Low turnout plays a spoilsport

Tex Trends 2012 aimed to provide a global platform to all but witnessed low footfall .

Recently concluded Tex Trends India 2012, formerly known as India International Garment Fair, witnessed a low turnout of exporters and buyers with the event dates clashing with some mega international fairs and fashion shows happening in various countries.

Exhibitors blamed the organisers' poor marketing and planning for less footfall compared to the previous editions of the event. The aim of this fair was  to provide a platform to exporters and buyers in Asia and to bring together the best in Indian garments, accessories, fabrics, home furnishing, handicrafts, handlooms, silk and woollen products, jewellery, jute and carpets– all under one roof.

“I am participating in this fair for the second time. The footfall this year is very less compared to the previous year and one of its main reasons is the clash of dates with garment trade fair in Paris and fashion week in Hong Kong,” said owner of Gaurav Shawls Siddarth Jain, who exhibited shawls, stoles and scarfs at the fair.

He was also upset with poor marketing of the event. “Already there are few international visitors this year and on top of that there is poor arrangement and poor marketing! There is garbage lying outside some exhibition halls. I don’t mind if they raise the fees but more should be done for marketing and arrangement of the event in a better way,” Siddarth suggested.

A merchandiser at export house Village Crafts India, Jyoti Kumawat, who was participating in the event for the third time, seconds Siddarth and feels that the organisers should have postponed the event as parallel fairs and fashion shows in other countries have affected its footfall. “The response this year has been very discouraging compared to its previous two editions. We suppose, a lot of it is because of similar events going on in Paris and Germany. So, obviously the visitors got diverted. The organisers should have postponed it,” she says.

On the contrary, some exhibitors feel the organisers cannot be blamed for the event’s low footfall. They blame the low turnout on the negative business scenario. “I am participating in this event for the second time. Last year, it had more visitors. This time the response has not been good but it is not the organisers’ fault. In fact, the products are getting better every year. It’s just that the business scenario seems to be negative,” said Varun Malhotra, an exporter of jewellery and handicrafts.

Inaugurated recently at Pragati Maidan, the exhibition comprised activities like fashion shows, seminars, cultural programmes and an award ceremony. Until last year, the event was confined to garments, but since last year, the fair also brought forth accessories, jewellery, home furnishing , bags and other products on display and was renamed as Tex Trends thereafter.

Virendra Chopra, managing director, Tarsha Exports, has been exhibiting garments since the first edition of the fair that was held in Mumbai. He said, “The dates of our fair clashed with some mega fashion events and garment fair in Hong Kong, Mexico, Paris and Spain. Had the dates been different, the visibility of international clients would have been more.”