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

MIND TREE
Q-and-A
Dates of various exhibitions are overlapping in the coming months of July and August… To proceed
with, the dates of IIGF, scheduled to take place in Greater Noida from 16th-19th July, coincides with the
CMAI-organised National Garment Fair, Mumbai and the Fabric & Accessories Trade Show (F&A) to be
held in Delhi. Similarly, both the technology fairs – GTE, Bangalore and Gartex, Delhi – are scheduled
to take place between 18th-20th August. Being a stakeholder in the apparel industry, how do you see
this situation…? Will it impact you, and what could be the possible solution?
Desh Deepak, Director,
Sadh Sons (Selfi Wear),
Delhi
I participate regularly in IIGF
and also in most of the apparel
sourcing events. Recently we
entered into the domestic
market with our brand Selfi
Wear, we are participating
in the National Garment Fair
(NGF) in Mumbai, but it is really
disappointing for us that this
year we cannot exhibit in IIGF.
It is very difficult to take part in
both the fairs together and we
are forced to miss this edition
of IIGF. Even our regular buyers
who meet us most of the time
at IIGF are going to miss us,
but we are helpless. Not only
this, an event in Ahmedabad
(GGMA’s National Garment
Fair), is also overlapping as it is
being organised from 19-21st
July while dates of CMAI’s event
are from 16-19th July. I really
can’t understand why there is
overlapping of dates.
Though Ahmedabad’s fair is
a regional kind of fair, but it is
still important for us if we get
even one good client and also
explore more fairs/opportunities.
So we will have to miss the
CMAI’s event in Ahmedabad.
Sorry to say, but I feel that
organisations behind all these
events don’t have proper and
enough coordination which is
hurting SMEs like us. I want to
insist that Ministry of Textile or
State Governments, which are
supporting IIGF or are in some
way involved in these fairs,
should support the industry by
having different dates. Are
they not aware of these dates
clashing or it does not matter
to them…? a deliberate clash, it is really
wrong. In such private shows,
every organiser thinks that his
show is best and tries to keep
the most convenient dates for
it, but as a part of the same
industry, they should try to keep
their shows on different dates.
Rahul Mehta, President,
CMAI, Mumbai Gaurav Juneja, Director,
Mex Exhibitions, Delhi
As far as clashing dates of
IIGF, Greater Noida with the
CMAI-organised National
Garment Fair, Mumbai is
concerned, such clash of
dates has happened for the
first time in history and is just a
matter of chance. Actually,
we were earlier planning to do
our show at The Bandra Kurla
Complex (BKC) but due to
bullet train project, it couldn’t
happen. So we were forced
to shift show to the Bombay
Exhibition Centre and dates
were finalized accordingly. As
a part of the organisers for IIGF,
CMAI always promotes IIGF
too and keeps dates different.
The same we will do in future.
Clashing of dates is not going
to have major effect as there
are very few companies that
participate in both fairs; after all
focus of both the fairs is quite
different. With regard to overlapping
dates of fairs, I can say that
IIGF is mainly focused on
international buyers, so there
is no clash of IIGF with CMAI’s
National Garment Fair as such.
If I talk about Gartex and GTE,
national capital Delhi is always
a hub for the exhibitions.
Industry stakeholders from all
over India consider any show
in Delhi as a national show but
show at Bangalore is considerd
as a regional show. I believe
that no one from hubs like
Ludhiana or Mumbai or any
other hub will fly to Bangalore,
but they would prefer to come
to Delhi. Apart from the hub,
it is also very important what is
on display in a particular show.
People always want something
new, latest and interesting…,
whatever is the talk of the
town. Apart from all kinds of
latest value addition machines,
denim is a new segment
this year to our show, so we
are more than sure of good
visitation. I can’t comment on
Regarding the technology fairs,
as the issue raised by you is
pertinent, I personally think that
it should be avoided and if it is
8 Apparel Online India | JULY 1-15, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com
anyone else, but for organisers
like us who work on an
international level, dates are
decided for next three years so
that is the competitors’ duty;
they want to do it purposely
on the same dates or they
want to avoid the clash. We
always work for the betterment
of the industry rather than
anything else.
Narinder Kumar,
President, GMMSA,
Ludhiana
Overall, I would say that these
kinds of clashes are wrong
and against the industry
interest. Ludhiana’s apparel
industry has also witnessed
a similar problem from last
few years. In India, most of
the technology shows are
being organised by individual
organisers and they see their
own benefits only; the industry
seems secondary for them.
There are very few shows
which are being managed
by industry associations and
by a collective effort like our
GMMSA event. So personal
relations with participants and
what kinds of facilities are
being provided, also matters.
Irrespective of any issue, it
should not happen and growth
and betterment of industry
should be the first priority for
all. This is the only solution to
avoid such clashes.