Source:Textile Review


The global fashion apparel industry is one of themost important sectors of the economy in terms of investment, revenue, andtrade and employment generation all over the world. Apparel industry has shortproduct life cycles, tremendous product variety, volatile and unpredictabledemand, long and inflexible supply processes. The industry has been in a transition over the last 20years.


Clothing makes a statement, and ultimately people are judgedby their fashion selections the minute they step outside. Fashion is no longeronly for the rich and thanks to the development of fashion retailing it isavailable for the majority at affordable prices. Fashion clothing is fastmoving from a once utilitarian and functional product towards an inspirationaland more psychologically uplifting aspect of consumer purchasing. Fashion isnot only to be found at 'haute couture' fashion shows, but can be found on thestreet or even in charity or secondhand shops. Good fashion buyers leave nostone unturned as to where they seek inspiration for the next fashion trend.Being out and about looking in clubs, street markets, parks and beaches-infact, most public places-is part of the daily Iife of the best fashion buyers.People buy the newest styles to establish themselves as individuals, but thestyles aren't new for very long. Soon they turn into trends, with everyoneparading around town in the same clothes. This cycle allows people to onceagain purchase a unique item of clothing, re-establishing their individuality.


Here in comes the fashion retailing where the tastes ofconsumers are brought into light in the forms and shapes of basic silhouettesand costumes preferred. The ability of fashion retailers quickly to deliver thelatest fashion looks of the shop floor is now an imperative as fashion stylesand trends to change at increasing speed and regularity. This concept is not sovery new to Indian retailers too. There are a number of fashion retailers,developed, developing and yet to develop in this ever glorious area of success.So, fashion retailing is gaining its own Elysium of fame. Some choose to wearthe latest styles, trying to place themselves among the elite strata of thesociety. But regardless of whether it's "in" or "out,"people are conscious of the choices they make.

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About the Authors


D. Gopalakrishnan is associated with South India Institute of Fashion Technology, Coimbatore, S.Sakthivel is with Department of Fashion Technology, Angels College ofEngineering & Technology, Tirupur and K. Santhoshkumar is with the Departmentof Fashion Technology, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore


Originallypublished in Textile Review, August 2009