Most Indian designers who till now catered to a market are now busy exploring various retail routes in a bid to reach out to a wider audience. They are setting up stores and not just on high-streets but even smaller towns. It’s perhaps a realisation of the need to create wearable clothes for the common man. Recent designer store launches include Tarun Tahliani's new flagship in Delhi, Ashima Leena’s flagship store at the DLF Emporio Mall in New Delhi among others. 

While Kolkata already has two home-grown design powerhouses in the form of Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Anamika Khanna, now designer Raghavendra Rathore too has opened a menswear store as a part of his expansion plans. He is planning stores in Mumbai and Punjab within the year. Evolv, multi-designer store from Chennai has now set up shop in Ludhiana, where they offer affordable collaborations from brands like CUE by Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Abraham & Thakore, Gaurav Gupta and more. 

And recently, designer Manish Malhotra launched a collecteion especially created for the Pune market that includes anarkali suits, georgettes and chiffon bejewelled saris among others. The range was unveiled at city’s biggest fashion and multi designer store Rudraksh. 

www.rathore.com

www.manishmalhotra.in

Domestic cotton markets, which remained under downside pressure since the beginning of the cotton season in October 2012, are now showing signs of recovery, amid firm prices in international markets. Global cotton prices are influenced by three nations; China, India and the US. China is central to any discussion on cotton markets, being the world’s largest producer, consumer and importer of cotton.

India, being the second largest producer, consumer and exporter of cotton, commands a special attention in the world markets. In fact, participants across the globe are eyeing cotton trade policy developments in India as the country supplies a significant portion of its produce to global markets. India has witnessed a sharp rise in yield after the widespread introduction of genetically modified cotton seeds, i.e., BT cotton, in 2002-03, which turned the country’s status from being a net importer to net exporter of the commodity.

In the current context, fundamentals for 2012-’13 season (October-September) seem to be a comparatively stable for domestic cotton markets if exports are maintained around the estimated levels. Considering the recent development of offloading stocks from the state reserves in India and China, cotton prices are expected to trade with a downward bias in the near term.

Prices, which are currently trading around Rs 19,000 ( approx. USD 349)  per bale, may touch Rs 18,500 ( approx. USD 340)  per bale in the near term. However, if international markets continue to trend upwards, cotton prices in domestic markets will remain positive in the medium to long term. Cotton prices may tread towards Rs 19,800( approx. USD 364)   per bale in the next 2-3 months. 

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National Textile Corporation (NTC), an eco-friendly integrated textile company, plans to launch new brands which with a pan India presence. Its aim is to be a leading textile enterprise, improving capacity utilization, economy of operations, productivity, quality, brand image, market share and exports. “We have put in place various mechanisms to achieve this. We are improving our capacity utilization and launching new brands, renovating our stores and getting into the franchise mode for readymade garments. Also, we are participating in trade fairs to increase exports,” says Aloke Banerjee, Director Marketing, NTC.  

And to help NTC build a competent designing team they recently hosted an initiative called ‘Young Designer Hunt’ wherein well known designer Raghavendra Rathore was roped in. Young designers are participating in this event and would exhibit their work regularly and take them to international level. Winners of the ‘Designer Hunt’ will be working on a new apparel and accessories brand which will soon be launched in India and overseas. The brand, called ‘Brand India’ is being launched under the guidance of Raghavendra Rathore.

Talking further about their retail spread Banerjee says, “We plan to launch 200 stores to be operated through franchisee model of operation focusing on supply chain model. This would be done with the help of a master franchise. We have a very transparent method of selecting a master franchise though advertisements. We have selected a master franchise that will do the operations for other franchises pan India. NTC will have full control on these independent franchise stores in terms of product supply. They will store only NTC products exclusively. The main investment will be done by the master franchise while NTC will help in part renovation of the stores as and when required.”  

Similarly, for increasing production capacity NTC plans to have private partners to do the funding. Meanwhile NTC also has generated funds that will be utilized to increase their production capacity. Further, the company plans to apply for bank loans to help them increase the capacity.  

At present NTC does not have any foreign partnerships for their production and would be getting into a partnership for its technical textile venture. “We have received inquiries from a few foreign companies in Japan, Germany, America and India as well. We are in the process of shortlisting a company for a joint venture for marketing and production of our technical textile venture,” adds Banerjee. 

They plan is to launch the new brand in the value for money segment. As Banerjee says “We would like to give the people of India an honestly priced product. Moreover the fact that the brand is coming from the government will ensure that the product is available at the right price and the promised quality.”  

NTC plans to launch ‘Brand India’ between July and September. It has a substantial budget for both marketing and brand building. “We shall not constrain ourselves to our expansion appetite, currently the budget allocated for our advertising and marketing is approximately around Rs. 25 crores. An aggressive brand and retail communication has been planned. We have a value for money proposition for our shirt brand. A women’s empowerment program called “StreeVijay” will be launched soon.  We also plan to launch a mid level brand called ‘Raasa’ along with it says Banerjee. 

For ‘Brand India’ the company plans to target the middle class and upper middle class segment, while as far as the retail spread is concerned the company shall get into A and B markets and for the other brands NTC plans to target the B and C markets. 

NTC aims for a CAGR of 6 to 8 per cent and capture not only the Indian market but also spread is its wings internationally. However, according to Banerjee this will happen in phases and currently they will concentrate on building the brand locally. 

www.ntcltd.co.in/

India’s Northeast region is emerging as the latest destination for upscale apparel and accessories labels. Many top brands are rushing to take advantage of the growing demand in states such as Assam, Tripura and Manipur. From the makers of sports and fashion wear to branded jewellery chains, retailers are heading to the seven sisters either to open their stores or expand their retail footprint.

Take s.Oliver Fashion India for example, it runs the s.Oliver stores across India, and has been receiving queries from potential franchisees in cities such as Shillong, Guwahati and Siliguri. By mid-2013, the company is looking at venturing into this untapped market. It may be recalled that the premium German apparel brand had entered India in 2007. 

The Northeast, home to a combined 45 million people as of 2011 Census, comprises of the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. A good pace of economic growth in recent years has increased the purchasing power of people in the region. While the average rate of growth in gross state domestic product (GSDP), a measure of state-wise economic output, was 6.88 per cent in 2011-12, some Northeastern states grew faster. Assam’s economy grew at 8.42 per cent, Tripura’s by 8.87 per cent and Meghalaya clocked in growth of 9.54 per cent reveal Planning Commission figures. 

Louis Philippe, the men’s brand from Madura Garments that sells apparel, shoes and accessories, started test-marketing its collections in the Northeast one-and-a-half years ago with a store in Guwahati. Now it is looking at opening more stores in the region. Similarly jewellery chain Tanishq has two stores in Guwahati and Agartala and is now planning to open three more within this year. Titan, which also sells watches and eyewear under the Titan and Fastrack brands, clocked in sales worth Rs 100 crores in the region last year, up from Rs 12-13 crores five years ago. 

A research done by Nielsen shows, the Northeast accounts for 3.8 per cent of India’s personal care market, in terms of value, but is growing at a yearly pace of 22 percent —three percentage points higher than the national average. No wonder then that even fashion retailers and consumer goods companies are planning retail strategies in the area. New Delhi-based DLF Brands, which represents brands such as Forever 21, Mothercare and DKNY in India, too is mulling entering the region in the next one year.