INDIA: sales increase in the garment sector.

Sales shares of the apparel sector in India continue to increase.

According to Indian retailers and shop owners, male consumers have begun flocking back to shopping malls. After two years of crisis, during which financial insecurity and fear of job loss had kept most of the male population away from shopping malls, there is now an increase in consumer spending. According to reports from several major Indian retail chains, spending by male consumers has grown by 20% year-over-year.

The sector with the highest sales volume in India is the apparel sector: according to Mr. Vinay Bhatia, Senior Vice President of Shopper Stop (a major Indian retail chain) the percentage of men’s clothing purchases out of the group’s total sales rose from 30.91% in the fourth quarter of 2011 to 33.1% in the fourth quarter of last year, with men’s clothing sales growth reaching 22.1% compared to the 12.51% recorded in the same period.

According to Sooraj Bhat, Brand Manager at Allen Solly (an Indian clothing brand), there is strong demand in India for the latest trends, such as slim-fit shirts and pants, and for fashionable casual wear in general. In the last quarter of 2012, according to Bhat, the brand recorded a 25% increase in sales, a significant improvement over the 15%-17% range from the previous year.

Louis Philippe, the Aditya Birla Group’s high-end men’s brand, reported a sales increase of approximately 401% in the fourth quarter of 2012, nearly double the 201% growth recorded in the same period of the previous year. According to Jacob John, brand manager at Louis Philippe, demand is shifting from basic formal wear toward more vibrant and lively items: ultimately, men want to look younger.

Manlio Urbano

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