An article written by Mr.Rc Dalal,Executive Director (JD Institute of Fashion Technology)

India is a nation with a prehistoric clothing design tradition, yet an emerging fashion industry. India’s fashion industry is very, very young although to see it today, as published and showcased in national newspapers and magazines, that is hard to imagine. The first professional fashion show held in this country was just over 20 years ago.

The word ‘fashion’ immediately illusionist up the images of glamour. The onset of the worldwide fashion market in India has given a thrust to the fashion industry which has emerged as the booming industry. These are some of the attributes which have attracted so many young people to foray into the fashion industry.

Today, there are a couple of hundred Indian fashion designers peddling their designs and wares in this market. Some are very well known and are expanding, slowly but surely, to the international market. India’s romance with fashion design has just begun and is bound to grow by leaps and bounds. Glamour has caught on and is in vogue. Young women want to emulate the models and Bollywood stars in their designer wear.

Fusions of Indian and Western looks are all the rage. And, then there’s everything from the pure ethnic wear, highly suitable for Indian bridal collections to purely Western style designer wear for wearing on the red carpet. India loves fashion!

India hosts its own fashion weeks in Delhi and Mumbai which seem to be getting bigger and better every year. The names are getting well known as well – Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani, Ritu Kumar, Manish Malhotra, Ritu Beri, Manish Arora, Satya Paul, Rocky S, and the list just keeps growing and growing.

Market Size

The Indian fashion industry is expected to reach $400 million in a couple of years with vigorous 10%+ growth year over year. While this number is a nit compared to the global industry size, it’s not too bad for an industry in this stage of infancy.

The reason India’s fashion industry will have a bright future is that India has a large young population. This combined with increasing disposable incomes has led to an increase in consumerism. So, those who can afford it are looking for high quality and originality and let’s not forget, their love for brand names. Hence, we can say that the future of fashion industry in India looks beautiful!

Potential the fashion industry holds

 This industry offers abundance of opportunities for artistic, hard working and enthusiastic people. The scenario for fashion design graduates looks good thanks to the enormous and still increasing demand for “stylish wear” and the uniformly outsized quantity of exports.

After successful accomplishment of the course, one can continue as self employed. On the other hand, several garment store chains, export houses, leather companies, textile mills, boutiques, fashion show organizers and jewellery houses recruit professionals fascinated in a career in fashion designing.

Challenge-Whether the Fashion industry can go Global

 The Indian fashion industry relies a lot on India’s authentic, beautiful, poignant history and rich, diverse culture, to make its unique and glowing clothing. The mounting recognition of the Indian fashion industry, which hinges on its cultural style and movement, has many of us wondering just when and if the Indian fashion industry will get the green light for going international.

The Indian fashion industry is still in its early years; with Lakme Fashion Week running for thirteen successive years, respectively. In markets such as New York, Milan and Paris, the fashion industry was established for many decades ago when compared to the market of India. The Indian fashion industry can certainly still nurture and enlarge its popularity, but while it is still so young, it may take a bit more to establish itself and its roots internationally. The clothing made by India’s elite fashion designers is not only beautiful, but unique, exquisite, and one-of-a-kind. It’s the time which will tell when the fashion industry will sooner or later break that international barrier.