Brand India comes back

SYDNEY: Brand India trade fair is set to return with around 50 clothing and textile manufacturers determined to attract Australian business.

The second ever installment of the event will be held from November 22 to 23 at the Bayside Grand Hall in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

Clothing and textile manufacturers from India will exhibit, showing their abilities across fabric production, garment and homewares construction and beading techniques.

A key benefit of Indian manufacturing promoted at the inaugural 2009 fair was India’s long history of expertise in beading and embroidery. The acceptance of low minimum orders was also touted.

At last year’s event, designer Juli Grbac was central to proceedings, speaking about her experiences manufacturing her collection in India. She emphasised to attendees that time spent on the ground with manufacturers is a vital step in successful trade.

“There is a bit of a communication gap,” she said. “I think you do need to go there at least the first three or four times to make sure the quality is up to standard.”
She advised designers to take as much information as possible to Indian manufacturers to ensure productive use of time. “If I’ve got a sample that I made in Australia and I want it to be exactly like that, I will take that sample – the same with patterns,” she said.

Exhibitors reported that International Fashion Group, Specialty Fashion Group and e-tailer EziBuy were among the companies that made queries at the 2009 event.  Also seen at the fair were designer Collette Dinnigan and store owner Belinda Seper of the Belinda boutiques.
 
Entry to the 2010 event is free. The opening hours are from 9am to 5pm each day.