Kate & Oscar is dedicated to curating a diverse and unique collection
At Kate & Oscar, the foundation rests upon a dedication to crafting clothing that embodies quality, elegance, and the joy of childhood. In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, Founder & Director Pavan Reddy, discusses evolving the brand to align with the shifting tastes of parents and children, ensuring the offerings remain relevant and resonant.
How do you see the evolution of the children's clothing industry in the next five years, particularly in terms of design trends and consumer preferences?
The children's clothing industry in India is experiencing an evolution in design trends and consumer preferences. There is a noticeable shift towards organised retail, with an emphasis on the shopping experience, especially offline. Consumers are increasingly well-informed about international trends, and the fusion of global preferences with local influences is being warmly received. Furthermore, we anticipate a growing focus on sustainability and innovation in materials. At Kate & Oscar, we strive to resonate with the evolving tastes of both parents and children.
How can clothing brands in the children's sector adapt to meet growing sustainability demands while remaining competitive?
Meeting the growing demand for sustainability while remaining competitive requires a holistic approach. While sourcing sustainable raw materials and establishing environmentally friendly manufacturing setups are critical components of sustainability, we believe that offering a more premium and durable product, moving away from fast fashion, is fundamental to promoting long-term sustainability.
How do you see advancements in technology, such as augmented reality and virtual reality, impacting the future of online fashion retail?
Advancements in technology, including augmented reality and virtual reality, are poised to reshape the future of online fashion retail. It is imperative to leverage these technologies to enhance the online shopping experience for our customers. Virtual try-ons, interactive product showcases, and immersive online spaces are some of the options that we are exploring to stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving digital landscape.
What inspired the creation of the Kate & Oscar brand, and what gap did you see in the Indian kidswear market that you aimed to fill?
The inspiration for creating Kate & Oscar stems from a passionate desire to offer a unique kidswear collection, providing a global dressing and in-store shopping experience while infusing a playful spirit into an elegant fashion line.
I believe there is a significant gap in the organised Indian kidswear market, particularly for premium partywear. Most major international kidswear brands present in the country heavily skew towards their boys' range, leaving a notable opportunity to build a brand that excels in the relatively untapped potential of the premium girlswear category.
By covering the gamut from casualwear to premium partywear for girls and boys across upmarket Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs), Kate & Oscar intends to fill this void and forge connections with our young customers throughout their special journey of childhood.
Can you describe the journey of the DPS Reddy Group? How has the heritage and experience of the group influenced the ethos and design philosophy of Kate & Oscar?
As a part of the DPS Reddy Group, Kate & Oscar inherits a rich business heritage, dating back to 1951. My grandfather, DPS Reddy, and my father, Vijayagopal Reddy, have established and built companies that are major players with global exposure across electronics, hospitality, textile manufacturing, and ITES sectors. Their entrepreneurial endeavours have consistently been spearheaded by a commitment to quality, innovation, and ethics, forming the foundational values for all our businesses. Building on the group's ethos and a heritage of over 30 years in apparel manufacturing for globally renowned brands, Kate & Oscar is driven to infuse an international sense of styling into the Indian kidswear market through a premium line of clothing that is elegant and fun.
How do you balance the elements of playfulness, mischief, and magic in your clothing designs while maintaining elegance and quality?
Achieving a balance between all of these elements forms the core of our brand philosophy at Kate & Oscar. Each style from our collection is crafted to exude an elegant sense of fashion while embodying the playful spirit of children. It is in the attention to detail of styling and materials used that we passionately aspire to create a memorable dressing experience.
What future plans or goals does Kate & Oscar have for expansion, both in terms of product range and geographic reach?
It has been a little over a year since we launched our first store at Palladium Mall in Chennai. Since then, we have expanded our presence through multiple EBOs at premium locations across Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi-NCR. Operational malls include Phoenix Mall of Asia in Bengaluru, Express Avenue and Palladium in Chennai, and Ambience Mall in Gurgaon. Additionally, we have strategically opened stores at high-street locations.
Looking ahead, Kate & Oscar will continue to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint in major metro cities through EBOs and Large Format Stores, with a specific focus on Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Mumbai, and Chennai. Growing our online presence remains a key focus area as well.
In terms of product range, we have been catering to an age group of 3-14 and are excited to announce the addition of a toddlers range from this season. We also see a great opportunity in including a range of fashion accessories for children in the coming months to complement our apparel offering.
How do you address environmental and ethical issues in manufacturing and business processes?
We take our ethical and environmental considerations seriously. Our manufacturing processes are nearly entirely in-house, taking place at our production units certified by globally benchmarked bodies such as SEDEX, WRAP, and SA8000 for adhering to the highest standards of social and ethical compliance. Similarly, our global sourcing of fabrics and trims is aligned with a commitment to sustainability. We constantly strive to minimise our environmental impact by making choices that reflect ethical practices.
Can you share some insights into your design process? How do you keep the collections fresh and appealing to both children and their parents?
Our product design process is rooted in creativity, innovation, and a keen understanding of children's fashion. Similarly, our stores are designed to mirror the elegance and fun that our products encompass. We stay connected with global design trends, constantly seeking to infuse freshness into each collection. The key for us is to strike a balance between timeless elegance and contemporary styles, ensuring that both children and parents find our collections refreshing.
Can you elaborate on the international styling elements that Kate & Oscar incorporates into its clothing lines?
Kate & Oscar is dedicated to curating a diverse and unique collection that reflects our commitment to providing a global wardrobe for Indian kids. The infusion of an international flair in styling is a deliberate choice aimed at bringing sophistication and uniqueness to the Indian kidswear market. Additionally, we incorporate fabrics and trims sourced from different parts of the world, further enriching the global appeal of our collections.
What are some challenges you have faced in integrating global fashion trends into Indian kids wear, and how have you overcome them?
While the potentially diverse cultural context of India presents both a challenge and an opportunity, we find that global preferences largely align with those appreciated by our target consumers in most parts of the country. Our extensive experience in the apparel manufacturing business, catering to renowned brands worldwide, has provided us with insights into the intricacies of preferences. We do not carry an ethnic range but instead carefully curate collections that resonate with local tastes while remaining true to global fashion trends. This ensures that our designs appeal to a wide audience.
How do you ensure the quality and comfort of your clothing, especially considering the sensitive nature of children's skin?
Quality and comfort for our wearers are at the heart of every style we create. Children can be particularly sensitive to fabrics or trims that are not well-engineered, as well as to products that do not fit properly. It is essential that these factors are paramount considerations at every stage of our design and manufacturing process. With over 35 years of expertise in premium apparel manufacturing, we prioritise using fabrics with a great hand-feel and engage in extensive research and development on the product fits for our designs. We always strive to uphold exacting quality standards for our products.
Kate & Oscar places a special emphasis on party wear and occasion wear. What are the key elements that make your party wear collection stand out?
Our party wear is the highlight of our range. While we create a range of fun and playful styles for our casual range, we believe that the infusion of carefully selected premium fabrics and trims into elegant designs is what sets our party wear apart for children and parents alike. We have also focused on offering a wide variety of options in this category, allowing kids to express themselves differently on special occasions.
With the rise of digital technology and e-commerce, how has the way parents shop for children's clothing changed, and what strategies are most effective for engaging with customers online?
The evolution of technology and e-commerce has certainly provided a convenient option for parents to shop. Additionally, we often observe that children as young as six are enthusiastic about shopping for themselves online. In addition to selling online through our website, our brand's expanding presence on major fashion platforms like Myntra, Nykaa, Ajio, and Tata Cliq caters to the convenience-seeking digital consumer. Engaging strategies include a user-friendly online interface, virtual try-ons, and exclusive online promotions—all aimed at enhancing the overall digital shopping experience.
How do you think the integration of cultural and traditional elements in children's clothing impacts its appeal in the global market?
The integration of cultural elements in children's clothing adds a unique charm and resonates well in the global market. At Kate & Oscar, we take pride in offering designs that seamlessly blend international styling into the Indian context. This fusion not only appeals to the diverse cultural backgrounds of our customers but also adds a distinctive touch to our collections.
