FW
The fair which has been playing a vital role in providing a platform to Indian exhibitors of home, lifestyle, fashion and textiles products for the last 23 years is back this year starting form today. The Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida will showcase the abundance of raw materials products backed by a rich heritage of design and handcrafting skills until October 16.
IHGF is amongst Asia's largest gifts and handicrafts fair, held biannually (spring and autumn edition) and organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). Union Minister of Textiles, Ministry of Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani will be inaugurating the fair. The five power-packed days with over 2750 exhibitors, spread over 190,000 sq metres area, brings you an entire range of home, lifestyle, and fashion accessories, with a traditional artistic finish in perfect harmony with modern designs and contemporary colours.
Visitors can go through materials like housewares, gifts, decorative, furniture, garden and outdoor, bathroom accessories, home furnishing, carpets, rugs, floor accessories, lamps and lighting, Christmas and holiday decor, spa and wellness, handmade paper items, educational games, trophies, fashion jewellery and accessories, stationery and gifts at this unique fair.
"The Limca book of world's records has already recognised the IHGF-Delhi Fair as the world's largest congregation of handicrafts exhibitors under one roof," informed Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
The people who will be visiting the show includes buyers from across the globe who are wholesalers, distributors, chain stores, departmental stores, retailers, mail order companies, brand owners, buying houses and designers and forecasters. The show will also have visitors from major Indian Retail and online brands like Fab India, Westside, Trends, The Wishing Chair, Furniture Walla, Goodearth and many more.
The overseas buyers from over 100 countries include Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Italy, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, USA, UAE, UK and Zimbabwe.
Major departmental stores who have already confirmed their visit to the show include Roost, Kirkland's, Pier1 Imports, Two's Company Inc., Interlude Home Inc. BBB, Anthropologie, Design House, Century Sourcing, Prestige Cutlery, Accent Décor, Apropos International, Kalalou, Appleman & Schauben, Interior Home Inc. and Hoesh International from USA, The Libra Company, UK, LDR Furniture group, Heine, Atlas Einrichtungs, Lambert from Germany, Eurogroup from Hong Kong, Lifestyle and Redtag from UAE, The Moshi from Sweden, Manor AG and Migros from Switzerland, Rivera Maison from Netherlands, & Samsara Furniture from Australia, Aux Fil De Saison from France and Ningbo D. Sky Home from China.
Based on a survey conducted during previous editions of the show, buyers from across the globe prefer to visit the IHGF-Delhi fair due to a great product range, attractive prices, different varieties, distinct quality and new product lines.
The extravaganza will also witness a live demonstration, regional craft, and knowledge seminars with complimentary facilities.
During this edition, a pavilion of cane and bamboo products from North-Eastern region and Jodhpur cluster will also be set up. Knowledge seminars will be on different and important subjects such as investments in handicrafts sector, goods and services tax, necessary compliances for handicrafts sector, neuroscience in marketing, survey from Telangana and trends and forecast 2019.
OP Prahladka, Chairman, EPCH elaborated that the quest for seeking something different, unusual and new drives a large number of buyers from all over the world to visit IHGF-Delhi fair during each edition and during this edition too buyers visit will be more than the previous years.
CAITME was held in Uzbekistan from September 13 to 15, 2017. This is an exhibition of textile machinery and was attended by 353 companies from 22 countries including Austria, Germany, India, Spain, Italy, China, South Korea, and Japan. From China there were 65 participating companies, from Turkey 56 and from Germany 36. These were the most active participants at the exhibition this year.
The exhibition saw a growth up to 35 per cent as compared to the previous year. The whole range of equipment and technologies for the textile and light industry starting from yarn production to packaging of readymade garments and knitwear was showcased at the exhibition. Many companies had arranged live demonstrations of machines and equipment and delivered master classes at their stands.
The sewing and embroidery equipment sector was one of the most popular among participants and professional visitors. Twenty companies from all over the world presented products which contribute to employment for a great number of unemployed women and strengthen the potential of small business.
Held alongside CAITME was Textile Expo. This presented textiles, semi-finished products and ready garments and apparel of leading companies from Uzbekistan, China, Turkey, Belarus and Russia. Uzbekistan’s textile and light industry is favoured through availability of raw materials, including cotton fiber and silk, an amicable environment for doing business, a package of benefits and privileges for investors and overall political and macroeconomic stability of the country.
Tintex, based in Portugal, is a maker of naturally advanced, smart and responsibly crafted jersey fabrics which are used in the fashion, sports and lingerie markets. Its mission is to amplify and grow an eco-sustainable strategy for all its production, investment and fabric innovations and spread this message of change, best practice and influence throughout the contemporary textile fashion system.
One of its customers is Filippa K, a leading Nordic fashion brand dedicated to a carefully curated contemporary consumer wardrobe. Emblematic pieces are the flowy jersey dress spice, a wide strap dress with high side slits and a flowy A-line shape, and the flowy maxi skirt spice with a high front slit and a drapey feel. Both are made from sustainable lyocell by Tintex.
Another customer is Ekyog, a French fashion brand. The brand has 32 stores in France. Ekyog chose a 3D interlock jacquard 100 per cent recycled polyester by Tintex for a boxy teddy with a teddy collar closed by metal snaps. Tintex materials have also been included in the line Merry from the Bohemian Rhapsody history collection. This is an interlock jacquard with 86 per cent recycled polyester. The material is chosen for a mid-length jacket in jacquard 3D knit with loose volume, armhole down and closed by metal snaps.
South Korean fashion companies are accelerating efforts to tap into overseas markets amid a prolonged domestic slump. For example, Shinsegae is planning to open three more Vov stores in China this year. Vov is a women’s wear brand. The company currently runs 48 branches of Vov. G-Cut opened its ninth store in China last year.
Handsome, the apparel unit of Hyundai, opened stores for its casual brands System and System Homme in Galeries Lafayette in Paris. This is an upmarket French department store and is famous for selling numerous designer labels that are favored by customers with deep pockets.
Samsung is revving efforts to expand its presence abroad, opening branches at department stores in New York and Hong Kong. The size of South Korea’s domestic fashion market is predicted to reach 39.3 trillion won in 2017, up from an estimated 38.3 trillion won last year. This would mark the fourth consecutive year of single-digit growth for the fashion industry. The market expanded 11.8 per cent on-year in 2011.
Apparel and footwear saw a slowdown in growth in 2016 although it remained positive. The decline in participation in outdoor activities had a negative effect on overall apparel and footwear. Global players had a strong presence while domestic players witnessed difficult conditions due to the trends of market polarisation and cost-effectiveness.
Shekhar Shridhankar has retired from India ITME Society. He was joint director and served the society for 37 years. Bhupendra Thakur has joined India ITME Society as head – operations. He will be responsible for exhibitions.
ITME Society has appointed Nishita Argekar as assistant manager (marketing) and Amey Anil Kuware as senior accounts officer. S Hari Shankar is Chairman, India International Textile Machinery Exhibitions (India ITME ) society. He is an alumnus of the Philadelphia College Of Textiles & Sciences, US. Apart from being an enthusiastic athlete, he is also an avid and well-known wildlife photographer. He is the joint managing director of Lakshmi Card Clothing, Coimbatore. LCC is a global leader in providing complete card room solutions. He is active in many associations and is on the board of executive council of Textile Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (India) (TMMA) since 2001 and also held the position of chairman of TMMA from 2011 to 2013. He was part of India ITME society since 2001 and held the position of hon. treasurer from 2013 to 2017.
He is also on the board of directors of Prathishta Wvg. & Knitting, Coimbatore, and governing council member of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore.
Indonesia Modest Fashion Week (IMFW) will be held from October 12 to 15, 2017. As a Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has a huge potential in developing its Muslim fashion industry. For this year, the event is set to feature 150 booths and 60 works from local and international designers.
Muslim fashion designers have been encouraged to incorporate local material into their design. The country wants to achieve the goal of becoming the Muslim fashion capital of the world.
The creativity of Indonesian designers has allowed them to compete in the global stage. Local material gives these designers a competitive edge and it’s also an effective promotional tool for Indonesia. Fashion and tourism are important to Indonesia’s creative industry. Tourists mostly spend their money on these things apart from hotel and transportation.
At one time Muslims would be associated with bland clothing. Designers are coming up with ideas to make the new generation look better. They are turning midi skirts into maxi skirts. Uniqlo launched a collection that featured fashionable hijabs in muted tones, along with tunics and flowing dresses. Similarly, American Eagle Outfitters launched a denim hijab.
Nike’s Pro Hijab was made with lightweight polyester for maximum breathability to help female Muslim athletes compete.
Denims & Jeans show was held in Bangalore, September 25 to 26, 2017.
It was a success. Top players of the denim industry including retailers, exporters, garment producers, brands, distributors and importers participated in very good numbers as well as many overseas visitors.
Each of the seminars was visited by an audience of over 300 people. Closing time of the show on both days had to be extended.
India is a bigger consumer market than the US or Europe today. It is growing at a fast pace as in four years Indian consumers are expected to be consuming more than 900 million jeans–while US or European markets are likely to continue to be saturated. This will bring great opportunities for the entire supply chain.
Trends emanating out of the Indian market might be taken up globally. The Indian denim industry has great growth potential and Indian talent has been the force behind developments taking place in many countries today. Due to support from the government and more streamlined tax structures such talent might be further poured into innovation and enterprises of the country.
Some countries in Asia may turn into net importers in the coming decade as countries like India would be importing more fabric and probably jeans than they are exporting due to the increased local jeans consumption.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) management has termed the revised export package by the government a step in the right direction to overcome national trade deficit. The management has appreciated the initiative and concerted efforts of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and efforts of Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Commerce and Textile Minister Pervaiz Malik, Advisor to Prime Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail and for Revenue Haroon Akhtar in finalizing the amendment in export package.
The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has approved the export package in a bid to give a boost to shrinking exports of the country. Under the package, 50 per cent of the incentive will be offered to eligible textile and non-textile exporters on the same terms as given for the period January to June 2017 without the condition of 10 per cent increase in shipments. The remaining 50 per cent of the incentive will be provided if an exporter achieves increase of 10 per cent or more in shipments compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
The APTMA management has lauded the prime minister for his prompt action to address the rising trade deficit and taking a decision to amend the export-led growth package in the larger interest of the country. It says that the APTMA has always concerned about the issue while sincerely believing that reviving exports rather than borrowing again and again to discharge liabilities can be the only answer to the problem.
Aamir Fayyaz hoped the industry will regain its position in the international market with early availability of regionally competitive energy price, liquidation of pending sales tax refunds and a fast track implementation of the export growth package. The APTMA management looks forward to present the textile industry viewpoint to the prime minister on issues concerning the restoration of viability and further investment to increase production, employment and exports.
American company Michael Kors is buying the UK luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo. Kors is acquiring the firm through a wholly-owned subsidiary. Jimmy Choo has been powering ahead in recent periods with the company’s latest half-year results showing it grow sales and margins ahead of the market. It also boosted accessories as a percentage of its overall sales as it has continued to diversify beyond its core footwear offer with bags and sunglasses proving popular. And its men’s business continued to be its fastest growing unit.
The company recorded growth in almost all regions in the latest half, which is bound to be a plus for its soon-to-be new owner. US-based Kors is a global handbag and apparel empire. The label offers clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses and watches. Men can choose from tailored shirts, sweaters, vests, jackets, pants, wallets, card cases, messengers and totes. For women there are fit and flare, sheath, or shift dresses, platforms, heels, wedges, clutches, earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces.
Synonymous with luxury style and effortless polish, Michael Kors has a sophisticated, jet-set aesthetic. Known for his laidback, luxurious, wearable and quintessentially American silhouette, designer Michael Kors started his label in 1981 and has dressed Hollywood actresses, music superstars and first ladies.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and coinciding with Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO Spring/Summer 2018 (October 16-22), the Fashion Hong Kong Month is being held in Japan from, October 1 to November 2. A total of 14 Hong Kong fashion and accessories brands, including four Hong Kong runway show designers and 10 accessories brands, will be presented. Aside from the fashion show and an after-show party, the Hong Kong fashion showroom will be set up to facilitate potential collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong designers and their overseas counterparts, while displays and pop-up stores will also be in place at various locations in Japan to further enhance the exposure of Hong Kong designs.
Hong Kong designers will debut their latest collections. The four designers’ work will be available for print on Casetify phone cases. Their runway collections together with the ten accessories brands will not only be available for sale at the pop-up stores but also at Goxip, a Hong Kong online fashion shopping start-up.
Since its debut in 2015, Hong Kong Fashion has staged numerous world-class runway shows, at Tokyo Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Another highlight is the Asia Fashion Collection, scheduled on October 16. Young Hong Kong designer Key Chow will showcase his latest collections and work with designers from Japan, Korea and Taiwan to present a vibrant fashion show.
