Description
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.
