At a time when the Indian garment industry is passing through a period of uncertainty it has become imperative for AEPC to take on its designated role of promoting the industry. The magnificent Apparel House and its 229 showrooms is a mine of opportunities to promote India as a preferred sourcing destination. Recognizing the potential, the motivated core team, responsible for the running of the apparel mart, is organizing ‘India Market Week’ or IMW, as it is commonly being referred to, on a regular basis. The fourth of this event was held recently.
Apparel Online caught up with the newly elected EC member of AEPC and convener of IMW and IIGF, Lalit Thukral, on the agenda that he has set in his new role to promote both the IIGF and the relatively new IMW. “There is so much that can be done as long as the intention is positive,” says an ever-smiling and optimistic Lalit. As convener of two very potential events that can generate business for the industry, Lalit is well aware that the platforms need to be used judiciously for long-term growth of business from India. “India has so much to offer and now that the AEPC has a permanent address with world class facilities, I along with my core team are committed to explore how to make the Apparel house a nerve centre of global activities the year around,” he said.
Efforts are on to popularize the IMW for buyers to checkout what is new with the industry on a monthly basis. This concept is very relevant today, as buyers are not looking at India for basic products but quick fashion turnarounds that are beyond seasons. “Buyers are visiting India more regularly than they used to for fashion updates and IMW with a large selection of exporters at different price positions and product offering under one roof is the ideal location to ‘shop’,” reasons Lalit.
For greater reach and to have a better service the buyers at IMW will also invite exporters who do not have showrooms at the mart to display their products, provided that the buying delegations inform in advance that they are looking at specific offerings which can be enhanced by involving more players in the segment. “We are also looking at sub-events as per product categories to keep the buyers satisfied,” says Lalit. The idea is to make Apparel House a ‘must visit’ venue for buyers not only of India but of Asia also.
Since the IIGF is already an established brand in the global fashion Fair arena, it will definitely help IMW as the event is now being held at the Apparel House. As buyers start associating with the concept, more and more exporters are expected to seek the opportunity to showcase their collections at regular intervals. For manufacturers in the smaller centres like Jaipur, Coimbatore, and even Tirupur, IMW presents a window to stay connected with buyers who may be in the country for a short visit and are hence unable to visit showrooms at home ground.
Lalit is very confidant that as IMW creates its own brand image, it will be a support to the IIGF as those buyers who are unable to attend the show will visit the IMW and those who visit the IMW will be interested to see the Industry in a larger format and this way both the events will generate business for the participants and eventually for the industry at large. “It is a win-win situation,” says Lalit.
Buyers have reacted very positively to the IMW but their biggest grudge is that not all showrooms are opened during the event. “We are encouraging more and more exporters to participate and display their latest range because a full open house will always be a big draw for the buyers,” says Lalit. On their part the AEPC is regularly interacting with buyers and buying offices to keep them updated and a complete schedule of all events planned around the year is being worked out to distribute among the regular visitors and potential buyers so they can plan their trips to the country accordingly.
The idea is not to generate business immediately but to allow buyers to meet new vendors and suppliers to meet new buyers and explore what they can do together for future exports. The IMW is a show window to India sourcing, and as the brand grows so will the buyer turnaround, feel the AEPC core team that is working to involve more exporters to the importance of supporting the concept. “Apparel House is not for today it is for tomorrow,” concludes Lalit emphatically.
