Apparel July 2019 Apparel July 2019 issue

FAIR UPDATE Another defining aspect of the Apparel industry in the South is the treasure trove of unstitched textiles being bought and sold. Mr Shah aptly describes it as ‘suiting and shirting’, which roughly implies the usage of fabrics for crafting suits and shirts. But this trend may not last long—Mr Vora envisages that in the next 10 years, readymade garments will soon start to take over, outnumbering textiles, thanks to growing instant gratification and rapacious consumption patterns. CITIES/TOWNS VISITED BY MR PARESH VORA CITIES/TOWNS VISITED BY MR PRASHANT SHAH Telangana Tamil Nadu Nizamabad Chennai Karimnagar Puducherry Hanamkonda, Warangal Villipuram Khammam Andhra Pradesh Vijayawada Rajahmundry Kakinada Vishakhapatnam Eluru Tanuku Tadepalligudem Bhimavaram Guntur Hyderabad Cuddalore Chidambaram Mayiladuthurai Kumbakonam Thanjavur Tiruchirappalli Madurai Pudukkottai Karaikudi Dindigul Kovilpatti Coimbatore Pollachi Tirupur Erode Salem 56 I APPAREL I July 2019 CMAI has devised a ‘Platinum List’, a repository of 300 retailers—which was, for the last NGF, 200—from across the country. Of the 300, about 100 comprise retailers from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. These form the upper crust of the Association’s retailer members, and are some of the best performers in their respective categories. “We aim to keep increasing the number with visits to other states. But it is only when we visit the stores first-hand and meet with retailers, that we can assess the scale of their business and decide whether or not to put them on the Platinum List,” Mr Munjal says. CMAI’s foremost aim is to invite those retailers who would benefit the manufacturers, the Association’s primary members. “If sought-after retailers of the country were to visit the Fair, it would add more charm and excitement to the event as a whole.” In this vein, the Association has come up with special privileges for those on the Platinum List—these include free registration, free access to the platinum lounge, and a paid-for return air ticket from Mumbai. Something akin to a symbiotic relationship develops during the time of the Fair as CMAI extends these privileges to buyers and in turn, they do not only participate in the Fair but also metamorphose into CMAI’s retailer members, taking the bond beyond the NGF. In a bid to reach out to a larger audience, the CMAI has also been making effective use of social media to enhance the experience for both its manufacturers and retailers. Although the true impact of the exercise will only be discerned at the 69th NGF, CMAI is hopeful that the collective effort will definitely bear fruit. Mr Munjal states avidly, “Retailers from the three states have already started registering with us. This shows that no conscious effort ever goes to waste.”

Apparel July 2019 Apparel July 2019 issue | Page 66