Images Business of Fashion September issue gives an insight into the changing trends of the Indian innerwear market. HR Watch this month is on innerwear giant Lux and more...

Dear all,

If Quentin Tarantino were a fashion veteran in India instead of a Hollywood cinematic extraordinaire, his preferred domain of choice would no doubt have been kidswear retail – forthis is where all the action is happening in India.

For it’s true – the kidswear segment in the Indian Retail Industry has gained some serious traction over the years. While the sector was almost non-existent till a few years ago, it has now imprinted itself as the most propitious segment of the Indian fashion industry with even a dedicated annual fashion show to its name.

But honestly, in my opinion, the transition of kidswear retail from infancy to maturity was inevitable. As financial stability and purchasing power of modern parents grew in the last few years, an inevitable shift from ‘need-based’ to ‘aspiration-based’ manifested resulting in a boost hitherto irrelevant to the Indian fashion industry as a whole. Growth drivers included increased influence of social media, double income nuclear families and brand awareness and an increasing inclination towards high quality products of parents – the last of which trickled down to kids as well, who have now emerged as an independent buyer group altogether. This evolution of kids as consumers has changed the way brands perceived and operated in this space, making way for newer trends.

Dear readers,
Let us all welcome 2020 and hope that it concludes as a defining year in fashion retailing in India. I would like to wish you all a very happy new year and I sincerely hope that this year turns out to be prosperous both for you and your businesses. I would also take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you all for supporting our cause over all these years and sincerely look forward for your continued backing in the future.

December was a very busy month for all of us at IMAGES Business of Fashion, but it gives me immense pleasure to let you all know that, with everyone’s support and contribution, the 20th Edition of the India Fashion Forum turned out to be one of the biggest in its history. I congratulate all the participants, the winners of IFA and thank all those who have been associated with it and made it possible. For those who missed the event, IMAGES BoF will bring you a detailed report on all the key sessions and deliberations over the next fewissues.

Welcome to the most fashionable season of the year – winter, a time for colourcoordination, balancing volumes and layers, and smart use of textures. There was a time when winter wear in India was all about functional warm apparel, but things have changed signifi cantly over the last few years. Today, fashion and winter wear walk side-byside and Indians are at par with theirs global peers when it comes to making a fashion statement during this season.

Overall, the winter wear market has evolved immensely, and is growing at an exponential rate as a result of the shift in lifestyle and preferences of our people. Even in the hinterlands of the Tier II, III and smaller towns and cities, the category is witnessing tremendous demand with a marked inclination towards brands. As per India’s premier management consulting fi rm, pegged at US$ 2.7 billion in 2018 the winter wear market in India now contributes 5 percent to the total Indian apparel market. Moreover, the segment is now enjoying a healthy CAGR of 4 percent and is expected to become a US$ 3.95 billion market by 2028. Looking at these fi gures, it’s safe to say that winter wear is undeniably one of the most lucrative emerging segments in the Indian fashion retail market presently, promising immense opportunities for brands and retailers alike.

Welcome to the busiest time of the year!
This indeed is an exuberant time for all of
us at the retail fraternity. This is the season
that morphs India to its brightest and most
jubilant avatar of the year with every calendar
week dotted with festivals, celebrations and
weddings. It is the time the entire nation
comes together to feast, pray, share love and
above all fl aunt resplendent ethnic fashion.
Ethnic wear is an intrinsic part of the festive
season. Infact, traditionally, ethnic wear
was solely reserved for festivals. But, in the
recent years, the category has evolved in
massive proportions, especially the women’s
section. Keeping pace with India’s massive
strides towards modernization, the ethnic
wear category has been resuscitated with
keen focus towards the modern consumers
penchant for comfort and practicality. Today,
the category includes a wide spectrum
of cuts, fi ts, silhouettes – from inherently
classic to more contemporary avatars that
are as comfortable for daily wear as they are
appropriate for corporate boardrooms.
This evolution ensued an increasing preference of
the young and consuming class towards Indian
ethnic wear as well as boost the dynamics of the
market like never before. Today, pegged at an
estimated Rs. 112,893 crores and constituting
approximately 32 percent share of the total Indian
apparel market, the ethnic wear category in India
holds a very promising future.

From shirts, trousers, denim to skirts and
dresses, western wear is ruling fashion
senses across the globe. Even in India,
this comfortable fashion segment enjoys
unparalleled popularity and is today, a staple
in wardrobes across the country, irrespective
of gender and age.
The roots of western wear in India can be
traced to the British era. Yet till the 1990s,
it was somewhat limited to the elites,
professionals and offi ce goers. The decades
following the 90s are touted to be the era
when Indians adopted more westernized
concepts in fashion, making bold and stylish
choices.
In recent years, rapid globalisation, enlarged
brand awareness, growth of disposable
income and expansion of apparel e-retailing
have led to surge in demand for western wear.
Increase in youth population and fashion
consciousness among consumers is further
fuelling this market’s growth.
India’s leading management consulting
fi rm Technopak Advisors reveals in the lead
research how western wear constitutes the
biggest segment in the Indian fashion retail
industry. Estimated at `1,33,246 crores in 2018,
the segment accounts for approximately 93
percent of the total fashion market in India. Yet,
there is hardly any research documentation on
the segment in its entirety.
In this fi rst of its kind issue on Western Wear,
IMAGES Fashion Bureau maps the evolution
of the category as a whole in India along with
tracking the shift in customer preferences. In
addition to this, there are dedicated features
detailing the market size, prevailing trends and
opportunities in the major segments of Western
Wear. We have also outlined the perspective
of veteran brands and retailers on this growing
segment.
We had a challenging yet educative time
making this issue and I sincerely hope that you
like reading it!
Cheers,

It wasn’t too long ago when fashion and
sportswear seemed to be decidedly at odds
with one another. I mean, both were at the
polar ends of usage and target audience;
sportswear was strictly for sports and
exercise and fashion was for those who were
in pursuit of taste, beauty, and aesthetics. Yet
today, sportswear and fashion have so much
in common these days.
Sportswear is taking to the street these days
and is increasingly becoming a way of life
for fashion enthusiasts across the globe,
and for just the right reasons. Hustling has
become the order of the day today and times
as such calls for versatile, multipurpose
fashion apparel that can be worn for various
occasions.
On the other end, everywhere you look,
people are making conscious eff ort
towards leading a healthier life and are
hence investing in a range of activewear
which is defi ned as the ‘new semi-casual’.
Overall, sportswear has changed the way
people dress up for the gym, casual, social
occasions, and even for work. Such intense is
the popularity of the trend that it’s fast fanning
out into various sub-segments like athleisure,
activewear, gym wear, and much more.
This issue of IMAGES Business of Fashion
outlines how the fast blurring line between
sports and fashion has spawned a market
that harbours opportunity like never before.
We bring to you a detailed look at the fact
that ‘Sports-leisure’is no longer a trend, but a
fundamental shift in how the world dresses
today.

have exhibited massive evolution in the fashion segment in India. We all from the fashion industry are aware how the Indian consumer is now embracing the idea of fashion as a means of self-expression, and not merely as a functional purchase. The new generation is now at greater liberty from the traditionalist’s sartorial template. Overall, the entire defi nition of fashion has changed. Yet, there is one category that has endured the test of time and is still one of the most popular apparel categories around the globe – Formal Wear.
The formal wear market has witnessed a remarkable change from its functional roots in the years gone by. The Indian youth today exhibits a pronounced inclination for trendy, modish and comfortable formal wear that aligns with the latest trends. His rising expectation has compelled brands and retailers to come up with various innovations to be able to raise the bar.
In this issue of BoF, we look at the everexpanding
market of formal wear in India, the innovations that have come up to keep abreast of changing times and preferences and the latest trends in the Indian market today. Apart from elaborately discussing the dynamics of some of the most popular product categories in this segment, the edition also talks about the challenges formal wear faces in India.
A feature on the growing trend of Made-to-Measure services in formal wear stands as a testimonial to the progressive Indian consumer, who had, till the 80s, hesitated to accept readymade garments.
As a whole, this edition makes a powerful attempt at analysing prevailing trends and the consumption behaviour of the Indian formal wear market to aid upcoming as well as existing brands establish a strong brand equity in today’s volatile times.
Cheers

Welcome to the BIGGEST and THICKEST
annual edition of IMAGES Business of
Fashion – The Denim Issue, which also
happens to be my personal favourite. At the
outset, I would like to thank and congratulate
all the contributors, participants and the
entire BoF team for bringing out this big, fat
issue. It was an absolute delight to work with
and share the work of all the committed and
thoughtful people that have been associated
with this month’s issue.
Denim is easily one of the most iconic pieces
of clothing known to mankind. The blue
hued fabric has ruled the world of fashion for
more than a century and continues to do so
even today. This month’s BoF takes a journey
down memory lane – it discovers how a
utility garment during the Great Gold Rush
era evolved into a symbol of youth rebellion.
The fabric has become a spiritual partner of
sorts to a large percentage of the population
worldwide. In fact, as per Technopak, the
denim market in India – which stood at an
estimated `29,203 crore in 2018 – is expected
to grow at a CAGR of 12 percent and reach
` 91,894 by 2028. In the lead research,
Technopak outlines that the Indian Denim
market is dominated by the men’s segment,
accounting ~ 86 percent of the total market
size. The research summaries how women have
broken the mould in another male bastion – the
denim wear market – and that the women denim
segment is expected show a higher CAGR of 13
percent than the men’s segment, at 12 percent.
This Denim Special showcases various features
that trace the growth drivers, consumption
behaviour and the prospects of the fabric in the
Indian market along with current trends and
consumer preferences. The issue also takes
a look at the sustainability concerns around
denim and how an increasing number of brands
are committing themselves to both the people
and the planet.

Casual wear has taken over the globe by storm! The fashion industry has probably not witnessed a force more unrestrained than causal wear in its past. Even India, a country that has always lagged behind global fashion trends, was quick to adapt to this casual way of dressing. And, with mounting western influence, entry of global brands and the rising penchant for comfort, casualsation is poised to only gain momentum in the near future.

The June issue of IMAGES Business of Fashion promises to take you on an odyssey of exploration, of the opportunities brimming in the Casual Wear segment in India. Along with it, the issue will also red-hot trend of athleisure, which is fueling the contemporary, global mantra of Fitness First.

Highlights of the issue: 
>> Define and size the total market and its main segments
>> Outline the opportunities and challenges
>> Evaluate top global casualwear trends & their pervasiveness in India
>> Study its impact on womenswear & kidswear
>> Showcase the ways and success mantras of casualwear brand leaders
>> Trend forecast by key leaders of the industry


Remember the harrowing experience of
innerwear shopping in India till just a few
years ago? Especially for women folk. For
them, it shopping for intimate apparel was
an absolutely fl eet-footed aff air – they either
hustled through the few insipid options laid
out or had to be content with whatever the
salesperson compelled them to buy. Choices
were a distant second in a scenario when
even getting the size right whilst evading
ubiquitous stares was beyond the bounds of
possibility.
But, fortunately, times are changing and
how! All that remains of these past shopping
experiences are anachronistic anecdotes.
Time it did take but innerwear, fi nally, is out
of the closet and is taking giant strides to
becoming an exclusive fashion category in
India.
The evolution is apparent in both the market
and the consumer. While the consumer
righteously considers innerwear as a
fashion statement today, the market too has
emancipated itself from its unorganised retail
hegemony. The innerwear industry is now
amongst the most lucrative segments in apparel
fashion for brands, retailers and investors alike.
The market today is pegged at `32,000 crore,
growing at a CAGR of 11 percent and accounts
for ~9 percent of the total domestic fashion retail
market.
The rapid transformation of the category has
led it to branch out into several sub-categories,
with each of them setting standards on their
own now. Also, a slew of international, young
and dynamic national brands have impinged on
the arena, ushering in a phenomenal trend that
has compelled the entire industry to spruce up
off erings both in terms of products as well as
experiences.

Images Business of Fashion is led by a research on the Indian casualwear market, its size, growth, evolution and key trends and opportunities and growth over the years. The issue also talks to smart casual leaders like the Denmark-based clothing company–Bestseller, Raymond Apparel Ltd’s Parx, and French born fashion major Celio. It also features Tom Tailor’s online collaboration for India. The issue puts together our pick on of the most eye-catching ad campaign of the season—the smart one on a new look for every day of the week by Vero Moda. In the InFashion section of the magazine, Dan Cotton, EVP APAC, WGSN shares insights on the new trend watching feature WGSN IN Stock. This section also looks at how palazzo trousers are making a style statement, be it casual or Indian ethnic section among different age groups of women. We also take a look at some new launches, seminars and conferences that created a lot of buzz.

Welcome to March, a high adrenaline month
for all of us at the IMAGES Group for obvious
reasons. As I write this, everyone at the offi ce
is busy in putting together a bigger and better
edition of the India Fashion Forum 2019 (IFF).
This issue will be a tribute to the upcoming
forum, complete with a curtain raiser to the
event.
In keeping with our fl agship event, we bring
you the third annual chapter of ‘Meet the
Masters’. Like in previous years, this edition
attempts to pick the minds of some of the
most prominent and visionary stalwarts
of the fashion industry. It is our fi rm belief
that CXOs of the fashion retail industry, as
the fountainheads of thought, are the ones
that will shape India’s fashion vision in the
coming years. And as the industry is poised
for quantum growth, it is absolutely critical to
hear them out.
The Indian fashion retail market is
progressing with giant strides, propelled by
increased penetration of organised retail,
which in-turn rides the rising disposable
incomes, changing demographics, increasing
brand consciousness and the e-commerce
boom. In this competitive, modern age,
retailers are required to have comprehensive
insights to keep pace with concurrent market
dynamics and address challenges and this
is where the invaluable insight of these retail
behemoths come handy. We hope that their
knowledge laden insights will encourage
and aid you to re-evaluate and reshape your
fashion retail aspirations and pave the next
way forward.

The kidswear industry is booming around the
world. What used to be just functional outfi ts
a few years ago are now a variety of modish
cuts, colors, styles, patterns and even designer
tags – and with good reason. While the sector
was just non-existent till a few years ago
especially in India, it has now embossed itself
as the most propitious segment of the Indian
fashion industry – with even a dedicated
annual fashion show to its name.
I personally believe that this transition
from passive to demanding was inevitable.
As a developing country, India has myriad
advantages -- right from a promising
economic outlook to a growing kids
population. Hence, it’s only natural that as
fi nancial stability and purchasing power of
modern parents grew over the last decades,
a long-awaited shift from need based to
aspiration based shopping manifested,
resulting in a boost hitherto irrelevant to the
Indian kidswear industry.
Modern parents exhibit a considerable brand
awareness and inclination towards high
quality apparel products for their kids. This
has even trickled down to the kids as well,
who have now emerged as a new, independent
buyer group altogether.

Happy New Year! We welcome 2019 with the
hope that it turns out to be a defi ning year in
fashion retailing. We sincerely hope that this
year turns out to be prosperous both for you
and your businesses. I would also take this
opportunity to express my gratitude to all of
you for supporting our cause and we hope for
your continued backing in the future.
While creating a brand is ephemeral, the
business attached to it is endlessly complex.
So, as per tradition, we are please pleased to
start 2019 with a bigger and better edition
of the annual Brands of India Special Issue
of IMAGES Business of Fashion. The issue
showcases some of the biggest stalwarts of the
fashion industry in India – both homegrown
and from across the world, as well as a few
young and rising stars. As a key part of our
mission to catalyze fashion retail business in
India, the Brands in India Special Issue seeks
to aid retailers with a survey that catalogues
Dear Readers,
fashion brands, their collections as well as
current status in the markets.
As we elucidate upon the brand identities and
consumer cores they satisfy to help Indian
fashion retailers build a highly profi table
business around them, we sincerely hope that
these success stories succeed in inspiring
emerging brands in the Indian fashion sphere.
I am also pleased to let you all know that the
IMAGES Group has successfully concluded
the 3rd editions of both North India Retail
Awards (NIRA) 2018 and South India Retail
Awards (SIRA) 2018. I congratulate the
winners and thank all those who have been
associated with it and made it possible.
For those who missed it, we have included
elaborate covers of both the events in this
issue.
I hope you fi nd the issue meaningful and
insightful as always.

The retail industry is changing every day – we
don’t need to scroll up decades to see how
the retail template has metamorphosed over
the years. Yet, there’s one thing in retail that
simply refuses to budge – innovation. The age
old saying that constant innovation is the key
to retail success holds true even today. And
the need to diff erentiate from the competition
through continual innovation has never been
as dire as it is now.
Rapid change in technology and changes
in the way we communicate, connect, and
discover are carrying incredible implications
for businesses worldwide. In the modern retail
ecosystem, shoppers are turning into critical
infl uencers, progressively deciding the goals
of most retailers’ innovation strategy. And it
defi nitely is diffi cult to adapt naturally!
And honestly, the pressure to be more superior
is nowhere as pronounced as it is in the
fashion retail sphere. Whether a verticallyintegrated
luxury brand or a fast-turning lowconsideration
apparel store, fashion retailers
are feeling the heat to be more innovative. But
the good news is that Indian brands
and retailers are stepping up to the challenge
and how!
The cover story of the December issue of
IMAGES Business of Fashion – Technology
& Innovation: The Core of Fashion Creation
– outlines how fashion brands in India
are investing on innovation, both process
and technology. Engaging in novel ways
and enabling new processes to focus on
customer engagement and augment customer
experiences has now become the new
standard of fashion retail. I would also like to
accentuate that while innovation can be very
subjective, depending largely on the need of
the retailer, ultimately, it is technology that is
going to make innovation possible.
The issue also gives insights into the various
aspects of innovation pertaining to the
fashion industry in India, including accounts
of some the biggest names in the domain. I
hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did
writing it.
Cheers!!

The world has become diverse, but with smaller moving parts. There are major trends, but they are being broken down into many variants. One such trend is sportswear, which is being fanned out into various parts – athleisure, activewear, gym wear, kids sportswear and much more.
The burgeoning appreciation for healthier lifestyles, across the globe and in India, has paved way for what has been touted as one of the most profound cultural changes of the 20th century –staying fit. Fitness is no longer a buzzword, but an expected standard! The era of self-awareness, spearheaded by the millennial generation is now apparent in the wardrobes of the consumers across all age groups. The challenge is to find out what the customer wants and how the retailer is going to provide it.
In the November 2018 Sportswear Special of IMAGES Business of Fashion, we bring you a detailed look at the fact that ‘Sports-leisure’ is no longer a trend, but a fundamental shift in how the world dresses today. We bring you the details of the fast-emerging categories of Sportswear and Athleisure in India.
Delving deep into the subject, the issue defines the size of the market, outlines opportunities for retailers, evaluates key trends and showcases innovations. Apart from this, we bring you market leaders in categories and deep dive into what makes the successful..

Welcome to the annual women’s wear special issue,
a part of our ongoing attempt at showcasing fresh
new thoughts and visions on women’s fashion in
the country.
Fashion and women are inextricable! Fashion has
largely been a female dominated sphere and will
remain so. Can you think of any fashion segment
that’s as varied, evolved or intricate as women’s
fashion? No, I bet, you cannot!
The Indian woman today has emerged as a
powerful consumer base. Increased literacy
has augmented the rate of employment and
increasing fi nancial independence, which inturn
has revamped the demographic trend of women
as a consumer. This snowballing phenomenon has
had a huge impact on the women’s wear market in
India, propelling it to balloon by the day.

Images Business of Fashion is led by a research on the Indian casualwear market, its size, growth, evolution and key trends and opportunities and growth over the years. The issue also talks to smart casual leaders like the Denmark-based clothing company–Bestseller, Raymond Apparel Ltd’s Parx, and French born fashion major Celio. It also features Tom Tailor’s online collaboration for India. The issue puts together our pick on of the most eye-catching ad campaign of the season—the smart one on a new look for every day of the week by Vero Moda. In the InFashion section of the magazine, Dan Cotton, EVP APAC, WGSN shares insights on the new trend watching feature WGSN IN Stock. This section also looks at how palazzo trousers are making a style statement, be it casual or Indian ethnic section among different age groups of women. We also take a look at some new launches, seminars and conferences that created a lot of buzz.


February 2020

January 2020

December 2019

November 2019

October 2019

September 2019

August 2019

July 2019

June 2019

May 2019

April 2019

March 2019

February 2019

January 2019

December 2018

November 2018

IMAGES Business of Fashion is a monthly resource for fashion retailers, brand owners and industry leaders in India. It delivers fashion business intelligence on emerging retailers, disruptive technologies and domestic and global brands that are making their mark in the industry at a time of unprecedented change.

With a 24 year old loyal reader base of over 60,000 top decision makers, fashion retailers and fashion buyers, spread across all sectors of the business of fashion in India, IMAGES BoF has constantly proven itself as easily the most focused and best targeted fashion business media in India.

Launched in 1992, the monthly magazine is an informed, analytical publication on the fashion business in the country. It has played the role of a catalyst in the retail evolution in India focused on and driven by branding, marketing and retailing of fashion in the country. It enables continuous information exchanges through its activities - facilitating networking among investors, retailers and brand leaders. The publication is amongst the country’s top recall business magazines in India and its reach extends to 2,00,000 of India's top decision makers in retail and retail support business.

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Business Of Fashion - September 2011

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