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CMAI ties up with GEAR, WBHA & AMSI

17 Jul '20

3 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has signed MOUs with three leading regional associations—Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan (GEAR), West Bengal Hosiery Association (WBHA), and Apparel Manufacturers Society of Indore (AMSI)—to help broaden their reach and spheres of providing service to the Indian domestic garment industry.

All the three associations will become affiliated to CMAI, as per the MoU. The associations will also be represented in the National Coordination Committee of Associations of Domestic Garment Industry, which is being created by the CMAI so that the industry can speak in a cohesive, comprehensive, and united voice.

The idea of tying up and working unitedly for a more unified holistic approach was recently mooted by Richa Bansal, consulting editor with Fibre2Fashion at a webinar titled 'Rewiring the Home Front'.

"The industry needs to come together in a unified manner to settle the differences, the oneupmanship, to position India on the new global platform where it can take a leadership position. Look at Bangladesh, for example, where there is one voice that speaks for the textiles industry in that country. How much of that is feasible in India? Do you think we need a new industry body?" Bansal asked the panelists who included CMAI chief mentor Rahul Mehta.

Welcoming the three associations as affiliates, Mehta said, “It gives me great pleasure to see the signing of the MoUs, as it marks the culmination of efforts which have been on for the last several months. I would also like to thank and compliment the leadership of GEAR, WBHA and AMSI, for their foresight and initiative in partnering with CMAI.”

CMAI president Rakesh Biyani said the move will "lead to a substantial growth in the outreach of CMAI in these regions, and at the same time promote the activities of these associations all across India through CMAI’s offices and membership spread across the country."

GEAR is a 42-year-old association and currently has 275 members. Although it was initially formed to cater to the growing body of exporters of Rajasthan, particularly in Jaipur, GEAR’s membership has increasingly turned to the domestic market in addition to traditional exports. Today, close to 80 per cent of GEAR's members are operating in the domestic sector directly or indirectly. "They are a progressive, forward-looking, and service-oriented association with ambitious plans for the future, and they will add tremendous value to CMAI members for any assistance required in Rajasthan," CMAI said in a release.

WBHA is a 50-year-old association and has over 350 members, who are primarily involved in the manufacture of hosiery underwear garments, lingerie, and kidswear, catering largely to the domestic market. "Some of India’s leading brands in lingerie and kidswear are based in Kolkata. WBHA is providing yeomen service to the industry members of West Bengal, and is one of the most important voices for the hosiery industry. They will be an important addition to the scope and spread of services to the CMAI membership," the release said.

AMSI has close to 170 members, in both export and domestic sectors. Indore is one of the most important manufacturing centres of Madhya Pradesh, and also a significant player on the national scene, especially in the kidswear segment. "Though only six years old, AMSI’s young leadership has been active in development of Indore’s garment industry, and has aggressive plans for improving the technology, productivity, and progress of its member manufacturers. Here too, CMAI members will receive tremendous value for any assistance required in Indore," CMAI said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)

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