Apparel Online India Magazine April 1st Issue 2018 | Page 8

MIND TREE
Q-and-A
With fashion becoming season-less, some of the Indian exporters are now manufacturing for
the international market round the year, hence keeping their factories productively engaged.
What are you doing to get 12-months’ business? If exporters can plan in advance, is it not
possible to do garments for summer as well as for winter season?
HKL Magu, Chairman,
AEPC, Gurgaon
It is very difficult to get
12-months’ business as there are
various reasons or hurdles in this
regard. Not only India, but also
the overall world economy is
not doing good, especially the
apparel companies in Western
world which are under heavy
pressure. Without focusing on
winterwear, it is not possible to
have year-round business. But
for winterwear, Indian fabric is still
very costly and it takes minimum
40 days when someone imports
fabric from China which is not
viable in the current short lead
time scenario. Chinese suppliers
work on their own conditions; no
matter how much in advance
one plans, winterwear segment
is very difficult due to this fabric
issue. Only the Government can
help on this front to motivate
such fabric manufacturers
to manufacture relevant
winterwear fabric in India. If
that happens, we will not be
dependent on China.
I must say that India needs
to be more competitive
and that too on all fronts,
be it in exporters’ efficiency,
productivity, overhead control,
strong financial or Government’s
action on FTAs. Still many
factories are working on less
than 60 per cent efficiency,
while it is the minimum level in
the global scenario. There are
ample opportunities in energy
saving which will ultimately
help to control the cost. Our
HR professionals need to work
a lot on absenteeism, Indian
workforce needs counselling for
the same. Indian exporters need
to focus on hedging. All these
things need strong and quick
action as recent development
of complaint filed at the WTO
by the US about India’s export
subsidy programmes is going
to make things more difficult.
The only solution is FTA which
is  again in Government’s hands.
I must say that if we get FTAs, we
will not only achieve our export
target, but even surpass it.
Raja M Shanmugam,
President, Tirupur Exporters’
Association, Tirupur
It is not easy to have 12 months
business, especially in the current
difficult scenario. Industry should
have continuous dialogue
with policy makers and have
better understanding of ground
realities. All stakeholders should
also be able to identify the
gap and how to fill the same,
particularly hub wise as each
hub has different specialization
and strength.
Hub-specific research
and support can also be
formulized through these
dialogues. We have to evolve
every part of supply chain in this
gap-filling exercise. Secondly,
infrastructure improvement
should be our top priority as
global apparel market is all
8 Apparel Online India | APRIL 1-15, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com
about timely delivery and a
developed infrastructure.
To get maximum business,
India needs a level playing
field as all its neighbouring
countries and the competitors
in India have some benefit or
special advantage from the
core markets, be it US or EU.
Our ministries and the various
departments should also push
for FTAs.
As far as MMF is concerned,
there are three major players in
India and their prices are quite
high compared to international
markets. This segment
needs more players, besides
reasonable price. These things
are totally in the Government’s
hand who must do something
as the industry is seriously looking
for the same. We have ample
opportunities in winterwear
segment, but for that, fabric-
related issues can be solved by
the Government only. We have
to reduce our dependency on
cotton segment and focus more
on product diversification.
I personally feel in a strong way
that specific skill development
is also required for the industry.
We have self-groomed labour,
but we need proper, skilled and
groomed labour like Bangladesh
who are a technically trained
workforce, quite productive and
with high efficiency. All these
and the allied issues need to be
addressed collectively and on
priority basis, only then can we
have more business throughout
the year.
Tushar Jain, Pasupati
Spinning and Weaving
Mills, Delhi
To get 12-months’ business, we
are developing winterwear
fabric at our own mill. Though
this initiative is being followed
continuously from last 2-3
years, we were successful
in dispatching only a few
shipments of winterwear.
We explored Chinese fabric,
associated with our clients
and supported each other for
winterwear segment, but it is a
long-term process and will take
some more time. Actually, in
India, winter season is mainly
concentrated more in the
northern parts and this market is
dominated mainly by Ludhiana.
So to develop winterwear
segment for the overseas market
is difficult, but we will continue
our efforts.
Ajay Kumar Malik,
Vedanga Exports and
Marketing, Delhi
Having business for 12-months
depends on individual strength
apart from some basic things
when manufacturing for
winterwear or catering to the
specific markets. But having
core strengths, like giving
best services to the clients,
going for own promotion on
right platforms, developing
collections with proper