Sporty casual wear is trending for quite a while now
Arrow had its genesis in 1851 when the first detachable collar was manufactured in a small factory in Troy, New York. Arrow India launched in 1993, and currently has over 200 exclusive brand stores in the country and is available in over 1,000 multi-brand outlets. Speaking to Fibre2Fashion, Arrow India CEO Suman Saha discusses menswear retail in India.
How has menswear as a category grown in the last five years?
With the rising fashion-consciousness and increasing importance of personal appearance amongst men, the demand for menswear is escalating across the globe. The market has been growing rapidly specifically within the past decade, which has also spiked the growth within male influencers. In addition to this, today men are taking themselves more seriously within the subject of appearance and clothing.
What would you attribute the growth of the menswear segment to?
The emergence of new fashion trends has led to an increased demand for stylish and trendy men’s clothing. In addition to this, the presence of a wide range of retail chains that cater specifically to men has positively influenced the growth of the segment in the market. To keep up with the growing demand, market vendors are constantly evolving their stores to maintain a healthy inventory and enhance the overall shopping experience for customers at their brand-owned stores.
Which are the major markets for Arrow in India?
The majority of our markets are the metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Which are your best performing product categories?
Arrow has been known for its core collection, that is formal wear, a display of suits and blazers, for a long time now. However, over the years, Arrow has spread out to cover many other occasions by constantly keeping up with fashion trends and coming with collections that cater to all the consumers in the menswear sector. Arrow has always had a high level of awareness around it with signature shirts and trousers. Off lately, our suits and blazers are also preferred by our potential customers, as we are experiencing an increase in the sports shirts category. Additionally, the Arrow New York Collection is also taking over the market with its contemporary clothes offered to the consumers. While these collections are in a phase of witnessing a rapid growth trajectory in the market, the standard collection has always had a captive audience.
Which price points work well in menswear?
The price points are varied according to the products offered. There is a range of products available from ₹2,000-₹4,000, which is an all season round collection. However, the suits and blazers category are on the higher side ranging from ₹10,000-₹15,000. In addition to this, the clothes that are not on discount like wardrobe essentials start from ₹8,000-₹9,000. Hence, the price points are varied according to the products, since the collections are versatile.
What are some of the major trends in menswear?
Sporty look and sporty casual wear is actually a new genre of style that is trending for quite a while now. It is the perfect balance between athletic fashion and leisure wear. In addition to this, there is a very recent trend of high-street fashion, which is the combination of edgy street wear and high fashion clothing.
What new product categories do you plan to introduce?
The sports range and Arrow New York are being increased in terms of depth and range. As a result, there will be an increased selection of sportswear apparel available to customers. In addition, the brand is also introducing new products in the formal wear category, with items such as shackets, sweatshirts, and polos. These predefined formals are versatile and cater to all audiences in the menswear category.
What has been your growth story for the last two years and what are your expectations for the next two?
Speaking about the growth trajectory for the last two years, Arrow has been promising as things are getting back to normal post the COVID-19 pandemic. We have experienced an increase in our revenues, and with our upcoming collections, the brand is definitely going to perform well. This is something we are very elated about!
From a futuristic point of view, Arrow plans to dedicate the next year or so to add 100 more stores potentially. We believe there are a lot of latent opportunities in the tier 1 and tier 2 cities. Without saturating this segment, we are not thinking of venturing into the tier 3 regions. The only exception to that decision would be for compelling markets in tier 3 areas.
What is the brand strategy for Arrow going forward?
The brand has to grow in double digits, that’s the main goal. As we scale, the focus will also be on transforming the brand for the post-COVID consumer and re-establishing it as a contemporary brand without taking away its heritage value. Moving forward, brands will have to take charge of the consumer experience. That is where the macro indicators are heading. So, creating more controlled brand spaces will be of prime importance.
Published on: 23/02/2023
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
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