India International Garment Fair from 12th – 14th July 2011 at Pragati Maidan, Delhi

IIGF- THE JOURNEY

A journey that began 23 years back continues. With a three fold multiplication in participation and seven times the number of buyers and buying agents, the India International Garment Fair, has come a long way. With over 300 participants and 2500 registered buyers, it would not be exaggerating to say that IIGF has evolved into the largest international trade fair for fashion and a global benchmark for quality design apparel of innovative functionality. For most Indian apparel exporters, IIGF is the first major marketing and ordering date of the financial year. It is the platform for knowledge sharing on the latest innovations and consumer trends too.

IIGF- A NEW TURN

The Export promotion initiative of the Apparel Export Promotion Council of India, led by the able vision of Mr. Ashok Rajani, has seen a new horizon and one could see the reflection of the same here too.
This spring summer season, IIGF grossed an area of 17255 sq. mtrs with a stall area of 8382, across the five categories of womenswear, fashion accessories, menswear, children wear and knitwear. More than 1000 buyers from 70 countries and regions came in through the doors over the three days of the fair to get a feel of the fashion season and source their collections.
Various support services and incentives were provided to the exhibitors including air travel and booking discounts. Buyers were extended all possible bonuses including complimentary stay facilities and travel, through a systematically developed invitation plan, under the grant received under MAI, Ministry of Commerce. An MAI grant to the extent of Rs. 1.4 crores was obtained with the help of Ministry of Textiles towards reverse BSM for bringing foreign buyers.
AEPC, along with other joint organizers, implemented a marketing campaign using innovative web tools and aggressive promotion techniques, to get the word out around the globe about the effectiveness of IIGF for this Spring/Summer.
High-quality buyers from department stores, chain stores, independent retailers, buying groups and distributors factor in this fair, now, as one of their key sourcing channels. A few major buyers who came visiting this season were Caroll International, France , Koton, Turkey , Takisada Osaka, Japan, LLP, Poland, Mango, Spain , Orby and Fomina from Russia, Reny Derhy, Spain and Group Disco, Uruguay. Further, major stores from Israel like Fox, Castro, Gold, Gottex, Hoingam also visited the fair. IIGF- A NEW FACE by IAM

The IIGF wore a new face this season! The identity and branding of the event was designed and developed by two faculty members Ms. Shalini Bansal, and Mr. Gurmeet Singh, of the Institute of Apparel Management, Gurgaon.
The IAM team designed the logo, all the printed promotional material – web layout, advertisements, brochures and mailers and the stationery- fair guide, exhibitor manual, invites etc.

The venue of the fair was branded, using neutral and accent colours predicted for the approaching Autumn winter 2012-13, under the experienced guidance of Mr. Lalit Thukral, Convener, IIGF.

The signage and stall name fascias were designed with the perspective of creating traffic convenience for the fair visitors.

THEME PAVILION BY APEC- SOME OF INDIA-YET TO BE DISCOVERED

Among others, another first that this fair scored was in creating an AEPC theme pavilion – Some of India, yet to be discovered. The underlying purpose was to bring to the platform, new and innovative categories in fabric and apparel product development, that India is now capable of manufacturing and exporting. The pavilion received a very positive response especially towards apparel categories like uniforms and workwear and fabrics with special functional finishes. Conceptualized by Mr. Ashok Rajani, Chairman, Export promotion, AEPC, the pavilion was designed by IAM’s Shalini Bansal , with support from her team.

THEME PAVILION BY IAM- PATTERNING SUSTAINABLE FASHION- AW 2012-13

'Solutions which meet the needs of today, without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfill their own needs'- Mentored by Shalini and guided by Ms. Deepali Mittal, three students of the Post Graduate Fashion Design Management program of IAM- Neelima, Preetha and Akansha, presented a collection of twenty ensembles based on zero wastage pattern making for silhouettes predicted in AW 12- 13. Reducing production processes in apparel through intelligent pattern making was their purpose. Organic natural fabrics ranging from cotton, bamboo to ramie and banana were used.

Overseas Buyers and Indian exporters, both showed keen interest in the novel developments. Concerted efforts by faculty and students of various design and merchandising disciplines of IAM came to the forefront through this impressive presentation.
All this underlines the importance of the show and its effectiveness as a sourcing event and as a platform for the exchange of information. Whatever the driving forces in the market, one could be sure to detect them first at the IIGF!