At Tapio Creations we deal in soft goods , with focus on apparel and fashion accessories . Established in 2009 , Tapio is a young company that sources for Mid- to Hi-end market – Retailers and Brands across UK , Europe , US , Mid-East , South Africa and India . Some of our clients include Topshop , River Island , ASOS , Warehouse , Whistles , Lipsy , Forever 21 , Shoppers Stop , LPP and Rare . Our main product line is Hi-Fashion Womenswear ( both casual & formal ) – in Knit ( Jersey ) and Woven . We also do Basics , Swimwear , Sleepwear , Kidswear and Home . Sourcing is our strength and we are a growing business , therefore
we are constantly sourcing new product lines based on our buyers ’ requirements . We are a design based operation with in-house garment , print and textile design capabilities . We also specialize in fabric sourcing .
We look for manufacturers with the right product conversion capability at the right cost . Our timelines are mostly very sharp . Also , our main markets require flexibility , quick decision making and great service ( speed being a main factor ).
The fashion business is about detail . When we shortlist a supplier ,
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we are looking at several factors ; and depending on the business model , the product and the buyer , the factors would vary . If we had to narrow it down to three factors , I would look at broad qualitative aspects which can cover most areas . For me the factors that differentiate a preferred supplier from an average supplier are – Performance , Ethics and Attitude .
But to meet these three core requirements , the supplier should have certain business and operational capabilities that include financial back up , fabric sourcing and product capabilities ( in product development & production ). Though design sensibility is also
We have been an important country in the fashion sourcing market and we also get business due to our ability to handle small quantities . Yet , even in the fashion industry , small order business is the biggest challenge along with consistency and innovation .
important , however given that it is an area which is not always required , I will not include it in the top 3 requirements , but is an edge no doubt .
In terms of mind-set , knowledge and understanding , a lot of India-based business set-ups are in tune with global requirements . They have been enterprising and shaped themselves over the years to new challenges , constantly . However , we haven ’ t moved fast enough and gradually over the years a lot of business has moved out . Our relevance has got limited to value-added-products and
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design . On a lot of basic product categories , we are a second priority while on a lot of product categories we are not important at all .
The bottom line is that we have been an important country in the fashion sourcing market and we also get business due to our ability to handle small quantities . Yet , even in the fashion industry , small order business is the biggest challenge along with consistency and innovation . Being able to constantly provide the same performance across seasons and years and being able to change , transform and innovate as per the changes in business is a quality , very few suppliers are imbibed with .
The business figures and customers feedback are always a good indicator of how the sourcing is shaping up … And in all reality , the growth has been average ( one should take into account the change in USD-Rupee conversion across the years while evaluating the numbers ) and while customers are bound to work with India due to our strengths , there have always been complaints about challenges and typical issues one faces in working with the country . There have been changes and progress , but there has been no ground-breaking transformation in the way we conduct our businesses . There are a very few companies which score well on fulfilling buyers ’ requirements .
The business has become increasingly demanding over the years . There are limitations due to one ’ s geographical location ( the country you are in ) – namely country-specific capabilities or lack of them , infrastructure , policies and prevalent cultural and social aspects of the country . While infrastructure and policies are something we have to live with and more dependent on the governance of the country , we are also limited on the fabric front to what ’ s available .
If we speak about the industry , there are a few areas where Business
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We look for manufacturers with the right product conversion capability at the right cost . Our timelines are mostly very sharp . Also , our main markets require flexibility , quick decision making and great service ( speed being a main factor ).
In terms of mind-set , knowledge and understanding , a lot of Indiabased business set-ups are in tune with global requirements .
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