Apparel Online India Magazine January 1st Issue 2019 | Page 10

EDITORIAL
but the speed of the reactive action needs
to be increased manifold. By adopting
technology, information sharing is
definitely on the fingertip and approvals
may be digital, but order placing is still
done manually after seeing and feeling the
garment. It will still take some time before the
complete sourcing process of garment trade
can happen online.
April 16-30
Global developments
keep the industry
guessing
an opportunity that every manufacturing
destination is looking to encash upon, so, why
not the exporters?
May 16-31
The story of
challenges continues
INTERNATIONAL PRESSURES...
With the garment export industry reeling under
a difficult situation, any new issue or policy
decision would only add to the confusion. As
US is bringing up new regulations and trade
restriction almost every day, India has been
cautious in its approach. Besides China factor
and the pressure building up in the South
Asian region is a matter of concern not only in
political corridors, but for the industry as well.
Like Bangladesh, which is eyeing the domestic
market in India, Indian exporters must also not
undermine the potential of domestic brands
and retailers.
May 1-15
Transparent business
is the only way
forward
The ongoing trade war between the two giant
economies – US and China – reached conflict
point after Trump refused to soften his stand
on his threat to raise tariffs up to US $ 150
billion on Chinese goods. As this politics of
trade continues to grab eyeballs, the politics of
elections has made its first impression in India,
creating a new wave of optimism. Recently,
the Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Finance
jointly called an urgent industry meeting to
work together to pull the industry out from the
dumps.
Which export
community is
more proactive to
challenges?
Transparency and collaboration along the
value chain are the only ways for the Indian
garment industry to flourish. The latest edge
that the textile and garment industry is looking
at is the emerging organised retail, which
has added a new dimension to the country’s
industry. The domestic market is presenting
10 Apparel Online India | JANUARY 1-15, 2019 | www.apparelresources.com
Look at how the exporters in Bangladesh and
India react differently to tough and adverse
situations… While exporters in Bangladesh
group together and collectively work on finding
solutions to turn the situation back into their
favour, Indian exporters look helpless and
confused. Post Rana Plaza, the country was
back on the sourcing map, regaining buyers’
trust and ready to face any challenge! It is time
the Indian Government understands the real
needs of the country and moves towards a
better future.
August 16-31
Positivity breeds
growth…, so take the
plunge!
December 1-15
Collaboration along
the value chain is the
biggest mantra for
growth
The garment export industry seems to have got
into a vicious circle where the problems instead
of getting solved are creating fresh problems,
and opportunities that could have been
grabbed are getting ignored! Exporters are
already challenged by n-number of issues and
the US market is getting more difficult, resulting
in many factories closing down. The next six
months are going to be watchful, and we can
only hope that both the global uncertainties
and the internal dilemmas are sorted out soon.
July 16-31
COLLABORATIONS...
The collaborative approach to business is really
picking up… This collaborative approach has
supported innovation along the supply chain
with players in the fibre and yarn segment
inclusively collaborating with textile and
knitting companies for truly innovative fabrics.
The collaborations are also happening on
the design front and among the so-called
competitors of business to ensure that buyers
get all that they need. Evolving sourcing
strategies and buyer price points are doing
the round on social platforms and the younger
generation is meeting with serious intent to
share experiences.
Exporters are struggling…; many admit
that the duty drawbacks were the margins
that they could play with, as buyers are not
willing to budge on prices. More so, with
other established destinations and emerging
destinations offering products at lower prices,
the competition is really nail-biting. In this
scenario, it is the tough and fundamentally
strong companies that are continuing to grow.
Though all admit, including those who are
doing well, that conditions are challenging and
doing global business is not easy anymore.
July 1-15
Indian exporters
caught in a vicious
circle of crisis
June 16-30
The politics of trade
and the politics of
elections
STRUGGLES OF EXPORTERS…
June 1-15
Workers need to be
involved in change
initiatives...
July and August months are the best time to
interact and feel the pulse of the industry. At
the fabric, accessory and technology fairs,
companies are reporting good enquiries, but at
sourcing fairs, the struggle to offer ‘price’ is the
only real challenge… The way retailers, both
global and local, are expanding is exceptional
and the scope for more expansions is still
huge. AO had predicted years ago about
market convergence, and this is becoming a
reality now.
TALKING SUSTAINABILITY…
At the recently held C&A Foundation
event in Bhopal, it was really fascinating
to see how the farmers were integrated
into the event – right from welcoming the