NATIONAL: An affiliation with Australian designer Julie Grbac is the latest initiative from Indian textile producers keen to extract more business from the Australian market.
Grbac, who won the 2008 season of Project Runway Australia, recently visited multiple textile factories in Delhi. In the wake of her visit, organisers of the Brand India trade fair have invited the designer to produce an Indian-inspired collection to launch at the event.
The Brand India Fashion, Interiors & Textiles trade fair will be held in Melbourne on November 12 - 13 and in Sydney on November 16 - 17.
Grbac said, "I am very excited at the opportunity to bring awareness to the Australian design community of the work that can be created in and from India in textiles, fashion and homewares. I can't wait to get back to India and start producing so I can share my experience with fellow industry members at the event seminars."
Organised by the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) and sponsored by the Indian government, Brand India will feature both established Indian manufacturers and the country's ‘new breed' of young, US-educated entrepreneurial manufacturers.
TEXPROCIL executive director, Siddhartha Rajagopal, said "We want to promote India as a viable alternative to countries such as China for mass produced goods and be considered as the premier destination for specialised craftsmanship and customisation".
Grbac, for one, has already been converted.
"The French seams and double roll hems are of the highest quality. The hand embroidery and beading is the finest work I have ever seen," she said.
"This is what Australia needs to see."