Apparel Online India Magazine May 2nd Issue 2018 | Page 8

MIND TREE
Q-and-A
According to latest official data released, Indian apparel exports is in a recessionary zone
with decline of (-) 17.78% for the month of March 2018 against the corresponding month
of March 2017. Further India’s apparel production has shown a decline of (-) 4.7% in the
month of February and a decline of (-) 9.9% for the period April-February 2017-18… Even in
this scenario, we find some companies doing well and expanding. Are you one of them…?
If yes, please share reasons of doing well in this difficult period?
Vivek Saxena, Director,
Moissanite Apparels,
Noida Vinod Thapar, President,
Knitwear and Textile Club,
Ludhiana
We are growing at the rate of
20 per cent, but at the same
time we are at that critical
point where one wrong step
will destroy everything. To
continuously perform well,
we are conducting small
workshops in our factory and
also motivating all professionals,
making it clear to them that we
are in a position where there is
no space for any mistake. We
are trying to make sure that if
6,000 pieces are to be delivered,
we should cut fabric for the
6,000 pieces only. Similarly, when
buying polypack for packaging,
no extra purchase or minimum
extra purchase should be
there. Nobody across the entire
company or factory should
be a reason to add extra cost.
Our team is geared up, be it
about taking leave or proper
utilisation of time. Apparel export industry is
passing through one of its
toughest phases, and survival
for growth is mainly for those
companies that are completely
organized. I have observed
that small or even medium-
level companies that were
not working in organized way
are down by almost 60 per
cent from their previous year’s
business, which is in fact very
sad. Even to manage now,
one has to plan in a way
that he need not depend
on Government subsidy or
any kind of incentive. Yes, it
is very difficult, but there is no
other way apart from these
two solutions.
All this is the need of the hour as
we are under pressure and high-
efficiency is required at all levels.
I don’t want to sound negative
but all of us know about policies
and ground realities. Doesn’t
the high fuel price have an
impact on our business? Same
is with the delayed refunds
and many other such things.
There is no profitability at all in
business and I have stopped
seeing P/L account.
S. Alagesan, VP –
Quality Assurance/
Sustainability/CSR,
Eastman Exports Global
Clothing, Tirupur
To survive in this scenario,
our industry has to trim down
whatever and wherever it is
possible. Only then will we be
able to survive. As far as our
company is concerned, we
are a close loop company; so
we are able to perform well
and improve continuously.
8 Apparel Online India | MAY 16-31, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com
I don’t agree if someone
says that there is no further
scope of improvement in his
factory or overall systems. On
a global scenario, Bangladesh
is also doing value-added
garments; so India has to see
the things differently and with a
new perspective.
Manoj Sahu, Partner,
Sahu Exports, Noida
In the last 25 years, this is
the first time that we have
seen decline in growth and
are now in the process of
evaluating where we missed
out and how we can maintain
our growth level. Whatever
the external factors, we
have to continue to improve
ourselves as orders are there
in the market for Indian
exporters, but costing is a
big challenge. No matter
how good we are in overall
efficiency, the only way
forward is to improve it further.
On market front we are trying
to do some niche products,
but it too has limitation. In
Delhi-NCR, one is used to
doing volume business but to
continue doing the same, one
has to move outside from this
region and set up factories in
emerging hubs, where cost is
less. Though we don’t have
any such plan as of now, but if
required in future, we will think
on these lines too.
Prashant Agarwal, JMD,
Wazir Advisors, Gurgaon
The issue you raised is important
to all segments and all industries.
To cut costing, we have to
increase productivity, efficiency
and also improve our services
which might be average as of
now. These are basic things, but
it is a gradual improvement and
takes time. Industry understands
the same and is applying
strategies to achieve the goal.
This is something one should
not avoid. Despite being under
heavy pressure, there is enough
scope for growth as buyers are
still looking at India.
M Ganesh Babu, MD,
Sudarsan Clothing, Tirupur
Yes, we are doing better than
we did the same time last year.
After two failed winters and a
lot of money lost in un-serviced
overheads during those months,
we took additional efforts to
secure winter orders this year.
All these orders were very
competitively priced, and
needless to say, older duty
drawback rates mattered due
to which we were not sure
whether to accept the orders.
We, however, did accept and
due to the weakening rupee, it
is g