Now apparel exporters launch own labels

Indian apparel exporters, who have been exporting to the likes of Calvin Klein or Clarks brands, are launching their own labels in the domestic market. They are building upon their expertise and experience to cater the growing number of consumers

seeking luxury clothing, without bothering too much about the costs involved.

Now apparel exporters building

expertise and experience

So a number of ventures are creating homemade brands such as made-to-measure men's apparel, hand-finished footwear and customised home furnishing, drawing on skills honed by years of selling bespoke products to luxury brands in overseas markets. For example, Silver Crest Clothing, a 15-year-old export house whose clients include Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss, has launched made-to-measure men's brand Tailorman in partnership with internet entrepreneur Vidya Natraj for Indian men.

As per industry experts, the fast-growing domestic retail market, valued at 490 billion dollars (about Rs 29,40,440 crores), is attracting the export community to launch their own labels in the country. Also, the luxury market in India is expected to grow at 25 percent to 15 billion dollars (Rs 90,360 crores) by 2015, according to a recent Assocham-YES Bank study.

While, four years ago, Manojna Tarin, whose family runs Kerala-based textile export house Hindustan Textiles, launched Eshana offering bed linen and customised home textiles; footwear brand Ruosh was founded by Kayum Dhanani, who owns Sara Suole, an exporter of footwear and soles for brands such as Clarks, Bugatti Shoes and Kenneth Cole, and which earned revenue of Rs 270 crores in fiscal 2013. Karan Behal, the founder of online lingerie firm Pretty Secrets, which is targeting revenue of Rs 300 crores by 2018 also has a backing from his father, who runs an export house for women's sleepwear, Saffire Clothing Company.