Summer has arrived, and Apparel’s issue for May 2019 gives you the scoop on all the latest trends, with the theme of the issue being ‘Breezy, Balmy and Beautiful’. In the ‘Features’ section, we explore the changing retail trends in Indian fashion, the impact of the apparel and textile related schemes announced by political parties during election season, take a look at how omni-commerce may fuel the next online boom, how rejected export surplus fabrics are entering the mainstream fashion retail market, and the transformation of bricks-and-mortar stores into experiential stores. Under ‘Industry Insights’, we analyse how the US government’s possible revocation of the GSP status will affect the Indian apparel industry, and decode the challenges facing the industry. We also explore the effects of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) phaseout on Indian textile trade, and the replacement of free returns in the online fashion shopping sphere with other customer benefits. In ‘Brand Profile’, we take a look at two commendable brands, The Loom Saree, and Ethicus, and the ‘Entrepreneur Speak’ segment profiles Puneet Jain and Yatin Jain, Directors of the brand ODHNI, and Vidhi Dalal, Founder and Creative Director of the brand B:kind. ‘Designer Spotlight’ looks at the journey of Sangita Sinh Kathiwada, Founder of Mélange, and ‘Trend Talk’ explores the current summer trends. ‘Fashion Speak’ brings you the spring/summer 2019 trends from the Collection Première Moscow 2018 show. Under ‘Regulars’, we bring you all the important textile and apparel news, along with a look at the current trends and the brands in vogue, a glimpse of a new store launch, and a preview of the upcoming events in the world of apparel.
The Indian apparel, garments and textiles industry is a dynamic one. With the industry generating the second highest employment after agriculture in our country, it is no doubt that the trade is one of the people, by the people and for the people. Apparel, the monthly official trade magazine of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI)—one of the largest apparel and garments bodies in the country—gives you the latest news and events specific to this industry, while delving deeper into issues plaguing it, new technologies adopted and the people who make things happen. The magazine regularly carries articles by industry experts, interviews with the who’s who of the industry, many of whom are members of the CMAI, and features upcoming and established brands and their latest collections. Apparel also exclusively covers any event hosted, organised or supported by the CMAI, including the bi-annual National Garment Fair, which is one of the largest apparel trade fairs in the sub-continent...