Fashion is ever changing. With changing trends, changes in consumer perspectives, and a very technology led and digitally influenced retail market, it is imperative for the entire value chain of the fashion industry to quickly adapt to these changes to keep the big wheel turning. And to swiftly attune oneself, assimilation of the pervading changes is indispensable.

The 17th edition of the India Fashion Forum was unique in as much that it moved a long way forward in crystalizing upon the core tenets driving of this dynamic business. Going by the great content and insights that were laid before us, I am sure the future for fashion in India is indeed bright.

IFF 2017 was a great success and I want to thank all our key partners—Inorbit, Infi nity, Select Citywalk, Arvind Group, Raymond, GATI, The Woolmark Company, Deal Jeans, Philips, Accenture, Pretr, Raysil, and TRRAIN; as well as our knowledge partners Technopak, Facebook, WGSN, PwC, Kantar IMRB, AT Kearney, BCG, Wazir; all IFF Exhibitors, India Brand Show participants; the speakers, panelists and all IFF delegates for their support. BS Nagesh and Bijou Kurien were once again our great mentors and in particular, I wish to thank one person—J. Suresh—the chairman of IFF ’17. Last year, when I was with my good friend, and past chairman of IFF, Kabir Lumba, the MD of Lifestyle, we had a chat on who should lead the next India Fashion Forum and instantly we both knew it had to be J. Suresh. What he has done with Arvind and how he built and managed the whole new lifestyle and retail business is inspiring. Thank you, dear J. Suresh for helping us build the agenda for IFF 2017 and being such a wonderful leader.

India is indeed a unique shining market in the world today. While fashion businesses in the west project grim scenarios on immediate growth and the Chinese slowdown is further cause for concern, it will be a very rare global fashion player who does not have an eye on the Indian market.

And within us, in India, the optimism, dynamism and creativity was best at display at the Solo Xpress session where some of the foremost Indian fashion leaders shared their journeys. That session was my own very personal takeaway from IFF’17, and I promise you that I came out truly inspired by that evening session. I assure you an even bigger and better IFF’18.

or those who missed the event, this issue of Images BoF brings you a detailed report on all the key sessions and deliberations at the India Fashion Forum 2017. I strongly recommend that you, dear reader, go through the issue with a pen in hand, quickly marking of insights that are of actionable value and ideas that are eminently replicable or inspiring.

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It’s been a high adrenaline month for all of us at the IMAGES Group. And, even as I write this, our team is busy putting all efforts together towards a bigger and better 17th annual congregation of the India Fashion Forum(IFF). And while the central focus is on the activities that will happen on the ground at IFF’17, the Images BoF editorial team has also attempted something very important and timely.

As, you are aware, the magazine always focusses on a single fashion category in every issue however this time we went chasing the greatest fashion leaders of our time. The Fashion CEOs and Directors, as the fountainheads of the fashion industry thought, are the ones that will shape the fashion vision of the nation. And as the industry is poised for quantum growth, it was critical to hear them out.

The principal feature of this issue, “Meet the Masters”, comprehensively picks their minds on some of the most critical decisions that lie upon us. It is a small and distinguished group of visionary stalwarts that will drive the fashion revolution in India. These leaders are all also extremely hands- on and the ones that not only had the audacity to dream big, but also the perseverance to see it through to reality. I am sure, this synergic juxta positioning of their thoughts will prove to be knowledge laden for you all, with plentiful insights to aid you re-evaluate and reshape your fashion retail aspirations and pave the next way forward.

he Indian fashion retail market is moving progressively, driven by increased presence of organised retail, which inturn rides the rising disposable incomes, changing demographics, increasing brand consciousness, and the e-commerce boom.

And, it is now a place of high interest for global brands as well. In this issue, we scan the news-waves and present a report on the major international brands that were launched in India in 2016-17.

Do go through the articles on character licensing in kidswear and women’s jewellery in India and our features on retail and brand excellence. The Sportswear International section is a great curation and presentation on the buzziest buzz in 2016 from across the globe.

look forward to seeing you all at the India Fashion Forum 2017, Renaissance, Mumbai on the 12th and 13th of April 2017. Also, a final word of gratitude to all the fashion leaders who spared their valuable time to share their inputs is in order. Thank you so much, dear Masters of Fashion.

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Trousers are not what they used to be during my younger years, to say the least. Infact the entire template of a trouser has changed. Back in the day, trouser referred to a simple, utilitarian pair of long legged garment reserved strictly for formal occasions. But today, the word trousers encompasses such a diverse array of bottom wear, that it reduces yesteryear’s trouser to just a sexagenerian memory.

The trouser’s market in India has seen a recent but significant preference shift. Yet, as claimed by designer Raghavendra Rathore in the report Bespoke Trousers in this issue, this wardrobe staple will still need 2-3 years in India to graduate to a central level of the wardrobe. This, actually, indicates to a healthy buzz in the trouser market which is picking up momentum rapidly. As sized by the experts from Technopak in the lead research, the bottom wear market excluding denims is estimated to be worth `39,022 crores in 2016 for men, women and kids. It is estimated that this market segment will grow at a CAGR of 10 percent for the next ten years and is estimated to reach `89,392 crores by 2026.

The trousers market in India is dominated by the men’s segment which comprises around 72 percent of the entire market. But its the women’s section, which only accounts for a meagre ~4 percent, that has outpaced the men’s in terms of evolution. From fabrics, styles, fi ts, stitches, cuts to frills and silhouettes, the options and innovations in this segment is as vast as the horizon itself. Also, the women’s trouser category is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11 percent for the next decade in contrast to the men’s segment that, according to industry experts, is poised for an 8 percent CAGR growth.

his issue also gives an insight on the prevailing trouser trends through two special features. In one, industry experts from Celio, ColorPlus, Indigo Nation, etc., talk about the latest domestic market trends and in the other, veteran fashionista Meher Castelino discusses the trouser trends and innovations off the Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2017 runway. Also, present is an in-depth feature that traces the size, nature and future of the trousering fabric market as perceived by majors like Siyaram, Raymonds, etc.

Also, in commomoration of the International Women’s Day, we talk to and present the journeys of a few eminent women enterpreneurs who have made lasting impressions in the fashion business.

Last but not the least, we present to you the India Fashion Forum 2017 curtain raiser, the mention of which, reminds me to invite you once again to this year’s edition of the IFF which will be held at the Renaissance, Mumbai on the 12th and 13th of April 2017. Hope to see you all there!!

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If the likes of Quentin Tarantino were fashion manufacturers instead of cinematic extraordinaires, I bet their preferred domain of choice would have been kidswear; because this is where the action is in India. And while the sector, as within the organized market, was almost non-existant till a few years, it now has embossed itself as the most propitious segment of the Indian fashion industry with dedicated trade meets and fashion weeks and shows to its name.

We all knew that it was inevitable, but if you’re wondering when this transition from docile to demanding really happened, it is now amply clear that as financial stability and purchasing power of modern parents grew in the last few years, an inevitable shift from need based to aspirational fashion manifested resulting in a boost hitherto unseen in the Indian kidswear industry. Parents now exhibit considerable brand awareness and inclination towards high quality apparel products for their kids. The kids too have emerged as a fashion conscious, opinionated new independent buyer group altogether. The young generation is no more like their erstwhile peers, they are righteously more demanding and they will no longer take fuddy-duddy outfits or worn out hand-me- downs from elder sibling.

As our research shows, one of the fastest growing segments in its home turf, the Indian kidswear market was worth ` 59,520 crores in 2015 and accounted for 20 percent of the total apparel market of the country. Industry sentinels expect significant future growth and even project predictions of it surpassing men’s wear and women’s wear in the near future by growing at a CAGR of 10.8 percent to reach ` 1,65,120 crores in 2025. With such immense market potential, a host of players, both home grown and international, have sprung up to cash in on this gold rush. While domestic brands like Toff ee House, Ruff , Bambiola, 612 League, Toons, etc., are aggressively exerting themselves to mark their territories, the segment witnessed the advent of quite a few international brands in the recent past including, Pepe, Claesens, Reebok, Puma, Benetton, etc.; and retailers like Marks & Spencer, Zara, H&M, are also hosting dedicated sections. etc.

Recently global high-end bigwigs like Gucci, Armani, Hugo Boss, Karl Lagerfeld, Carrement Beau Fendi Kids, Versace, D&G and Paul Smith Junior have stepped in to test the Indian waters. This also is a clear indication of the potential of luxury and designer segment in the Indian kidswear market. Our exclusive report featuring veterans Ritu Beri, Archana Kochhar, Jattinn Kochhar and a slew of other designers, perfectly counts the pulse of this segment. In addition, the issue features exclusives on other emerging fragments of this market — kids’ denim wear and organic kidswear. Plus, lots more in this issue that I hope you fi nd worthwhile reading.

And finally, let me also take this opportunity to invite you to this year’s edition of the India Fashion Forum which will be held at the Renaissance, Mumbai on the 12th and 13th of April 2017. Also, IIF 2017 will have an additional day on 11th April exclusively for fashion influencers. Look forward to meeting all of you the

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Welcome to the first issue of the year and I would like to wish you all a very happy new year. I sincerely hope that this year turns out to be prosperous both for you and your business.

As we do every year, we are pleased to present before you the annual Brands of India Special Issue of IMAGES Business of Fashion . While we showcase brands, we also ponder upon the art of creating a brand. In fashion, creativity and business go together. How does one turn a piece of garment into a composite entity that seemingly represents a whole range of emotions? Also, while creating a brand is ephemeral, the business attached to it is endlessly complex. In the following pages, we showcase a few young and rising stars. as well as established stalwarts — both home grown and from across the world — who are in the process of creating a brand or have already been successful.

his special edition is a key part of our mission to catalyze fashion retail business in India. The issue helps in aiding retailers with a survey that catalogues fashion brands, their collections and their current status in the markets. It also elucidates upon the brand identities and consumer cores they satisfy to help Indian fashion retailers build a highly profitable business around them. It traces and presents dominant as well as emerging brands that are leading the latest definition of fashion. As the featured brands introduce themselves to you, I hope that other brands also find success stories that inspire.

Also in the issue is an exclusive study— Delhi – The Fashion Capital of India . This maps the emergence of Delhi as the top fashion market and creative eco-system in India. It unveils the growth drivers, current size and future potential of the Delhi NCR fashion market. It individually reveals the retail scenario and future projections of 10 zones of the region — North Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, East Delhi, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram.

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This, the December issue of the Images Business of Fashion, is a double edged sword. It covers the two fast growing segments that are dramatically altering the global fashion space–casual wear and sportswear.

While casual wear is now widely popular and well entrenched in India and it’s stronghold now includes even the corporate world, sportswear is the new emerging fashion mantra. Globally, the sportswear market has grown parallel to both pop cultures and modern health and fitness consciousness. It’s fleet footed evolution has manifested into athleisure, a burgeoning fashion trend that synergises athletic wear with lounge and casual fashion.

In this special issue of Images BoF, we feature research papers by Technopak, on both casual wear and sportwear, the emerging markets in India across its varied segments and outlining the top trends ruling them.

Team Images BoF, apart from elaborately discussing the market trends, also takes a look at the pressing subjects the industry is facing along with profiling a few promising casual and sportswear brands.

Seasoned brand strategist Nischal Puri shares his views on active wear market in India that is poised for extremely dynamic growth in the near future.

Overall, this edition makes a powerful attempt at analyzing the trends and consumption behaviour of the Indian casual wear and sportswear market to aid upcoming as well as existing brands establish a strong brand equity. We also talk about Swedish furniture major, Ikea, who is to make an entry into the Indian market the next year. Da Milano shares its success mantras and talks about the increasing acceptance of fashion accessories among the Indian consumer.

This special issue also presents the major latest wave of international brands who have just entered India as well as looks at the curent status of others who have already set up establishments in India.

Voices from the industry react on the recent Demonetisation move by the government and share what they feel the impact of this will be on the Indian fashion industry.

Plus, we also take a look at some newly opened stores, including that of Armani Exchange, Casa Pop, Les Petits and Vanilla Moon.

Last but not the least, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy and prosperous New Year

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The Indian woman’s socio-economic positioning has witnessed unprecedented changes over the current millennia. From being confined and restricted to emerging as one of the most powerful forces of fashion retail, the journey has indeed been eventful. Yet, the dramatic changes that this industry has been subjected to remains hitherto unmapped.

We dedicate this issue to the Indian women’s wear business. And while we map its size, growth, challenges and trends we also showcase some of the promising players in women’s wear today. Contributing 38 percent to the total apparel market of the country, this segment is fast moving and is expected to be at par with the men’s wear segment by 2020. Although the women’s wear space is still largely dominated by unorganized players, in recent times, many modern players of national and international repute have entered the market. As of 2015, the women’s wear market was worth ` 1,02,358 crores (USD 17,059 million) and is expected to grow at a CAGR slightly higher than 10 percent to reach ` 2,89,518 crores (USD 48,253 million) by 2025. Creating home grown women’s wear brands of signifi cant scale has also been a challenge and thus the emergence of players like Biba, W, Rupa, Dollar Missy,109 0 F, Latin Quarters, Deal Jeans, Swee, Global Desi, Amante, etc., who we study should shed light onto the many possible success mantras. Some very intriguing expert interactions with Srikant Velu, President, Sangam India Ltd., Rohit Gupta, General Manager, Rupa Softline, and Richa Pania, Sales & Marketing Director, Swee Shapewear, on the Indian innerwear industry.

This issue is a precursor to our special project the Women’s Lifestyle in India book, in which we will trace the evolution and top trends in women’s wear in greater detail, as well look at certain key fashion categories and trace their evolution and prospects in greater detail.

Along with the women’s wear section, the issue also dedicates focus on the footwear industry in India, that has evolved as a fashion and style category from its erstwhile “just a basic need” slant. The exhaustive study of the footwear industry meticulously outlines the evolution, market size, growth & segmentation, consumption statistics, the newly emerging luxury footwear market in India, as well as retail trends and developments in the Indian footwear industry.

Also, in an exclusive interview, Paul Coxhill, Global Chief Marketing Officer, WGSN shares the fashion forecasting giant’s huge ambitions for India and outlines how Indian fashion players can benefit from WGSN’s bouquet. We also look at the recent makeover at Reliance Trends that is drawing rave reviews. And lots more…

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It goes without saying that the festive season not only morphs the country to its brightest and most jubilant avatar but also heralds an unsurpassed shopping fervour. Navratras, Pujas, Karva Chauth, Diwali, Christmas, New Year and the simultaneously ensuing wedding season — it’s indeed an apogee of retail sales. To be in tandem with these special times, Images BoF decided to come up with something special. Before you are the fruit of our eff ort–the Wedding Wear and Fashion Accessories Special issue.

The rising lifestyle aspiration and the new “Look Good, Feel Good” belief of the millennial Indians have impelled the accessories market in India in the last few years, and now it is among the most promising sectors in fashion retail. Fashion accessories, the youngest star of the modern fashion retail trade, gained momentum only in the last decade and have made their existence highly visible in the last few years. Today, enjoying a healthy growth, the category is expected to grow from its present USD 2.4 billion size to become a USD 3.9 billion by 2017-18. Although, the category has been traditionally dominated by the unorganised sector with a staggering 88 percent hold, a proliferating number of brand, both established brands venturing out into the accessories market and new brands dedicated to accessories, are manifesting the upsurge of organised retail in this space. We look at some of the promising players and talk to the veterans of this space to highlight the market, the opportunities and the prevailing trends.

Another interesting section of the magazine is the glittery wedding wear part that perfectly captures how these extravagant aff airs have now evolving into a lucrative segment for the fashion industry; both fashion retailers and designers alike. We also talk to ace designers like Manish Malhotra, Ritu Kumar, Archana Kochhar, Raghavendra Rathore, and Nivedita Saboo, who not only outline the conceptual/design excellence, skill and craftsmanship that goes into wedding couture but also about their operating styles and policies.

Apart from this, we present a report on the 23rd edition of the iconic global fashion ingredients fair Milano Unica. We next present the winners from the fashion industry at the twin award ceremonies at The India Retail Forum 2016—The Images Retail Awards and The Images Retail Technology Awards. Also in the issue, WGSN lists its choice of must-haves in the fashion accessories segment for the sumptuous season, where maximalism takes center stage.

This and lots more. Making this magazine was very indeed engaging. Hope you enjoy going through the issues.

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Clubbed with factors like easy bank loans, the real estate industry has experienced growth in the last few decades. What’s fascinating is that many families are now buying their fi rst homes or getting their existing ones upgraded and when I say many, it is yet not a commendable number keeping in mind the potential of India. Also considering this with the growth of lifestyle aspirations in the middle class this is further giving a boost to the home fashion market. And now, with the growing options available for beautifying living spaces, home fashion has become a necessity even amongst the bourgeois. This remarkable development has compelled us to study the Home Fashion Industry in the September issue Business of Fashion

As an issue lead, experts layout the core stats that outline the size and potential of the home fashion industry. This is followed by a detailed feature on trends and growth drivers of the game, which is a market roundup by the leading brands and retailers, both online and offline, in the segment. What’s really positive about this is that the Indian players see the new international entrants like IKEA as a welcome phenomenon, as it will only increase the importance of the category. We also profile a few players in the segment who are ruling the roost in the Home Fashion market and are here to stay for long.

India is known to be a country of festivals and with the festive season just here, painting the nation with colours, lights and joy, fashion brands and retailers have geared up with their best collections. We focus on the chief factors leading to sales growth of various fashion brands during the Festive Season. The issue narrows down the key trends that drive the festive season sales, and the strategies adopted by the retailers to promote the festive collection.

We also take a look at the Wear.Style Bangalore Fashion Week: Winter 2016, which encompassed myriad designers launching their essentials for the upcoming season. As also the Garment Show of India (GSI), and Galleria Intima’s 2016 edition, the sourcing show for intimate apparel professionals.

Please don’t miss a detailed chapter on the state of India spinning industry and how the Indian spinners are going through a difficult phase, despite the cotton prices being reasonably low; and NIFT pens a chapter on how companies maintain “green” in their different parameters of supply chain. In addition, the issue also looks into the evolution of Levi’s with its next stage of innovation. We also talk to Paul Dillinger, VP of Global Innovations, LS&CO, about the developments in the brand. Overall, this is a complete must have issue of the magazine, perfectly in time with the festive seasons.

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Frustrating is the word that perfectly defined an innerwear shopping experience in India just some years ago. Forget fashion choices, even figuring out what is right for you whilst evading the ubiquitous stares was a quest. It was an absolutely fleet-footed aff air; you either were hustled through the few insipid options laid out or had to satiate your needs with whatever the sales person claimed as the alternative options. And yes, shop attendants, you discovered, were ignorantly inept in guiding a customer on her size and fit queries.

For years, the industry as well as the women of the country yearned for some sort of a coup, which finally manifested in the form of e-commerce. The internet came as a saviour!

The impetuous also compelled the traditional retail formats to revamp and stay relevant. While sizing up this issue, and especially going through the market mapping research by Technopak, I myself was completely overwhelmed by the progress of this industry over the last few years. Innerwear is now a booming sector – with new national and international entrants and established brands expanding their portfolio in an attempt to emboss a mark. The arrival of the international brands is also a welcome phenomenon, as it is increasing the importance of the category in large format multi-brand retailers and hitherto western skewed departmental stores, as well as upping the ante on the design side. At last, sheeny straps have begun to sneak curious glimpses from racer backs and colorful thongs now gleam above svelte waistlines marking liberation from the traditional retail hegemony that treated the category just as a commodity. Even the men’s segment is also no longer the realm of the blacks and whites.

Besides on-line retail, which we study as a phenomenon, there is also tremendous activity going on in several emerging segments. The featured studies on shape wear, lounge wear and sleep wear, beachwear, kids’ innerwear, thermals, and socks, will take you on an odyssey of exploration on the opportunities brimming in the inner garment segment. Some segments are in fact being spawned by talented Indian designers as is evidenced by Nidhi Munim’s interview in this issue. We also have featured an exclusive interview with Nick Tacchi, Global Marketing Director of the famed Italian luxury lingerie brand La Perla, as he discusses their launch plans for India.

In addition, the issue also looks into the moves of major innerwear brands like Jockey, Hanes, Triumph, Amante, Bwitch, Lux, Marks & Spencer, etc., who outlines the season’s best selling trends and bet on upcoming fads.

I hope you enjoy this issue on innerwear as much as we enjoyed creating it.

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