Tom Tailor exclusive line to be designed, manufactured in India
Inceptra Lifestyle Pvt Ltd owns the exclusive rights of Hamburg-based Tom Tailor in India. With an investment of ₹80 crore, the German fashion brand is present in 35 countries with over 1,400 company stores and more than 11,600 other points of sale, generating revenue of €968.5 million. Inceptra Founder Devender Gupta talks about tapping e-commerce route to increase sales.
Tell us about the trends in menswear and womenswear for Autumn/Winter (A/W) 2018-19.
The key trends for A/W 2018-19 will be a lot of detailing of ruffles, tassels and pleats. Ruffled skirts, pleated dresses and skirts are in rage and will stay for some time. There is also a lot of craze for embroidered jackets, mostly in floral motifs, both for men and women with particular emphasis on stylised sleeves for women. Floral motifs will be seen a lot in the coming season both in print and embroidery. Checks are back this season with a twist of floral elements attached to it.
For colours, monochromes and pastel stories will take centrestage for women and a lot of indigo will be seen for menswear. Vibrant pop colours will be seen in hints for both men and women.
What is the latest trend in casual wear in the 24-45 age group?
Casual wear category for 25 to 40 is so diverse and there is so much opportunity for everyone in the game. Designers as well as customers around the globe are experimenting with fashion. Fashion itself has started looking a bit experimental with prints getting more and more digital and futuristic. But there is a craving for contrasts in prints that will see a lot of mix of flora and fauna prints with futuristic patterns and contemporary slogans.
Being in a global society, we can't miss to see gender neutrality in both colours and silhouettes with bright pastels or wide variety. As the call for sustainability reaches more and more, we would also see a surge in organic sustainable and recycled materials with definitely a touch of luxe wherever required.
Are the collections different for online and offline stores?
On the online platform, 30 per cent of the total collection is different for price-conscious consumers.
Tell us about your presence in the Indian market.
We have a strong presence in all metropolitan markets and tier-1 cities. We also focus on online sales. We have seven exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) and more than 50 shop-in-shop counters in the country.
Tom Tailor plans to open 55 stores in three years. After the four metros, where will the brand's stores open this year?
We will be looking at opening more stores in these metros to create a stronger presence. We will also aggressively expand in tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
Are the collections for Tom Tailor India exclusive to the region? Are those manufactured in India?
We are currently working on an exclusive line which will be designed and manufactured in India with a vision to be retailed globally.
Tell us about your corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
While practicing sustainable procurement initiatives, we also focus on nurturing talent across various socio-economic groups.
What is the contribution from India/Asia to your overall revenues?
Considering that we started off in April 2017, the group managed to close the last fiscal with the top line of over ₹15 crore in its first year of operation.
Who are your manufacturing or sourcing partners?
We work with multiple manufacturers across the globe. Some of the countries are Indonesia, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Turkey and Bangladesh.
A whole lot of stores and brands are folding up. To what would you attribute this to?
Recently due to demonetisation, a lot of the surplus capital with consumers has reduced resulting in lesser sales. Additionally, rising real estate and costs have made it very difficult for brands to ride cyclical business throughout the year.
What sustainable practices are being implemented at Tom Tailor?
At Tom Tailor, we focus on industry's best practices resulting in sustainable procurement and sourcing operations.
What percentage of your sales is through brick & mortar?
Ten per cent of the total sales are through e-marketplace while the majority comes from retail.
What are the factors affecting your growth?
Factors affecting our growth at present revolve around reduced customer spending and increasing rentals for brick & mortar.
What new is in the pipeline?
There are two new exclusive lines that we are currently working on. The first is Tom Tailor Contemporary, in line with Indian motifs on western silhouettes, and the second is Tom Tailor Polo, focused on premium pique polo for men. (RR)
Published on: 06/06/2018
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
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