India's 77th National Garment Fair draws record 35K visitors

Spread across 8,00,000 square feet, NGF 2023 saw participation of more than 1,200 brands presenting a diverse range of women’s wear, men’s wear, and accessories at the Bombay Exhibition NESCO Complex in Goregaon East, and the kids’ wear exhibition at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), CMAI said in a press release.

“Since the start of the year, the garment industry has been grappling with a certain slowdown with a moderate growth of 5-6 per cent in garment retail sales on average. Numerous brands and manufacturers have experienced a downturn of 10-15 per cent compared to the previous year. Despite these challenges, there is optimism surrounding the forthcoming festive season, as the demand for apparel is anticipated to be robust,” said Rajesh Masand, president, CMAI.

“The success of the 77th NGF is a promising sign for the apparel trade, indicating a positive outlook for the upcoming festive season. Notably, prominent retailers and distributors from the country were observed attending the fair, showing interest in exploring regional brands with the potential for nationwide growth. The continuous growth and strength of NGF can be attributed to the unwavering support and active participation of both brands and retailers. Their consistent involvement has been instrumental in making the fair increasingly influential and successful,” said Rohit Munjal, vice president and chairman of the Fair Committee, CMAI.

The size of the Indian apparel market is estimated to be ₹7.80 lakh crore, and has grown by between 15-20 per cent in fiscal 2023 (FY2023).

“The organised segment of the market is projected to encompass approximately 25-30 per cent of the total share. Prominent brands like Shoppers Stop, Reliance Trends, Lifestyle, V-Mart, and others are actively extending their presence and swiftly expanding their footprints into tier-2 and tier-3 markets,” said Rahul Mehta, chief mentor, CMAI.

Recognised as the largest and highly anticipated trade fair in the Indian apparel industry, the NGF by CMAI serves as a vital platform for connecting national and regional brands, manufacturers, designers, and fashion accessories manufacturers with retailers, agents, distributors, and e-commerce companies. This biannual event holds significant prestige in the industry and is widely regarded as India’s foremost trade fair, offering a comprehensive sourcing platform that maximises both time and cost efficiency for all stakeholders involved.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)