Brands shifting apparel sourcing to India: Report

04 Sep '20

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

As global fashion brands look at alternatives to China for their sourcing needs, they have started placing more orders with Indian companies, especially with textile manufactures in Tamil Nadu. To make the most of the opportunity, apparel manufacturers are expecting government support, and are also exploring joint ventures with Korean and Taiwanese firms.

Tiruppur-based Warsaw International has received an order for supply of some jerseys to a German leisure wear brand. Warsaw's proprietor Raja M Shanmugam, who is also the president of Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA) feels the order is a litmus test and would open gates for more brands to increase their sourcing from India, according to a report in today's Times of India.

When companies opened after the lockdown was relaxed, global buyers told them that they will source more from the country this year compared to the previous years, the report says quoting P Nataraj, MD of KPR Mills, who is also the chairman of the Coimbatore-based The Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA).

However, Indian textile value chain is not strong in manmade fibre (MMF) sector, as it is in natural fibres. To make good of the opportunity, Indian companies will need to work on developing MMF fabrics and garments, for which they are exploring joint ventures with South Korean and Taiwanese companies, mentions the Times of India report quoting Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) chairman A Sakthivel.

Chinese companies produce at scale, and in order to compete and bag more orders, Indian textile and garment makers would also need a lot of support from the government, in terms of finance, labour and infrastructure, the report quotes SP Apparels MD P Sunder Rajan as saying.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)

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