INDIA - ALWAYS IN FASHION

India has always been a tremendously rich sourcing ground for fashion creativity. The world's leading fashion makers have very frequently been inspired by the diversity of India's colors, textiles and garments. In short, the country's relationship with great fashion is nothing new. It has always been there, but now, it is changing, as Indians modernize and globalize.
The 9th edition of INDIA FASHION FORUM, to be held on 27/28 January 2009 in Mumbai, Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center, will give industry experts an excellent update on all aspects of the fashion business on the subcontinent.
The Forum includes Conference, Exhibition, Fashion Shows and Fashion Awards, and is, with about 2.000 delegates, over 100 speakers and 100 exhibitors, India’s leading event for fashion retail business.
The conference 2009 will chart out in concurrent brain storming sessions with captains of the industry growth paths for various segments of the business of fashion: Clothing & Textiles, Sports & Footwear, Jewellery & Watches, and Premium Fashion & Accessories. Creative fashion shows, the Lycra® Images Fashion Awards (LIFA) evening and the exhibition area, providing space for fashion brands, shopping mall developers, retail concepts, Visual Merchandising and retail support solutions, will accompany the Forum.
Clothing and fashion accessories have the lion’s share in the organized retail pie in India with 38.1 % market share (all data taken from India Retail Report 2009). Most of organized retail businesses in fashion have grown fast in the last decade. Also, fashion is the category in which most global brands entered the Indian market and gained substantially. Despite high rentals, fashion and luxury retailers like Guess, Gas, Levi’s, Benetton, Reebok, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Nike, Versace, Paul Smith, Valentino, Gucci, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer etc. have opened their largest stores in India and are now planning to only increase their presence in the country. The overall value growth in 2007 over 2006 was 15.5%, while volumes grew at 5.9%. Based on the existing trend, it is projected that the Indian apparel market will grow to Rs. 1.715 bn by 2010. The menswear segment continues to take up lion’ share (40.2 %), womenswear accounts for 34.8 % market share and 24.9 % for the kidswear and uniform segments. Volumes growth has also been highest in this category at 9.3%. Largely unorganized and predominantly tailored, this category makes for a challenging opportunity for the organized branded sector. Casual and sportswear is another budding avenue where the growth is largely volume-driven. There is tremendous growth in this category, from the super-premium to the mass ranges. Unavailability of the branded stuff at the entry level and also at the top-end leaves an open field for fakes and duplicates to play upon – and this is yet another challenge that needs to be tackled by brands and organized retailers.
Parallel to the opportunities for global fashion brands there are tremendous chances for Shop Designers&Architects, shop fitters and retail support companies. In India, over 20.000 new exclusive brand outlets, 280 hypermarkets, 500 department stores, 600 shopping malls, 1.200 mega specialty stores and 3.200 Supermarkets are to be built by 2011. Besides, more than 10.000 existing stores are to undergo complete facelift. By 2010-11, about 300 million square feet of retail space will need new ideas in design, shop fitting and retail support systems. At the moment, though, shopping centre developers, brands and retailers do not have many choices.

Images Group
S-21, okhla industrial area, phase II
New Delhi 110 020
India
Phone +91-11-40525000
Mobile +91-91-9810204297
Fax +91-11-40525001
www.imagesgroup.in

Press contact in Europe
Susanne Weller
Parkstraße 27
40477 Düsseldorf/Germany
Phone +49-211-16453973
mail: imageseurope@t-online.de

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

A retail intelligence organisation with publications, research, education, events, awards and retail support services, the IMAGES Multimedia Group (established in 1992) has played a vital role in organising fashion and retail businesses in India and has successfully set up an information exchange via media, which equips the trade with the knowledge that drives the fashion and retail businesses across the globe. Establishing a continuous flow of information through its activities facilitating networking amongst investors, retailers, realtors and brand leaders, IMAGES has emerged as the most vibrant link between the marketers and the market-place. IMAGES fora are known worldwide, where the retail, franchise and shopping centre fraternities converge to explore India – a market that is highly likely to emerge as one of the largest retail destinations in the world by the end of this decade.

IMAGES straddles the two emerging segments in India – Fashion and Retail. Established in 1992, IMAGES has played a crucial role in the development of these two industries by helping organize them, giving them an industry status, providing global benchmarks and facilitating networking amongst retailers, fashion houses, designers, investors and brand leaders.

This release was published on openPR.