On 25th November,’11 a road-show on InFashion was organized at Hotel Mirador in Mumbai. At the programme, organized jointly by the Images Group and FAITMA, representatives from over 50 leading Indian textile companies participated with great enthusiasm. Also invited were all members of FAITMA, the exhibitors of InFashion 2011, and many eminent personalities & officials connected with the industry.

In his inaugural address, Shri Ramesh Poddar, President of FAITMA, said that “InFashion 2011, organized eight months ago, provided a powerful shared platform for all the businesses & entrepreneurs connected with the Indian textiles industry. It is important that we strengthen and develop this platform further. For this, it is vital to ensure that textile traders & all those who are part of the industry, in every corner of the country, come here and participate in large numbers.” The audience appeared to be in agreement with this proposal.

Shri R.K.Garg, CEO, SKNL spoke about strengthening the industry further by focusing on innovation at all levels, right from the fibre stage upwards. He also added that, to make the Indian market truly attractive for foreign fabric buyers, the entire industry will need to work together and rise above the desire for personal gains only.

Industry representatives were unanimous in their opinion that InFashion has definitely emerged as a major organized platform for the Indian textiles sector. Mrs. Anjali Sondhi, chief of the Events Division of the Images Group, expressed her gratitude to all entrepreneurs connected with the fashion & textiles business industry for helping make InFashion such a huge success. “The Images Group has been working as a key link between the industry and the consumer. We are bringing both of them together on the same platform, and are providing a favourable environment where both of them can benefit profitably. We are committed to taking this effort forward, and hope that all members of FAITMA and the industry will take full advantage of this facility offered in the form of InFashion.”

A  video clip made on InFashion 2011 was also screened on the occasion. It re-kindled the memories of the great event, and one could see that all those present felt nostalgic and charged with fresh enthusiasm about the future.

“The objective of InFashion 2012 will be to attract the ‘real business visitor’. We hope that we will be able to get as many merchandisers as possible to the next edition, especially from New Delhi and Bengaluru”, said Shri Abhay Kumat, one of the lead sponsors of the event.

Yet, the road-show was not arranged to voice the opinions of the organizers & sponsors alone. The “Open House” format of the programme by itself made it an extremely useful and attractive event. Many participated freely in the Question-&-Answer session. Some talked of the challenges facing the industry, like garment producers taking delivery of stocks but delaying payments thereof, and wanted effective steps to be taken to address this serious problem. Both the organizers & sponsors present assured the members that all such issues will be looked into, for the progress and well-being of the industry at large.