Over 100 thought leaders and nearly 2,500 captains of the fashion businesses have got into the act of discussing the present and future, as also the opportunities across all segments of the industry at India Fashion Forum (IFF), the two-day event that commenced January 29, 2008 in Mumbai.
Delegates at the event include representatives from international and domestic brands of clothing, textiles, fashion accessories, jewellery, watches, footwear and home.
International speakers include Troels Holch Povlsen of Best Seller, Aaron Boey of Levi’s, Lakshmi Menon of GAP, James Bettle of Ben Sherman, Mourad Amarsy, founder of Princess Tam-Tam, Graeme Payne of Field Fisher Waterhouse, and motivational management speaker Tony Hunt.
They are discussing a range of topical subjects including ‘Can a ‘NANO’ happen in the fashion business?,’ ‘Can Koutons become the H&M of India?,’ ‘How to Fashion Your Retail Space Right?,’ ‘Ecology and Ethics.’
Design being on the forefront at India Fashion Forum 2008, there will be several benchmark case studies presented by global authorities and super-achievers in the business.
“It is a celebration and commemoration of the fact that design not only shapes the aesthetics, but also creates the functional value and ‘reason for being’, and also provides the most endearing values to brands,” stated Dr Darlie Koshy, IFF chairman and executive director, National Institute of Design.
Amitabh Taneja, chief convener IFF, said, “IFF has exponentially grown as a knowledge platform of the Indian fashion, retail and lifestyle businesses, providing companies with a platform to partner, network and promote their business interests through sharing of experiences, ideas and innovative concepts. India is the new land of opportunities with a plethora of sectors booming at the same time. This continuous growth has made the country the desired golden bird, where everyone wants to gain by investing and operating in the country. The prevailing market scenario makes the country’s environment apt for new opportunities waiting to be explored.”
IFF saw the release of the 2008 edition of ‘Images Yearbook’, India’s only handbook on the business of fashion covering the Indian apparel market size and scope, and also performance and expansion plans of key players. The book also includes thoughts of leading visionaries from the field of fashion, and encapsulates the larger trends that have defined the market in the year past.
