed by the changing external environment. India’s long term consumption and retail growth drivers are expected to provide a strong foundation for future growth. Multiple structural, socio-demographic and economic drivers are fueling consumption. Consumer needs will evolve gradually but distinctly across multiple dimensions such as personalisation, trust in brands as well as omni-channel affinity. New data and technology driven trends will disrupt retail, along with new competitive forces which will challenge the rules of the game. Over the last year product categories such as white goods and mobile phones delivered double digit growth; e-commerce and physical multi-category organised retail grew robustly and the FMCG sector grew by seven per cent.

IF INSIGHT

Airport retail set to touch Rs 66,000 crores by 2030: Report

at its peak. With luxury brands trading down and high street fashion brands trading up, the trend is an amalgamation of the two. From cars to watches to fashion and accessories,

the new luxury consumer is preferring to buy a pre-owned highly positioned luxury product over a new product from the lower level of a luxury brand.

Online private labels to grow faster from 2019 to 2022

etailers in India are steadily building their private labels. And as per a new study by KPMG and Retailers Association of India online private labels are to grow 1.3 to 1.6 times faster between 2019 to 2022. Growth of e-commerce platforms will continue to generate 1.8 times to two times higher margins than external brands sold by these online retailers. The e-commerce market in India accounted for 2.3 per cent of the overall retail market and 21 per cent of the organized retail market in 2019. Its share in organized retail is set to grow to around 28 per cent by FY22. Private labels are expected to help retailers improve profitability, attract repeat shoppers and improve margins and valuations. Especially for online retailers private labels are also instrumental in launching goods that fill gaps in the platform’s product portfolio. For platforms that are focused on selling fewer categories such as apparel, accessories and beauty and personal care products, private labels contribute to a significant 25 per cent to 40 per cent of sales; while for large online retailers the focus on private labels is still small, contributing to five per cent to ten per cent of their sales. A single and dual category

online player will have a higher stronger private label play, as it tries and expands its package of offerings, and is eager to showcase a wider portfolio of products on its platform.

However, for a multi-category player the level of penetration and interest is lower because it already has a width of goods to sell.

44 ETAIL Amazon to build 50 world-class fulfillment centers in India

commerce giant, Amazon recently announced a $1 billion investment in India for long-term development of its operations. With this investment, the retailer aims to build over 50 world-class, multi-million dollar fulfillment centers. It has already enabled 8 lakh artisans and weavers by partnering with 15 plus states and central government and 2.8 lakh women entrepreneurs by partnering with institutions like SEWA. Amazon had announced an investment of $1 billion to digitise SMBs in the country. The company is buoyed by the success of the Global Selling programme, which crossed $1 billion in e-commerce export sales from India in just three years since its launch in the country. This billion dollar investment is going to help exporters reach the $ 10 billion target for us by 2025. The key to its future plans are the Digital Haats, which are physical, brick and mortar resource centers to enable, empower and educate MSMEs about the digital economy. Amazon plans to have 100 such centers by 2025.

Flipkart closes Jabong operations

Over four years after acquiring Jabong for $70 million, Walmart-owned Flipkart has formally closed its operations to shift focus on its premium fashion platform Myntra. As a part of this move, Jabong’s flagship portal and app are being redirected to Myntra’s shopping window. The move will help Flipkart consolidate operations and make marketing budget efficient. In July last year, Flipkart had begun to cut a bulk of its marketing expenditure on Jabong and redirecting users towards Myntra by offering incentives. In an earning’s call last November, Walmart reported a noncash impairment charge of $290 million on account of its investment in Jabong. The Indian clothing market will be worth $59.3 billion in 2022, making it the sixth largest globally, comparable to the United Kingdom and Germany, according to data from McKinsey’s FashionScope. However, online accounts for less than 10 per cent of organised apparel retail with Flipkart that acquired Myntra in 2014 and Jabong two years later, controlling about 70 per cent of the market.

Snapdeal opens new logistic centers E-commerce marketplace for value products, Snapdeal has opened 15 new logistics centers at the industrial clusters located in 10 cities in India. These new centers will help such sellers manage the delivery of growing online orders, particularly placed by customers based in cities and towns beyond metros given the rise of e-commerce in tier-II and smaller cities where Snapdeal focuses on. These new centres are located in Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Indore, Hyderabad, Panipat, Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi.

The majority of upcoming manufacturersellers on Snapdeal produce daily use products such as steel and copper utensils, kitchen gadgets like juicers and atta dough makers and fashion accessories including watches and wallets in the manufacturing or industrial clusters. In Delhi, Snapdeal, for instance, has opened centres in such clusters located in Kirti Nagar, Patparganj and Okhla, while in Mumbai it is located at Reay Road and Chandra Layout in Bengaluru. The new centers will facilitate faster movement of goods as manufacturers will be able to ship products directly from the centers. There would also be dedicated facilities to make products in these centers along with packaging them and online tracking of orders in transit by the manufacturers.

Online fashion retailer Voonik merges with ShopUp

Voonik has merged with ShopUp. Voonik, based in Bangalore, is an online fashion retailer. Bangladesh-based ShopUp is a start-up. Voonik’s consumer facing business isn’t part of the merger and it will continue to function in India. ShopUp is a platform that helps businesses go online. It enables e-commerce, store, logistics, sourcing, marketing and working capital requirements. Two years ago, Voonik started exploring offline channels through franchise stores in Tier II and III cities. The retailer is now moving to a fully private label business. All products

that sellers manufacture would be sold under the Voonik brand. For apparel and footwear, Voonik will provide the tags. However, other processes including order, payments and shipping would remain the same. Voonik is a startup founded by like-minded people from companies including Amazon, Zoho, HP Research Labs, IBM, Fresh Desk, and Aryaka and from institutions including Indian School of Business, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras Institute of Technology, Pearl Academy of Fashion, and Image Consulting Business Institute. The e-commerce marketplace is struggling to survive independently and scaling down and downsizing staff significantly. Voonik provides a personal shopping platform that helps people dress well within their budget, by offering style advise and hand-selected recommendations, based on the customer’s style preferences and body type.

Firstcry secures around $400 million from Softbank

Baby and mother care products retailer Firstcry has secured around $400 million (Rs 2,824.23 crore) from Softbank Vision Fund as part of its series-E funding. While the Japanbased PE fund has infused $296 million (Rs 2,120.5 crore) upfront, it has committed another $100 million (Rs 703.71 crore) in the second tranche. A per Tofler, FirstCry’s holding entity BrainBees Solutions has allotted 73.1 million series E shares at a price of Rs 386 each to SVF Frog, a Cayman Islands-registered entity of Softbank as part of the deal. Though, how much stake Softbank will hold after this round of funding has not been clarified by the company. Media reports had earlier suggested that the Softbank was looking at around 40 per cent holding in the company in lieu of $400-million investment. Founded in 2010 by Supam Maheshwari and Amitava Saha, FirstCry has emerged as the leader in the sunrise baby and mother care sector segment, prompting rising interest of global investors. The funds raised from Softbank are expected to be used by FirstCry to expand both its offline and online presence as well as to strengthen its technology platform. The company posted revenue of Rs 535 crore in FY19, which it expects to grow to around Rs 2,000 crore in the current financial year. FirstCry had acquired BabyOye’s franchise business from Mahindra for $54 million in 2017.

ETAIL Reliance retail arm Ajio to enter luxury segment jio is exploring entry into the luxury segment even though it is a niche market. The e-commerce arm of Reliance Retail already offers more than 2,00,000 options from over 1,000 brands and over 50,000 exclusive styles. It recently launched its private label Outryt. Ajio is also adding more kiosks at RJio stores across India, where it helps customers familiarise themselves with its online store and place purchase orders. It plans to scale up the kiosks in Tier II cities soon. Ajio operates 150 such kiosks at present. While other players struggled last year, Ajio saw a 78 per cent year-on-year growth. Reliance Retail is one of the fastest-growing retailers globally. Reliance Retail currently sells several premium international brands such as Superdry, Gas, Steve Madden and Dune London in its offline stores. The consumer today is spoilt for choice, be it in terms of options available or the price at which they are accessible. Brands recognise the need to keep the consumer engaged and give a holistic retail experience rather than just a transactional experience. Though consumers are getting used to deep discounting, and price is a critical factor, there are many more levers that retailers today need to leverage to attract and retain customers.

Now, Tata Cliq targets the luxe customer

Landmark expands online network

e-commerce store as the business continues to expand its menswear offerings. The collection comprises men’s casual wear, denim, and eyewear. Its prices range from Rs 1,299 ($18) and Rs 2,999 for clothing and up to Rs 18,999 for eyewear. As the clothing line of Ducati motorbikes, the brand’s clothing has a heavy focus on the brand logo, seen in logo tees and on details. Myntra launched the brand with the slogan “fashion for fast living”. The clothing brand launch comes as Ducati gears up to launch two new motorbike models in India in the upcoming 2021 financial year.

Myntra has strengthened its menswear offerings recently and launched Indian actor Vijay Deverakonda’s brand Rowdy Wear online earlier in the month to help the brand expand its distribution, especially in Tier 2 and 3 locations. Myntra also launched actor Mahesh Babu’s menswear line The Humbl Co online at the end of January.

Tata Cliq starts direct selling through new e-commerce model

Tata Cliq has carved an unique space for itself with its focus on brands that represent premium and quality. This e-commerce platform is targeting the affluent customer base and not just the discount seeker. The company is serving this segment by treating brands as symbiotic partners and key stakeholders. Tata Cliq gets store catalogues of brands- which are usually not given to other e-commerce platforms. This is different from other platforms where the focus is on discounts and category selling. The retailer feels the established way of doing e-commerce business such as largest catalogue, fastest delivery and lowest price is just one way. The platform is innovating an alternate e-commerce model that will speak to audiences who prioritise trust, brands and new launches as much as value. This is reflected in its choice of brands/products, cataloguing, editorial content, site merchandising and communication. The business is also exploring a geo-fencing feature. This feature activates the moment a customer is near the physical store of one of the featured brands and provides him with new launches and offers that would be available at that store. In addition, to improve shopping convenience, the business is experimenting a scan and buy feature. This would allow Tata Cliq app users to do transactions on the move by scanning banners, digital screens, and more, displayed across locations.

Landmark expects online sales to be 40 per cent of its overall sales in India by 2025. Along with the expansion of its online network, the company will open brick and mortar stores for all its brands across India. The group, based in Dubai, will open several Lifestyle, Home Centre, Max and Spar outlets, mostly in metros and mini-metros. Landmark began its journey in 1973 and has grown into one of the largest retail and hospitality conglomerates in the Middle East, Africa and India. Currently the group operates over 2,300 outlets, encompassing over 30 million sq ft across 22 countries. Meanwhile Landmark opened a new distribution center in Dubai, a warehouse capable of handling 300 million items a year. It has the capacity to house up to 2.2 million cartons and 2,50,000 garments on hangers, and will handle them using 1,300 robotic multi shuttles, 94 lifts and 28 workstations. This fully-automated facility is meant to serve customers by ensuring speed and agility of operations and streamlining the supply chain in the region. The center has an automatic storage and retrieval system capable of storing more than 36,000 pallet positions, serviced by 41-meter tower cranes.

Myntra launches apparel line

Ducati

Life’s

Flipkart’s multi-brand online fashion retailer Myntra has launched Italian motorbike manufacturer Ducati’s clothing line on its

Tatas have started direct selling to consumers through Tata Cliq in the ecommerce marketplace, converting it into an entity which will become a seller holding inventory, and not just a marketplace. The group has also invested over Rs 300 crore into this entity — it’s highest-ever — to support this expansion of role, two industry executives said. Earlier, retailers, brands and other sellers would sell through Tata Cliq and the platform would earn revenue from it. The new model may lead to higher sales and faster growth, since as a seller in the platform Tata Cliq is now holding inventory whereby it can directly control price, supplies, delivery and offer discounts to consumers, the executives said. As per regulatory filings made by the company to Registrar of Companies and sourced from Veratech Intelligence, Tata Cliq has raised around Rs 313 crore from its promoters — Tata Industries — this year till now. There has been fresh fund infusion in December and January. A bulk of this money will help Tata Cliq expand into the inventory model. Tata Cliq has already started trials of direct sales with television and home appliances of top brands like Xiaomi and Voltas, and will expand into other high value and fast-moving categories like smartphones to gain volume.

46 FASHION POST Ritu Beri launches new collection in collaboration with Tribes India

omen’s wear designer Ritu Beri launched her latest collection ‘The Naga Narrative’ on the runway at the 34 thSurajkund International Crafts Mela in New Delhi in collaboration with Tribes India. Beri presented her own, contemporary take on traditional shawls from Nagaland with a red, black, and white collection. The collection was presented in collaboration with Tribes India, of which Beri is chief design consultant, and is the retail arm of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED). Beri’s collection mixed traditional garments and prints from Nagaland with mini-skirts, leather jackets, and western wear-style tailored pieces for a bold and wearable aesthetic. Notable items included a leather mini-skirt with handloom printed panel, a tailored coat made from North Eastern handloom, and a lehenga set featuring a leather vest and bold stripes. Models also wore traditional Naga beaded jewellery. Beri was an honorary advisor for this year’s Surajkund Mela and is also the cultural and tourism ambassador of Uzbekistan in India. The designer highlighted Naga culture at the show and Tribes India also showcased a range of textiles from North Eastern states as well as jewellery, accessories, and natural products at the event to promote the region’s artisan crafts and businesses.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee celebrates plus size fashion

Kshitij Jalori to launch new collection in Raipur

Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee is celebrating plus size fashion in his new collection. The campaign is part of a wider movement to be more inclusive in terms of size and skin tone, something Mukherjee is at the forefront of. He has been promoting plus size models in his campaigns. The Indian fashion industry is moving slowly towards inclusivity. An increasing number of Indian designers are broadening the range of models they use in their campaigns. Sabyasachi is a traditional and bridal wear designer. Sabyasachi doesn’t believe in building and collections anymore and wants to build specific things for specific people. The Kolkata based designer works on traditional craft techniques for his bridal client base. He employs over 3,000 craftsmen in 18 craft clusters in the regions of Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The designer has collaborated with Thomas Goode and created a collection of trousseau homeware. Thomas Goode is a UKbased luxury retailer. The collection mixes the 200 year old heritage of Thomas Goode and Sabyasachi’s renowned craftsmanship and is designed as a wedding trousseau and includes hand painted dinner plates, glassware, table linen, and other lifestyle accessories. Local flora and fauna, architecture, fables and parables are recreated through the hyper imaginative lens of Sabyasachi and hand rendered by artists.

Contemporary fusion women’s and menswear designer Kshitij Jalori will launch his latest collection ‘Moulin Rouge’ in Raipur with a meet-and-greet event at multi-brand luxury Indian fashion retailer Azra. The collection inspired by the ‘Art Deco Design’ movement of the 20thcentury features classic western-style tailored coats and jackets in rich, metallic Indian weaves. Oversized polka dots add a playful element and mixed prints, sarees, kurtas, and layered colored add an eclectic touch. Jalori launched his eponymous brand after graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in 2012 and working for a wide array of clothing brands including FabIndia, Shades of India, and Sabyasachi Couture. The Kshitij Jalori brand retails from a range of multi-brand luxury Indian fashion retailers both online and offline including Aashni and Co and Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop. Azra, which retails a wide array of Indian luxury brands, will hold a showcase and meetand-greet for personal care brand Ras Luxury Oils with its founders on Wednesday. The boutique will also host fine jewellery brands Renu Oberoi Luxury and You for an exclusive Raipur showcase.

Riya Collective promoting Indian designer clothing abroad Riya Collective, launched in 2019, is a rental startup targeting Indian women living abroad. The startup sources a variety of up-and-

comer and highend designer brands from Indian stores, designers and past customers looking to consign their clothing. Women can get trendy, Indian designer clothing seen on influencers and celebrities on Instagram with shorter lead times and without spending the money to buy new. The value proposition of Riya Collective is to open up the option of clothing rental to a new demographic by introducing new designers to the model. Riya has 700 customers to date and is growing by 50 per cent month-over-month. Traditional wear in India is expected to retain 65 per cent of market space in women’s apparel through 2023. But renting clothes in India remains at its nascent stage. For Indian-Americans, finding trendy ethnic wear at reasonable prices in the US isn’t easy. Many end up relying on shopping trips in their home country to buy saris, lehengas and anarkalis. Eighteen per cent of American Asians belong to the Indian diaspora. With an estimated 80,000 Indian weddings in the US and Canada each year, where 30 million Indian outfits are worn, the retail market for it remains largely unexplored.

Ekaya teams up with Pierre & Daniel for first ever tailored separates line Sari brand Ekaya teamed up with French couturiers Pierre & Daniel to launch its first ever ready-to-wear collection of tailored separates titled ‘Kashi in the Clouds’. Ekaya, known for its handloom saris and textiles, has forayed into ready-to-wear with Pierre & Daniel. Following the online launch, garments from the collection are available to purchase by appointment only at Ekaya’s Delhi and Mumbai flagship stores. The collection is intended to mix the beauty of heritage Indian textiles with the finesse of modern French tailoring. Each brightly colored, tailored garment uses handwoven textiles. The collection uses a number of heritage weaving techniques such as Tanchoi and Kadwa. All garments were hand woven in Kashi, Uttar Pradesh. The collection mixes opulent, feminine textiles with 1980’s inspired, androgynous and loose-fit tailoring. Notable pieces include overcoats, and oversized suits.

48 PREVIEW

Intertextile Shenzhen 2020 rebrands, expands with new venue, concurrent fairs

he newly rebranded Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics (formerly Intertextile Pavilion Shenzhen) will take place from July 15 to 17, at a brand new venue – the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. Over 2,000 exhibitors are expected to join in a space spread over 60,000 sq. mt (2019: 1,065 exhibitors). Held concurrently with the first Shenzhen edition of Yarn Expo, as well as CHIC and PH Value, the fair offers a comprehensive, convenient platform for sourcing between seasons in South China. Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) says, “Intertextile Shenzhen has long offered an access point to key garment manufacturers, from South China to Southeast Asia and beyond. The move to a new venue means the fair has room to grow even more, in a convenient location. And following the successful model of Intertextile Shanghai with three concurrent fairs, the July date makes this the ideal fair for trade buyers who need a one-stop shop for apparel sourcing between seasons.”

Shenzhen, world’s garment production centre Shenzhen is a key city in China’s Greater Bay Area, a central government scheme

to develop an integrated economic hub by linking nine major cities of South China’s Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macau. The Greater Bay Area includes major garment manufacturing hubs for all kinds of garment clusters, including ladieswear, menswear, kids wear, denim, wool and underwear. The new venue is located near the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, while the area is also well connected via high speed trains and the world’s third largest ferry port, ensuring convenience for local manufacturers as well as international buying offices from Hong Kong. The fair is also an ideal location for garment producers from countries in the ASEAN region, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia.

A world-class fashion destination The venue is close to Dalang Fashion Town in Shenzhen, an ongoing development subsidised by the government that aims to use the momentum of the Greater Bay Area to build an international fashion centre. The development builds on top of Shenzhen’s strong foundations in fashion, with the city already being a well-known ladieswear hub, home to around 30,000 fashion designers and over 2,000 fashion retailers. Aiming to specialise in technology, design and sustainability, Dalang Fashion Town is

part of China’s efforts to continue to expand its textile industry from not only manufacturing, but also to design and trendsetting. The area is home to around 500 domestic fashion enterprises.

Fair meets year-round demand of the fashion industry Fast fashion and sustainability rarely meet in the middle however, both concepts are key drivers towards smaller batch sizes and ondemand replenishment. Market needs now constantly adapt to fast fashion trends outside of traditional Spring and Autumn collections, while at the other end of the spectrum, demand for sustainability is predicted to continue to grow in the 2020s, as public awareness of overproduction issues in the fashion industry rises. Intertextile Shenzhen’s mid-summer date makes it an ideal event for trade buyers to replenish stocks between seasons, while many exhibitors also offer product-in-stock services for faster processing. Smaller batch orders are also welcomed by many exhibitors at the fair, encouraging the industry to reduce waste through over-production. Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics will be held from July 15to 17, 2020. The organizers are: Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT) and the China Textile Information Centre.

REVIEW

BAMA: A level playing forum for the apparel industry

n association of brand owners, Bangalore Apparel Manufacturer’s Association (BAMA), recently organised the third edition of the Texstyl Show in Bengaluru. “In a year, we organise two fabric and one garment fairs,” says Pravin Mutha, President, BAMA. “For this show, we sent almost 10,000 e-mails and called every brand head. We got 40,000 hits for the event,” he adds. Currently having 55 members, BAMA accepts only branded garment manufacturers as its members. “We have primary and secondary members. Of this, only our primary members have voting rights,” states Mutha further. “Our members are selected on the basis of selection criteria. They are organised manufacturers who sell their products at MRPs only,” he adds. BAMA highlights the issues of these brand owners by collaborating with like-minded associations across India. “This gives us an added advantage over other associations,” says Raj Sanghvi, Vice President of the association. “For instance, it is currently helping us to present a united front against GST,” he adds. The recently held Texstyl show was open to all manufacturers who have a good supply base and aim to enter the Bengaluru market. “We had people from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, Delhi,” adds Pankaj, Secretary, BAMA The show was organised in Bengaluru

which is considered as the hub of garment manufacturing in south India. “The city has huge garment units which operate through a line system whereas the rest of India operates through a piece work system. Also, export volumes from the city are huge,” adds Sanghvi. BAMA plans to organise the next edition of this fair in a much bigger way. “The show will have more participants and larger stalls. The average size of current stalls is 180 sq ft. This will increase to 500 sq ft in the next edition.

The stalls will be customised to the exhibitor’s requirements. BAMA also plans to organise a garment show soon. “The theme of this show will be Urbane 2020. It will be autumn/winter show and be open to all Bengaluru manufacturers. To be organised in May, the event will have around 82 exhibitors and focus on men’s wear and other categories. We plan to invite 400 top retailers to the show,” adds Pankaj

50 REVIEW

GTE 2020-One of the best launchpads for new technologies and services

he apparel industry plays a pivotal role in the Indian economy through its significant contribution to country’s industrial output, employment generation and exports earnings. Though domestic apparel exports are expected to remain in the positive, during the year, multiple threats are likely to slow down its pace and make it challenging for the industry.

Large independent booths from foreign companies One of the biggest industry events in South Asia, GTE (Garment Technology Expo) offers a complete sourcing platform to apparel manufacturers. The event focuses on a wide range of garment machinery, accessories and support services from India and different parts of the world. It is India’s largest and most comprehensive International exhibition on apparel and knitting technology. The 30th edition of Garment Technology Expo (GTE Delhi 2020) was held recently at NSIC Okhla, New Delhi. Attended by prominent manufacturers and suppliers of garment machineries and accessories from various countries, the event had large independent booths for participants from foreign companies. The response received from decision makers from leading companies, visitors and participants was very positive and motivating.

Focus on all aspects of garment making GTE Bengaluru and Ahmedabad are held once in every two years where as GTE Delhi show is held once in every year. The 31stedition of GTE 2020 will be held in Bengaluru from August 07-09, 2020 and 31st edition in New Delhi from January 15-18, 2021. The basic format for both these events will remain the same. So far, both these editions have received very encouraging response from their new and old participants. The 2020 edition of the event has already sold 80 per cent of its space and bookings for GTE 2021 in New Delhi are already full/ One of the most sought after events of the industry, Garment Technology Expo (GTE) showcases every aspect of garment making. It is one of the best launch pads for new technologies, services and processes and also an ideal place for forging new ties and business alliances.

REVIEW

47th IIKF proves to be a feast for the fashion world

rganised from Feb 17-19, 2020 at the IKFA Complex in Tirupur, the 47th India International Knit Fair showcased an entirely range of latest designs in high fashion knitwear garments for men, women, and children. The all-season fair proved to be a feast for the entire fashion world, renowned designers, business houses, world class manufacturers, international buyers, and celebrities, etc. Fuelled by a desire to export Indian knitwear products across the world, Knit Fair Association has been conducting India International Knit Fair since the last two decades. The fair showcases end to end products related to the knitwear sector. It is held in a complex that has all required amenities and facilities of global standards/ norms. Organised in collaboration with the Apparel Export Promotion Council Ministry of Textiles, the fair promotes knitwear exports to maintain contemporary global quality standards and parameters. The recently held edition of the show included prominent participants such as Poppy’s Knitwear, Eastman Exports Global Clothing, SCM Garments, RBR Garments, True Worth Inc., Clifton Export, N Tex Apparel, AnandhiTexstyles, Kinsley Knit International, Wiseman Exports it also had players like Twin Birds which has diversified to domestic market to stabilize/ derisk business portfolio, etc. Reputed supply chain players who attended the show included KG Denim, Siruvani Yarns, Filamento local propritory software devolpers, Singapore based group Super Dry

Desiccant to add width & depth to this show of repute. There were trade support bodies like NIFT-TEA college of Knitwear Fashion, ATDC Tirupur Center, ECGC Tirupur, Textile Committee,Tirupur to name a few. The fair offered sellers a unique opportunity to meet their buyers in the most conducive business environment helps them to flourish and prosper. The recent fair was attended by over 700-800 global buyers as organisers had invited buyers from all across the world to ensure that they leave no stone unturned in helping the garment industry in this not so great global business environment.

IKFA Help Desk is been set up at the Coimbatore airport to ensure a smooth passage and red carpet treatment for buyer & buyers’ team to this mega fair. What further gives the heart is when world is faced with slow down situation and China faces economic headwinds out of the outbreak of Coronavirus in the short to midterm. Though general trade view is that Tirupur is likely to gain out of this global supply chain disruption only in limited ways as Indian apparel industry continues to face the biggest challenge of lacking the scale and speed to market. So in this given scenario the fairs like IIKF have a vital role to play

52 REVIEW

Laundrex Net 2020 Conference focuses on digitisation of Indian laundry industry

eld on February 15, 2020, the second edition of Texcare Forum India –Laundrex Net 2020 Conference, emphasised on the textile care sector implementing the challenges of the fourth industry revolution. Organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India and Virtual Info Systems, the conference focused on the theme of ‘Industry turning to Laundrex 4.0’ that highlighted the penetration of digitally oriented technology in the Indian laundry and dry-cleaning industry. Inaugurated by prominent industry members, the second Texcare Forum India – LaundrexNet 2020 attracted 193 stakeholders, including key manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and other industry experts. Laundry and dry-cleaning department personnel from store chains, franchisees and consultants as well as managers from hospitality, healthcare centres, hostels and manufacturing industries were among key attendees at the forum. Presenting the key-note with an emphasis on ‘re-thinking laundry and dry-cleaning in the digital era,’ Elgar Straub, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies shared, “Today, more and more countries are adapting higher living standards, leading to use of high-end technologies and

increasing the demand for more skilled labour. Currently the top themes for the laundry sector are sustainability and resource efficiency, laundry 4.0, higher hygiene standards, hunt for young enthusiastic talents and training them into professionals.” Further elaborating on the future of laundry, he added: “The next phase would be optimisation of process through automation and digitalisation. This could be achieved by AI (artificial intelligence), machine learning, big data, robotisation and integration of the whole laundry process including logistics. The topics that will be discussed during the forum are not only important today but will also be very important for the future of this sector.” Being termed as a “hyper local concept” during the open forum for start-ups, the knowledge platform also touched points like the right franchise model that a laundry business should adapt to succeed. Another important session was the special reforms made post inclusion of GST which explained the merits and demerits of the composition scheme. Automation an digitisation of laundry and dry cleaning, wastewater treatment in textile care industry, best linen care practices in India and beyond, ways to elevate customer experience, among others were the burning topics of high-

level panel discussions today. A thorough analysis of factors challenging the growth of dry-cleaning and laundry service market were presented by industry stalwarts. The attendees were educated on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour through accurate predictions put forth by textile care experts during the event. Harpreet Singh, Proprietor, Novex Laundry Services also a member of the Punjab Drycleaners and Dyers Association, mentioned, “We are here to understand new technologies, current trends and competitors entering in the market. The first session about integrating industry 4.0 in the laundry sector was extremely beneficial. Discussions about Laundromat, another great concept that is relatively new in the country has also helped us gauge the current progress of the sector. Attending this forum has helped us gain a lot of insights about the overall position of the industry. The forum is one of the biggest insightful knowledge and product presentations platform attracting stakeholders of the entire crosssection of textile care industry. The one-day event was held in parallel with Laundrex India Expo 2020 at Bombay Exhibition and Convention Centre, Mumbai.

REVIEW

TAI-Mumbai organises one-day seminar in Gujarat

he Mumbai unit of the Textile Association (India) organised a One-day seminar on “Opportunities for Textile Industry in Challenging Scenario” on February 29, 2020 at Hotel fortune Park Galaxy, Vapi (Gujarat). The seminar was inaugurated by Rajnikant S. Bachkaniwala, Chairman, Palod Himson Machines. Rajnikant S. Bachkaniwala, Chairman, Palod Himson Machines delivered the inaugural address. “Where there is a crisis there is an opportunity. The Global Corona virus problem in China provides the Indian textile industry with an opportunity that we should not miss,” he said. GV Aras, Director, Textile Engineering Group, ATE Enterprises delivered the key note address. According to him, though the textile industry offers many opportunities, industry leaders have not been able to grab them as we don’t have the capacity for bulk manufacturing. “Lack of logistics and disintegrated activities in the textile industry is increasing the cost of products in the industry,” he said. He further viewed that the ongoing coronavirus epidemic in China is impacting production in the country, which gives Indian industry multiple opportunities to increase productivity and and capture the international market. A. A. Bambardekar, Works Director, Raymond (Textile Division Vapi), urged industry leaders to adopt new technologies to reduce their production costs. He also urged young students to enter the textile industry as they can help it grow through their innovative ideas. The Textile Association (India), Mumbai Unit felicitated Madhubhai Mangukia, Chairman & Managing Director, Yamuna Machine Works with “The Lifetime Achievement Award” and Haresh Panchal, Managing Director, Rabatex Industries with “The Industrial Excellence

Award” for their outstanding contribution in the field of textile industry. The seminar ended with a panel discussion on the topic ‘Developments in Textile Industry to meet Emerging Market Trends. Moderated

by Rajiv Ranjan, ED & CEO of Hindoostan Mills, the discussion focused on radical thoughts from the textile industry that would help the textile industry.

54 REVIEW

IIGF reaffirms India’s position as a serious apparel sourcing destination

specialised bi-annual fair, India International Garment Fair organises its Autumn/ Winter in January and the Spring/Summer edition in the month of July, every year. IIGF is globally recognized as one of the leading fairs for the Indian garment export industry and is one of the Asia’s biggest apparel fair. This business platform serves to Indian exporter’s fraternity and fulfills meeting sourcing requirements of major global buyers in ready-made garments and fashion Accessories. Held from January 20-22, 2020 at Pragati Maiden in New Delhi, the 64th edition of the fair showcased Autumn/Winter-2020-2021 collections of brands over the three days of the fair. The products displayed included women’s wear, menswear, kids wear, and accessories. This fair has already carved a unique niche within the global ready made garment fairs. Despite challenging global economic conditions, the recent fair kick-started on a positive note. Day one had a fairly good number of committed buyers visiting and

showing their reaffirmed faith in India as in a serious apparel sourcing destination

Sidharth Nath Singh, MSME Minister, Uttar Pradesh Emphasized that favorable government policies are yielding positive results in 2020.

“We can expect a gradual turnaround in coming months and quarters in the textiles and apparel sector; which has latent potential to bounce back. We also look forward to upcoming union budget to give economy a positive impetus and a decisive direction,” he said.

INTEVIEW

Structural reforms to help textile exporters achieve the $350 bn target

ccording to Raja Shanmugham, President, Tirupur Exporters Association, we need to upscale skill inventory across our value chain as global competition is increasing. Agreements between nations are compelling each of them to open their markets for others. One such agreement, the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) enables countries to enter Indian shores and capture a share of its market. “As this inflow of companies is higher than supply, we need to create separate boards to ensure their connectivity to the main center”. Regretfully in India still British legacy perennially lives and we somewhere collectively need to put our heads together to assess realistically the ground reality of the day. I have a strong sense that the system needs a fundamental shift in our macro view & approach to fruition; For instance, we need to set up a board in knitwear at Tirupur; in Karur for handlooms and made-ups while Mumbai needs to have

a board for woven garments, Surat can have it for Synthetic fabrics & so and so forth to have a better handle of the micro assessment resulting in emergence of international level envious sourcing hubs & centers. This visibly will make it easier for us to achieve the $350 billion target envisaged by the Government of the day,” notes Shanmugham. It will also enable each of these streams to perform to the best of their capacities. Currently, only liaison work is happening which creates a lopsided rather than holistic development. “It also reduces our manpower deployment and undermines cotton capacity optimization. Thus we get beaten by competing countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia etc. despite of India being complete supply chain country,” adds Shanmugham Shanmugham views that to prevent this, we need to introduce policies that consider not just corporates but also MSMEs, as per him, “Indian entrepreneurial fabric is woven by MSMEs which contribute bulk of the exports Forex earning particularly when it comes to

labour intensive industry like T & C”. “MSMEs need to be given an opportunity to unleash their vibrancy. We also need more structural reforms. However, if coronavirus continues, there may be a transfer of orders and we can be one of the beneficiaries. How efficiently we do that remains to be seen however, still for mid to long-term health of the industry structural reforms..structural reforms..structural reforms is the only credible answer,” he further states.

BUSINESS NEWS

Gokaldas Exports expects 53% rise in gross margins by 2021

he apparel export business Gokaldas Exports expects to see 53 percent growth in its gross margin by 2021. The company reported a net loss of Rs 13 crore ($1.9 million) for the third quarter ended December 2019, as against a net profit of Rs 9 crore it had posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. The company’s sales revenue for the quarter rose 21 percent to Rs 322 crore, as against Rs 267 crore it had reported during the previous quarter ended December 2018. For the 9 months from April to December, Gokaldas reported net sales of Rs 1,056 crore with a net profit of Rs 24 crore. The business had recorded losses totaling Rs 46 crore in the 2017 financial year followed by losses of Rs 28 crore in the 2018 financial year. In the 2019 financial year, the business reported a turnaround with a net profit of Rs 26 crore with a profit in each quarter. Gokaldas Exports was founded in 1985 and runs over 23 garment production factories. It is the largest manufacturer and exporter of apparels in India with an annual turnover of US$200 million.

Woodland to double sales by 2025

Footwear and apparel brand Woodland, expects to double its sales in next five years to around Rs 2,500 crore. The company, which is presently operating around 600 retail stores in around 250 cities in India, plans to add around 30 to 40 stores every year mostly in small cities. Aero Club, maker of Woodland & Woods, expects to continue the same rate of growth for the coming 4-5 years and expects to double the turnover by FY25. Besides, Woodland, which presently gets around 12 to 15 per cent of its sales through e-commerce, from its own website and channel partners, expects significant growth in this space in the coming years. As part of its retail strategy, Woodland has adopted the omni-channel strategy by connecting, its offline sale network with its online sales channels. Presently, Woodland gets around 50 per cent sales from shoes, 35 per cent from apparels and rest from accessories and others. Woodland has presence in overseas market as Russia, Middle East region, Africa and Far East and plans to expand its network further. The company, which had started in metros and big cities is also now moving towards small cities.

Aditya Birla Fashion revenue up 13 % For the third quarter Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail revenue grew 13.2 per cent. Ebitda for the quarter grew by 136.1 per cent, with a corresponding margin expansion of 823 basis points. Ebitda margin for the

quarter stood at 15.8 per cent. The net loss was to the extent of 153.6 per cent. The innerwear business progressed on its aggressive growth trajectory, with continued launch of newer categories and styles, along with the expansion of its distribution network, which stood at 20,000 outlets at the end of this quarter.

The brand recorded a 12 per cent growth in its sales for the full-year ended December 31, 2019. The company’s international sales grew by 20.2 percent. By segment, sales rose by 19.8 percent in the international wholesale business and 13.7 percent in the direct-toconsumer business, with slower growth seen in domestic wholesale, as it fell 1 percent. The company’s net earnings for the year hit $346.6 million with diluted earnings per share of $2.25. Meanwhile, the shoe retailer’s sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 grew by 23.1 percent as a result of a 31.2 percent increase in the company’s international business, or 32.3 percent on a constant currency basis. The company’s international wholesale business increased 32.8 percent, its companyowned direct-to-consumer business increased 19.4 percent, and the company’s domestic wholesale business increased 10.4 percent. Comparable same store sales in companyowned stores and e-commerce increased 9.9 percent, including 10.3 percent in the United States and 8.8 percent internationally.

Future Lifestyle Fashions’ net profit declines by 8.3%

Madura revenue grew 14 per cent. Madura includes lifestyle brands like Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Peter England, Forever 21 and People. These brands have new growth engines built around strong wedding categories and new ventures in women’s and children’s fashion. Pantaloons revenue grew 13 per cent. Aditya Birla Fashion is planning to build a multi-crore business from its new acquisitions in the ethnic wear segment. The lifestyle retailer has acquired a 100 per cent stake in Jaypore and TG Apparel and has also entered into a strategic partnership with designers Shantanu and Nikhil. Jaypore is a business-to-business online-cum-offline retailer. Launched in 2012, Jaypore currently has two stores and largely sells women’s clothing and accessories online.

Skechers expects $1.4 billion sales in Q1 2020 Skechers expects sales in the range of $1.4 billion to $1.425 billion, and diluted earnings per share of $0.70 to $0.75 in first quarter of 2020.

The consolidated net profit of Future Lifestyle Fashions declined by 8.3 per cent to Rs 59.20 crore in Q3 December 2019) as against Rs 64.56 crore reported in Q3 December 2018 (Q3 FY19). The brand’s net sales rose by 2.9 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 1,742.23 crore in Q3 FY20. The Q3 earnings were disclosed after trading hours yesterday, 12 February 2020. Profit before tax fell by 9.8 per cent to Rs 87.10 crore Y-o-Y. Current tax expenses also witnessed a 12.9 per cent downfall to Rs 27.90 crore during the period under review. As per Ind AS 116, EBITDA grew 86 per cent to Rs 334 crore in Q3 FY20 from Rs 180 crore in Q3 FY19. EBITDA margin stood at 19.20 per cent in Q3 FY20 as against 10.60 per cent in Q3 FY19. The sales in Brand Factory outlets remained almost flat at Rs 729 crore in Q3 FY20 from Rs 727 crore in Q3 FY19. In Central outlets, sales jumped 9.3% to Rs 860 crore in Q3 FY20 from Rs 787 crore in Q3 FY19.

56 BUSINESS NEWS Uttar Pradesh promotes khadi, signs up Raymond for fabric supply ttar Pradesh is giving a major push to khadi. The aim is to generate nearly 1,00,000 job opportunities. The government is likely to sign an agreement with textile major Raymonds to supply indigenous fabric for modern retail. The state’s Khadi Board has provided fabric samples to Raymonds, which is expected to procure 200,000 metres of UP Khadi annually. For one uniforms for students in primary schools in the state will be made from fabric blended with cotton and khadi. At present, nearly 18 million students are enrolled in government-run schools and require 36 million pairs of uniforms every year. The proposal is to mix 70 per cent cotton and 30 per cent poly khadi to prepare the school uniforms. To showcase khadi, due importance will be given to contemporary designs and packaging and training and mentoring of the state’s khadi artisans and designers. The National Institute of Fashion Technology will train artisans and designers. Uttar Pradesh will also set up modern khadi retail outlets under the public-private partnership model. In February 2018, the state signed an agreement with e-commerce giant Amazon to promote UP khadi over its online marketplace, apart from the training and handholding of entrepreneurs. Similar alliances may be firmed up with other e-commerce majors as well, including Alibaba and Flipkart. Khadi parks may be set up in the state. MoUs to the tune of Rs 30,000 crores have been signed with Indian and foreign companies across the entire khadi value chain.

Trent’s Q3 net profit up 38 per cent

For the third quarter Trent’s standalone net profit grew 38 per cent. Revenue from operations jumped 32.5 per cent. There was a 13 per cent growth in ebitda and ten per cent same-store sales growth. Trent is a Tata Group company. Trent is witnessing positive traction for its lifestyle retail concepts and consequently pursuing a substantially accelerated growth program across the Westside, Zudio and Star formats. Westside continues to be one of the most successful, established franchises, deriving 97 per cent of share of revenues from private label brands. Over the last six years, Westside has sustained its same stores sales growth at seven per cent plus. Exceptional ramp-up in store addition in non-metro cites, mainly through the Zudio format, a value fashion business, is one of the major growth drivers in coming years. In August 2019, Trent’s promoter, Tata Sons, invested Rs 950 crores in the company by acquiring 23.17 million shares at a price of Rs 410 per equity share on a preferential basis. Trent is likely to mobilize about Rs 600 crores through a qualified institutional placement issue.

the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. The company’s net sales for the October-December quarter grew by 7 percent to Rs 406 crore as compared to Rs 381 crore it had reported during the period ended December 31, 2018. The company attributed this increase in revenue to a strong winter and festive season sales despite the ongoing economic slowdown which has impacted its overall performance for the year.

Monte Carlo is slowing shifting its focus from being a winter wear brand to an all-weather wear brand and expects strong growth in the coming years. The company has already added 27 stores during the current financial year and plans to add three-four more stores in the last quarter.

Rupa’s Q3 net profit up 70 per cent

Monte Carlo Fashions’s Q3 net profit declines 4 per cent Monte Carlo Fashions saw a 4 per cent slump in its net profit to Rs 72 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2019, as against Rs 75 crore it had reported in

For the third quarter Rupa’s net profit jumped 70 per cent. Revenue for the quarter rose six per cent. Knitwear major Rupa which opened in 1985 produces innerwear, casual wear,

thermal wear, and sleepwear for men, women, and children. It is also looking at leveraging its brand equity by entering the children’s innerwear segment and has launched the Kidline brand. The company has its presence in the infant wear segment through its brand Bumchum Tots. Rupa has over 18 brands and 8,000 stock keeping units. Rupa’s products are benchmarked to international standards. The company is also an exclusive licensee of SUPIMA, the premier organisation of American pima cotton growers. The coveted SUPIMA certification is given only to a few select manufacturers of highquality apparel, whose products are made from 100 per cent American pima cotton. In the innerwear industry, the company is a leader, having a distribution network across India. It has a pan-India presence with a large distribution network consisting of four central warehouses, six EBOs, 20 branches, 1000 dealers and more than 1,18,000 retailers. The company is eyeing a revenue of Rs 2,000 crores over the next three years and has planned massive expansion in the Indian market. It plans to open150 stores over the next two years.

Lux Industries Q3 net profit up 40 per cent

For the third quarter Lux Industries’ net profit increased 40 per cent. The company’s revenue for the quarter grew seven per cent. This was mainly due to a better product mix and an increased share of value-added products. Lux has also have been working on improving cost efficiencies. PAT for the quarter grew by 40 per cent. Lux has delivered strong growth for the quarter despite continued weakness in demand coupled with several macro-economic challenges. The company has streamlined its supply and distribution network and is working closely with its channel partners and distributors to monitor its working capital cycle. Lux Industries operates brands Genx, Lyra and Onn and many others. It is one of the largest players in hosiery business, with a market share of 20 per cent of the organised industry. Lux launched India’s first scented vest range under its brand Lux Cozi. To fight the rising mercury during summers the refreshing scented vests are a landmark product in the men’s innerwear category. Lux aims at doubling production capacity over the next three or four years. Lux is one of India’s largest hosiery producers and exporters. It has set a turnover target of Rs 1,500 crores by 2020.

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58 BUSINESS NEWS H&M grows 43 per cent in India

&M grew 43 per cent in India in 2019. The Swedish fashion retailer entered India five years ago and has 47 stores across 24 cities. Almost 50 per cent of H&M stores are in smaller cities such as Ludhiana, Dehradun, Coimbatore, Mysore and Raipur, and it is this strategy that has led to high growth numbers. The retailer’s vision is to become the sought-after fashion choice of the average Indian. Since retail is all about offering multiple choices to consumers, H&M had gone omnichannel and is available at its website, at H&M stores and on platforms such as Myntra. H&M has always believed in democratising fashion. So, to celebrate its fifth anniversary in India, it is partnering with designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee for a limited edition collection. This collection is priced much lower than what would be expected. The idea is to surprise Indian consumers and give them access to top fashion labels. Apart from offering good quality fashion at competitive prices, the next phase of H&M’s strategy will also see a reasonable amount of technology intervention, which will enable the retailer to personalise for its customers. But personalised solutions will be offered only to those customers who ask for personalization.

Q3 of Liberty Shoes increases by 19 per cent

Liberty Shoes plans massive retail expansion which includes the opening of 50 new stores. The brand currently has 400 flagship stores across India and is present in over 5,000 multi-brand outlets and also retails from its e-commerce store. The brand aims to generate annual revenues of Rs 1,000 crore by 2020. Its revenue in the quarter rose by 3 percent to Rs 150 crore as compared to Rs 145 crore it had reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. Net profit surged by 19 per cent o Rs 1.4 crore ($1,96,516) as against Rs 1.2 crore recorded the previous quarter. It reported net sales of Rs 452 crore with a net profit of Rs 9 crore for the nine months ended December 31, 2019. Liberty Shoes had subdued sales during the first and second quarter on the back of the ongoing economic slowdown in the country. It managed to recover during the third quarter due to strong festive season sales and expects to continue the growth momentum in the fourth quarter.

Spencer’s Retail works on store profitability Spencer’s Retail is working on store profitability. Three loss-making stores have shut. The Kolkata-based company currently has a presence in over 35 cities across India. It sells a wide range of products including apparel, footwear, cosmetics, home essentials and more.

Spencer’s Retail is working on cultural integration, ensuring continuity of customer experience and business, business synergies and cross synergies identification. The company saw its consolidated net loss widen to Rs 39 crores in the third quarter as compared to a net loss of Rs 11 lakh it had reported in the same period last fiscal. Revenue for the quarter increased to Rs 700 crores as against Rs 573 crores it had reported in the corresponding period of the last fiscal. Spencer’s expenses also shot up to Rs 746 crores as compared to Rs 580 crores it reported last year.

Spencer’s Retail has moved a part of its portfolio to value-added, differentiated products. Private labels now consist of about 13 per cent of the portfolio. Apparel margins have gone up by six per cent and apparel sales are going up. In general merchandise, the company’s margins have gone up by three per cent and the ratio of general merchandise sales to total sales is also going up.

Louis Vuitton India profit up 24 per cent Louis Vuitton’s net profit in India jumped 24.5 per cent for fiscal year 2019. Net profit doubled from 2017 to 2019 and revenue grew by 41 per cent from 2017 to 2019. LVMH is known for its iconic monogrammed bags, clothing, perfumes and leather goods. The company runs stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Globally, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s revenue jumped 15 per cent in 2019. Organic revenue growth was ten per cent. Europe and the US experienced good growth over the year, as did Asia, despite a difficult environment in Hong Kong in the second half of 2019. Louis Vuitton, the world’s biggest luxury goods brand by sales, has eight shops in Hong Kong, one of the world’s top shopping destinations. High end fashion labels have hunkered down in Hong Kong since demonstrations escalated in June. Hong Kong’s retail sales fell 23.6 per cent from a year earlier in November. Until now, luxury brands had only shut stores in Hong Kong temporarily when protests flared. Some brands are weighing up redirecting some of their investments elsewhere, including to the Chinese mainland and other parts of Asia where many have managed to make up for lost sales in Hong Kong. Some brands are trying to renegotiate notoriously high rents in Hong Kong as one way of mitigating the hit to operating margins.

India gives Puma great business

India is a strategic market for Puma. A combination of global strength and local execution has accelerated the brand’s momentum in the country. Like-to-like store sales grew 17 per cent in 2019. The fastest growing segments were Tier II and III markets and women’s wear. Online and offline channels grew equally. The brand has localised the product portfolio and does channel specific pricing. Puma operates 365 owned stores in India, and over the past three years, has signed up cricketer Virat Kohli, boxer Mary Kom, footballer Sunil Chhetri and actress Sarah Ali Khan to endorse its products. Puma expects India’s growing young population and increasing interest in fitness and sports to boost future growth. Last year the German sportswear maker had 26 per cent sales growth in the Asia Pacific region. Growth in the region was primarily driven by China and India. Globally 2019 was the best year in Puma’s history but slower sales are expected in the first quarter of the current calendar year. There’s a lot of traction on sportswear now with women and younger consumers and sportswear is becoming a lifestyle statement. Women’s wear accounts for 28 per cent of Puma’s sales, up from 24 per cent a year ago.

INDUSTRY BYTES

Flipkart realigns senior management team E-commerce player Flipkart has realigned its senior management team for the upcoming new business opportunities and Adarsh Menon, Senior Vice President and Head, Private Brands, Electronics and Furniture, is set to head a new business initiative. Menon may head Flipkart’s upcoming business to business (B2B) initiative. Manish Kumar, vicepresident of business development who has built the grocery business, will look after the private label business. Ajay Yadav, Flipkart’s Head of large appliances and mobile businesses, will take charge of the electronics business unit which was under Menon. Flipkart’s furniture business will now be called the books, general merchandise and home (BGMH) category, said Krishnamurthy. The e-commerce player is in a restructuring mode from the beginning of this year to cut losses as competition gets tough. Flipkart is

“The proposed financing of invoices of the MSME sector could again be a huge benefit to the Industry, which is largely comprised of the MSME units”

downing shutters on Jabong and the portal is now redirecting the users to the Myntra website. Walmart-owned FLipkart had acquired Jabong for $70 million in 2016, but saw a close to 13 per cent drop in app downloads for the brand in December 2019. Flipkart had acquired fashion e-commerce platform Myntra in May 2014. Soon after the Walmart acquisition in November 2018, Flipkart merged both Myntra and Jabong.

CMAI welcomes Union Budget 2020-21 The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has welcomed the wUnion Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2020 as positive and growth oriented for the apparel industry. Rakesh Biyani, President of the association says the most important step in this Budget for the textile industry was the removal of the anti-dumping duty on PTA, which was a long

standing demand of the textile manufacturing value chain. This will potentially open up

the MMF value chain, and give a fillip to the entire MMF industry and enhance its global competitiveness. According to Biyani several other measures could also benefit the textile industry such as the technical textile mission, a review of the Rules of Origin especially in our FTAs, a review of cheap imports of goods being made by our MSME Sector, refund of all the taxes and levies for exports, and the targeting of making every district an export hub. The proposed financing of invoices of the MSME sector could again be a huge benefit to the Industry, which is largely comprised of the MSME units.

60 MEDIA QUOTES THE COMPLETE GARMENT PROCESSING UNIT Contact:

Bhagirath DIRECTOR Mobile: 9910522224 C-103, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase -1, New Delhi - 110020 Phone: 41612716 / 41612717 Works: Prithala Dhatir Road, Village Dhatir, Tehsil Palwal, Faridabad (Haryana) Ph: 01275 - 260078 / 79 e-mail: neelkanth_apparels@yahoo.co.in / naplc103@gmail.com website: www.neelkanthapparels.in

As part of the Flipkart group, Myntra runs an independent premium fashion platform, which is led by an extremely talented local team, driving rapid growth for the business.” Amar Nagaram CEO, MyntraAsiaFashion

Customer engagement is the core of our communication strategy. Despite us operating in 17 international markets, for us connecting through regional connect is extremely critical. Jiten Mahendra Senior Vice President (Mktg) Max Fashion

Kareena personifies our philosophy ‘where the gym meets the runway’. She is not only an inspiration but also an embodiment of what it means for women to maintain a healthy lifestyle while donning multiple hats.” Abhishek Ganguly General Manager, Puma India & Southeast AsiaFashion

“It’s an honor to build on this company’s rich heritage and lead our nearly 130,000 employees in transforming our business and operations to successfully

Our Environmental Pledge was signed by our CEO in 1994, and we created Natulon, the first zipper made from recycled PET bottles and polyester

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remnants, 26 years ago.” Sonia Syngal CEO, Gap Inc

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