Fabric Fundas The Trousering Fabric Market In India

Style and color no doubt are the important attractions for any apparel line but it is ultimately the fabric that occupies the centre stage. And this applies to trousers as well. With trend for ready-mades gaining momentum, the USP for each brand rests with the fabric that is being put to use and at the price at which the finished product is sold.

- Zainab S. Kazi with inputs from Gurbir Singh Gulati

Drawing a comparison between the market for branded and unbranded fabrics in India, G.M.Thapar, Chief Operating Officer (Marketing), Donear Industries Ltd, shares, “In our calculation, there are 2 categories of fabric manufacturer — branded and unbranded. We belong to the branded segment, the total size of the market is around ₹3000 crores out of which our share is around 7-8 percent.”

Ramesh Poddar, Chairman and Managing Director, Siyaram Silk Mills Limited, adds on the market for branded and unbranded segment saying, “Fabric market in India is majorly dominated by the unorganized segment. Almost 75 to 80 percent of the production comes from the unorganized sector. There are only a few branded players in the segment. However, with increasing purchasing power and awareness of brands, the Indian consumer is shifting his choice towards branded. This has created tremendous scope for brands to grow.”

OTC vs. Ready-made