Apparel March 2020 Apparel March 2020 issue | Page 31

70TH NGF SPECIAL
CAN YOU GIVE US DETAILS OF SOME
OF THE INITIATIVES THAT YOU WILL
SPEARHEAD IN THE COMING YEARS?
We want CMAI to have more regional offices; we
want each of the sub-committees to become
more active; and we want to represent more
centres. We also want more members across
each centre, thereby enhancing our pan-India
network. We want to increase the scale, scope
and reach of the NGFs as we think it has the
potential to reach greater heights. We are
also looking at conducting more skill-training
programmes. Most importantly, we want to
continue being the interface between our
members and the Government to ensure that our
policies are in line with what the industry expects.
Finally, there is an entire set of CSR projects
through which we want to give back to the
people who work in the industry.
OUR CORRESPONDENCE ON THE INDIA
SIZE PROJECT HAS BEEN LIMITED.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT ITS STATUS
IS?
The trials for India Size have happened already.
The sampling will take place April onwards. It’s
going to take about four to six months for the
entire project to materialise, factoring in the time
to consolidate the data as well. So the final output
will be ready by 2021. We are hopeful that along
with the aid of the Government and National
Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), the
operations will be conducted effectively.
HOW CAN WE COMBAT THE SLUGGISH
PHASE THIS INDUSTRY IS FACING?
I think this is an interim. I believe the pace will pick
up. The youth is only aspiring more. Therefore,
as an industry, I think we need to work harder to
bring better value to our customers and fulfil their
requirements. We also need to ensure that we are
always ahead of the trend game. Therefore, I feel
that this is an ongoing initiative and believe that
these challenges will be conquered.
MANY MANUFACTURERS STILL WANT
GST CAPS ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS
TO BE REDUCED. HOW CAN THIS BE
SOLVED?
For any kind of fashionable clothing being
produced, it is believed that a thousand
rupees is an insignificant MRP. Clothing is a
part of the essential needs of a consumer so
our recommendation to the Government is
to reconsider the R1,000 barrier and make it
R2,500. This will ensure that the customer is
offered the right quality of products. We believe
that this will create a revenue-neutral range.
FASHION IS DIGITISING VERY QUICKLY,
JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER DOMAIN.
BUT OUR ARTISANAL SECTOR IS STILL
UNORGANISED. HOW CAN THIS BE
STREAMLINED?
For us, factory efficiency is more about skill-
development. We have already begun our first
apparel training centre and we are hoping to
establish more such centres soon. We will also
create opportunities for other training initiatives to
commence. But this is a time-consuming task.
Digitisation is an ongoing process and I am sure
that we can leverage viable technologies to bring
about a substantial change in the sector.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
DEEP DISCOUNTING AND HOW HAS IT
IMPACTED THE INDUSTRY AT LARGE?
Discounts are a part and parcel of the
industry. But a more sensible model can be
followed. The consumer preference patterns
are changing in India. This means that while
previously we consumed more during, festivals
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