FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ’ s DESK …
My team came back disappointed from the Textiles India mega event in Gandhinagar , and I knew it from my experience that this would happen . In fact , I had been warning against it right from the start . It was a disappointment not only because of the way the fair was handled , right from the infrastructure to buyer management , but also due to the fact that the whole concept of the fair was conceptually flawed !
How can any one event do justice to all segments of the Indian textile industry in just three days ?
The buyers for each segment are different , and even within the segments , the buyers for each product are different … So while a designer may look at everything from yarn to final product , the actual sourcing happens individually by a buyer specialized in that category / sub-category like fabric , shirts , blouses , denim , lingerie , etc . and he requires time to see , analyse and conduct business . Three days is too short a time for serious players . Exhibitions around the world are held category-wise , as it is a practical approach to attract the right kind of visitors .
That besides , the chaos on the first day on all fronts including infrastructure , particularly lack of hygiene and people management , was a pathetic sight …, the detailed report follows in the edition . But beyond the mess , what was also truly disappointing was the overtly emphasis on handlooms and crafts , and while we are all proud of our heritage , just displaying them is not going to bring in business .
Buyers are looking for garments to suit western taste – comfort and fit are the two most important criteria that they look for in a garment . Our unique techniques can add value , but no one travels the world just to see techniques … They need to see garments that appeal to their sensibility and comfort .
Was the fair a showcase of Indian textiles or a business platform for the value chain ? If it was just a showcase , then the projections and promotions should have been different . But if a business model was the intent , then the buyers should have been the focal point and everything should have revolved around giving them a world-class sourcing experience .
Instead , we now have a bunch of angry and disillusioned buyers , many of whom had come in for the first time . India already has a ‘ reliability ’ issue and if the Government also treats the buyers with a casual approach , things can only get worst . Bigger buyers already sideline Indian fairs , now even the small ones will be wary .
If events have to be organized at such huge scales , they should be handled by a professional team that understands the nuances of an exhibition and the parameters which differentiate a successful fair from a shoddily put together effort .… and not by a Government agency with no idea of what buyers or anyone in the value chain requires .
The event became a trade fair and no effort was made in checking the authenticity of the person seeking admission to the venue . The same cannot be said of the first day , when even genuine buyers were made to wait hours in the rain for clearance , not because of credibility issues , but because of security reasons !
So engrossed was the Textile Minister and her team in the hype of PM ’ s visit that they did not even bother to walk through all the halls , which would have been a great moral booster for the exhibitors , who had come with certain expectations based on the magnitude of the event .
Many of you may recall my editorial after her joining the Textiles Ministry … It was an over- enthusiastic piece , hoping for a dynamic leadership …, but Smriti Irani has proved me wrong … Through the three days , she was busy with CEO meetings and making arrangements for VIP visits , neglecting those who represent the majority of the industry and without whose support , the show would have been impossible .
Many believe , and I am one of them , that the event gained nothing from the PM ’ s visit . In fact , it would not be wrong to say that the real focus of the event was lost in the hype of his coming for the inauguration . It would have been more meaningful if he had at least given an inaugural address at the venue and assured the textile value chain that the Government is not unmindful of their potential and contribution to the economy .
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8 Apparel Online India | JULY 16-31 , 2017 | www . apparelresources . com