Indian
Origin Importers Make Hay While ‘MAGIC’ Shines
On
the first level of the North Hall at MAGIC women’s sportswear, dresses,
casual, resort, swimwear and juniors’ displays were a buzzing and colourful
section. Along one of the sides were the many Indian importers with
their colourful Indian inspired goods like skirts, blouses, kurtas,
tops and children’s wear doing brisk business. Getting to talk to them
was difficult at times, as buyers thronged their stands to place quick
orders for Spring/Summer 2006, giving a strong indication that Indian
fashion will still be steaming hot in the coming year.
| Harry
Singh of Four Seasons from Miami has been importing for
the past 12 years and the two main countries are China for jeans
and India for skirts and tops. His label Splash is sold to boutiques
and stores in the USA and the Caribbean islands. At US$ 6 for a
skirt, Singh takes a minimum order for 24 pieces for tiered crepe
skirts. His experience of dealing with Indians suppliers from Jaipur
and Mumbai has been a bit shaky as he remarks. |
Harry
Singh of Four Seasons with his collection of skirts
|
“Indians’
commitment to quality and time frame is still unreliable. China gives
in half the time all the things India specialises in. China too is making
skirts in better designs and quality. The price is the same.” However,
he agrees that Indian quality is gradually improving now and for Spring/Summer
2006, Indian goods were big business for him. “We ordered one container
load from India,” informs Singh, who had a stream of buyers from Australia,
Mexico, Canada and USA who will add to his $ 2.7 mn annual turnover.
Three
years in the business Zubin Navani of Zani Group has
three labels – Deja Vou for Junior boys, the Zani Private Label and
Delicia for Juniors girls. With a turnover of $ 6 mn Navani buys ladies’
contemporary sportswear from India, Bali and China.
“In
India we buy from Udaipur, Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur. But I feel the
South is easier to deal with since they are more professional. Delhi
is more on a street-smart level. Although 60% of our business is from
India and our orders range from 1200-120,000 pieces, we have delivery
problems,” he complains. Zani Group supplies to high-end boutiques and
stores like Marshall Fields and Nordstrom. “We are always looking out
for new vendors in India,” he adds.
The
husband and wife team of Arun and Vinamrata Mehta’s
stand was colourful with skirts and blouses from India. In business
since 6 years, they buy from India, China and Thailand. “In India it
is mainly Delhi and Jaipur where we buy our ladies garments but we are
interested in expanding to the South. India’s plus point is no quota
but China’s is quality,” reveals Vinamrata. “We normally order 50,000
pieces per supplier and our presence at the MAGIC Fair was very fruitful.
We got buyers from Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bahamas and local boutiques
in the USA. We supply to Department stores, Ashley Stewart Co Ltd.,
catalogue companies and commodity stores,” adds Vinamrata whose company
turnover is $ 2 mn. “We have been participating in MAGIC for the past
three years, and added on four new department stores and we also export
to Barbados,” reveals Arun Mehta.
While
all the importers at MAGIC were very loyal to India and wanted to buy
from their motherland, all of them had problems either in pricing, delivery
or, at times, quality.
For
Raj Kapoor of Raj Imports it was a busy four days,
as his tiny stand was visited by buyers from the USA. It was difficult
to chat with him as he wrote down orders for his collection of skirts
and tops.
“I
have been in business for the past four years and import from India
and Thailand. But India still does not adhere to timely deliveries and
quality. When one asks for a cheaper price that does not mean that the
quality has to be reduced,” bemoans Kapoor who imported at times 15,000-20,000
pieces every 15 days for department stores, boutiques in the USA giving
him a turnover of US$ 6 mn.
“This
is our first MAGIC fair though we participate in 12 fairs a year, we
had nearly 50 buyers whose response for women’s skirts and tops was
excellent.”
Raj and Nina
Sharma content with their participation at MAGIC
|
Raj Kapoor
of Raj Imports and Rilla Ledermann enjoying the feel of the fair
|
For
Raj and Nina Sharma, the Magic fair was profitable
having participated in it for the past 8 years. “We had nearly 100 buyers
from USA, Mexico, Canada and Australia and 80% will turn into business.
We also participate in other trade shows in USA and Mexico and sell
to boutiques and chain stores in Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela giving
the company a $ 5 mn per year turnover. Skirts are the hot item that
we have sold for Spring/Summer 2006 but supplies from India are not
on time and this year was particularly bad because of the floods,” added
the Sharmas.
Many
of the stands like Papillon were the hottest spots of the women’s wear
section. Run by two sisters-in-law, Rama and Bhajeet Singh Malik
(the former runs the Canadian office and the latter the Los Angeles
division with a showroom in New
York), Papillon is probably one of the oldest importers starting business
in Canada in 1972 and in Los Angeles in 1979. Importing from India, Indonesia, China and Philippines, the Papillon
stand was one of the biggest at the Magic Fair amongst the Indian importers
and crowded with nearly 200 buyers, who all placed orders.
“We
have been participating for the past ten years in MAGIC and supply to
stores like Robinson May, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Ardenb, etc. In Canada
we have more boutique sales. In most cases we accept orders of 300 pieces
per colour and right now there is a lot of demand for Indian goods from
countries like South America, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain.
But while we buy from India; China is the best for deliveries,” inform
the Singhs whose $ 10 mn per annum turnover is mainly from their own
designs created twice a year.
Although
China is giving India tough competition on all fronts – even in the
skirts and kurtas section with better quality and pricing - many Indian
importers are turning to India for supplies because of the designing
and value addition that the country can offer.
Zubin
Navani of Zani Group |
Andy
Mahtani with his products |
In
the USA for the past 20 years, Andy Mahtani started
the company in 1987 and commenced importing from India in 1989. “But
we stopped in 1991 and went to Indonesia since Indian quality was bad.
Indonesia gave us good prices, styling and quality and so our USA buyers
wanted to stick to Indonesia,” revealed Mahtani. But with India being
the flavour of the year and Indian skirts and tops being in demand,
he bought again from Delhi and Jaipur in 2004. Mahtani realised that
Indian exporters were now too busy, although not very expensive. “Skirt
prices range from $ 18-39 but the average price for a good skirt is
between $20-30. Right now, we are buying
mostly skirts and kurtas from India although delivery is a problem.
Quality, however, is no longer an issue.
Earlier
garments were received smelling of kerosene,” he added. Magic is a regular
fair for Mahtani since 1996 and this
time his list of buyers numbered 50-60, mostly from the USA and
Canada. “We have sold to Mexico, Canada and private labels and will
have a 20% increase in turnover, but now getting the price we want is
difficult. Earlier we would bring a new item and could demand our price.
Now we can only get good prices if there is more value addition.” Mahtani
is looking out for good Indian exporters who are willing to work with
him regularly. “We give our own designs and our designers visit India
twice a year.” The Indian look will last till Spring/Summer 2006 then
hopefully something else will emerge, he feels. “China too is making
skirts and their quality and packaging is superior and they are more
professional in their business dealings. We are a medium size company.
We don’t do container loads but we are very design and style conscious,”
he ends.
