Raymond CMD exhorts industry to Get the Power at IFF 09

16 Jan 2009

Gautam Hari Singhania, CMD, Raymond Limited and a passionate ambassador of the Indian fashion and textile industry, will be chairing the forthcoming India Fashion Forum (IFF) scheduled to be held on January 27-28, in Mumbai.

The industry that IFF is addressing is estimated at over Rs 3,500 billion and hence the significance of this edition is critical in reviving business sentiments. Comprising clothing & textiles; premium fashion & accessories; jewellery & watches; sports & footwear; home & beauty; and mobile and fashion gadgets, the Indian fashion and lifestyle industry has grown over four times since this forum first gathered the leaders of the businesses together in the year 2000.

In his message to the press, Singhania states, “With business captains, policy makers, entrepreneurs and professionals joining in for this mega congregation of the fashion, textile & beauty industry, IFF will be the focal point for all vibrant thoughts to converge and brainstorm on how together we can overcome the impact of this global downturn.”

Themed ‘Fashion 2009: Get the Power!’, the forum will see over 200 thought leaders and global honchos devising strategies to add energy and empower the categories that drive consumption in modern India.

Speaking on the IFF09 theme ‘Get the Power!’, Singhania says that to move ahead in the fashion world today, businesses need some “Special Powers” and hence IFF brings together the most powerful minds, brands and businesses with most ‘out-of-the-box’ thoughts and innovative ideas that can change the way one looks at things, particularly in today’s context. IFF promises almost cent per cent attendance of the key lifestyle brands that have presence in India or wanting to get into the market in the near future.

IFF ’09 highlights include 'FASHION VOICES of India’. IFF ’09 will open with a difference. Taking centre stage will be highly dynamic voices, identified and mentored by leading fashion brands of the world, from across the country sharing their experiences, concerns and hopes, their individual and collective strategies for growth, and what they expect from the forum.

IFF Inaugural will be a showcase of size and power. From India’s largest fashion and textile brands to the country’s largest retailer to its largest fashion intermediary, the session will put up the business’ most influential spokespersons, tycoons and icons.
The India - Sri Lanka session will bring in leaders representing all major textile, apparel and retail trade bodies of both countries to talk about partnership possibilities in developing mutually beneficial projects.

IFF ’09 will also launch India Beauty Forum, which will host major stakeholders in beauty, hair care and cosmetics businesses coming together for a conclave besides numerous talk shows, workshops and catwalks -- setting the perfect stage for leading and upcoming beauty brands to leverage the tremendous business environment at IFF.

The grand finale of IFF will be ‘Decision Making Session’ involving fashion brands, retailers and shopping centre developers. ‘’It’s time to act!’’, says Hemchandra Javeri, chairman of The Fashion Alliance of India (TFAI), a non-profit body of global fashion and lifestyle brands, which will be launching a major market development initiative at IFF backed by substantial investments. Consumer aspirations and awareness, new occasions for purchases, and availability of quality and viable retail space will be top of agenda for TFAI.

IFF, the magnum opus of the business of fashion, will house simultaneous and concurrent leadership talk sessions, exhibits of futuristic concepts in fashion forecasting, branding and retailing, the best of retail spaces across India, and an unparalleled opportunity for business networking. With various sub-events under the umbrella of IFF, the event culminates in IMAGES Fashion Awards – one of the most glamorous fashion award extravaganzas in the world.

— IndiaRetailing Bureau