20/04/2015
Both exhibitors & visitors return satisfied from twin shows F&A & Hometex
• Innovation driven apparel fabrics, garment trims and colourful home textiles excite visitors.
• Exhibitors satisfied with response and quality and number of buyers.
By the time the 12th edition of the fabrics and accessories show, F&A Show 2015 and the 4th edition of home textiles fair- Hometex closed its doors on March 14, 3,556 unique visitors had streamed through the KTPO gates in Bengaluru, the venue of the twin shows, up 11 per cent from the 2014 editions.
The most satisfying indicator for the organiser, SS Textile Media was that most of the exhibitors polled at the twin-shows indicated that they were satisfied, with a few being overwhelmed with the response they received from buyers, with a good number even closing orders within the three-days of the fair, with a general consensus that a majority of visitors were genuine or serious buyers.
On the other hand, a majority of visitors too expressed deep satisfaction with their visit to the shows, as again here too, most of the visitors who were polled said they were able to find whatever they came looking for, whether innovative yarns, fabrics or accessories, handicraft textiles or home textiles.
A few fabric innovations for both men and women on display included a mix of plain & mesh in the same knitted fabric, bonded fabrics, fragrance releasing fabrics, zero-count fabrics, tere-rayon fabrics, 2 x 200's cotton shirting fabrics, Georgette Moss fabrics, a blend of the traditional Bandhani, Shibhori and Indigo-dyed in a single fabric, functional fabrics, etc.
In the accessories section, buyers came across an innovative 3D label, interlinings made from Net Resins, innovations in engraving technology in buttons, narrow fabrics in both spandex and latex, embroideries, Oeko-Tex certified zippers and many other new product developments in the category.
Yarns exhibited by several exhibitors with latest product developments on display included, water soluble PVA yarn, colour zero twist yarn, hollow yarn, grindle yarn, grindle blended with slub yarn, multi-colour fancy yarns, injection slub yarn, Flutter, Ferry, Lofty Linen and many other varieties of yarn.
Not to be left behind, the home textiles section also had on display products like blankets, foot mats, etc made from Mink and Polar Fleece, designer paper wall coverings, home furnishings, designer towels, bedsheets & curtains, comforters, colourful quilts, cushions, pillows and many more.
Notable exhibitors from India, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Singapore included two companies from the Aditya Birla Group; Linen Club and Grasim Bhiwani, JCT too had two stalls; textiles and also the newly set-up home textiles division; JCT Homes, Raymond Home, Morarjee Textiles, Akij Textile Group from Bangladesh, Beijing Guanghui Textile Co Ltd from China, etc.
Visitors too came from all corners of South and Central India and even overseas and included representatives from global and Indian brands and retailers like George UK, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart, Adidas, Gokuladas Exports, Arvind Brands, VF Corporation, Madura Lifestyle, Crocodile, Ralph Lauren, Mothercare, Lifestyle, PVH, Shahi Exports and many more reputed companies.
Sharing his opinion after inaugurating the show and after visiting a few stalls, Atul Ujagar, Country Director - India, Sri Lanka & Pakistan at Nike said, “The level of this show seems to be getting better year after year. I saw a bonded fabric jacket, which I never believed could be produced in India.”
From the exhibitors side, Vishal Khanna, Asst Manager, Brands & Retailers at Grasim Bhiwani Textiles, a Aditya Birla Group company, which introduced two new fabric concepts said, lots of buyers came to their stall and although they knew a few beforehand, he felt it is a good opportunity for even their known buyers to have a look at their entire range. Alongside, he also had new and serious buyers and hopes to convert them and get business from them.
Thyagaraju - Sales Manager at KRF Ltd, a marketer of accessories like woven and printed labels, tapes, laces, various buttons, polybags, hangars, stickers, etc and also a first time exhibitor was happy with the turnout at their stall and met many buyers and sourcing agents and is optimistic that they will be able to book orders in the near future from most of those who visited their stall.
Premdhar Dubey, DGM (Marketing) at Morarjee Textiles which showcased premium shirting's range in 2 x 180's and 2 x 200's at the F&A Show said the response of buyers to their stall had been good and they have had serious buyers visiting their stall, including a team from Gokuldas Exports, which has asked them to do a presentation. He hopes to close a few deals within the next few days and is leaving the show pleased with the response.
Amit Malhotra, GM (Marketing - Home Textiles) at JCT Ltd opined that the quality of visitors streaming in to their stall was excellent as the buyers have been asking several valid and important questions related to the JCT home textile products range.
He gave full marks to the organisers of the Hometex show for the excellent way in which the show has been managed and is pleased with the developments for JCT Homes at the show. According to him, they had good interaction with buyers at the show, who also liked their products.
A visitor, SB Selva, Associate Fabric Manager at George UK, a subsidiary of Wal-Mart too found the fabrics products displayed at the F&A Show interesting and had come specifically to meet new suppliers. According to him, he found his visit to be fruitful and if everything goes well, hopes to do business with the F&A Show suppliers within the next few months.
Another visitor, Nitin Prasad, Director at USA based PVH Corp, a marketer of brands like Calvin Klein & Tommy Hilfiger came with his PVH team for the first time and did not expect the F&A Show to be so good and went way beyond his expectations. He saw some interesting fabrics at the JCT stall and also fabrics made from Modal, etc at the Pallavva Group stall and will take the discussions forward with both of them.
According to F***y Delannoy, Director at French apparel company – Zoetex, a return buyer to the F&A Show, there is no need to go to Paris to look for fabric suppliers as the F&A Show has everything. She also wants the fair to be held twice a year.
AS Narayana Shastry, Head Purchase at Arvind Ltd came especially to see innovations in trims and pocketing fabrics. He was impressed by the products that he saw and has invited a few exhibitors to their office to give presentations. While going around the exhibition, he also came across a few innovations in embroidery appliques, heat transfers, laces, etc which he says, he has not come across in other trade shows. He also mentioned that this show is a boon for sourcing teams like theirs.
GS Ranganath from Eshwara Inc, a sourcing agent from Bangalore, has been a regular visitor to the Hometex Show since the last several years and at no point of time, he says, he has ever left the show disappointed. According to him, he has always been able to find whatever he was looking for in the previous shows. At this show, he was fascinated by the home textiles range displayed at the stall of Vaibhav International.
