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| Denim Club India - Newsletter |
| Denim Club India - a social and
professional networking place, for members of the denim community - brings to your desk well-researched
compilations in the form of articles and documents relating to the Denim industry, carrying information from
India and all over the world. |
| Vol. 1 No. 1 January 2010 |
| In 10 years time, India can become a world-leader in Denims :: Part 4 |
| Exclusive Interview with Dr. P. R. Roy |
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Q. Could you highlight your take on the retail opportunities in India? Has the retail boom burst like the IT bubble?.
A. Retailing is undergoing a change. Retailing cannot be questioned in a developing
country like ours, till it becomes truly developed in say another 15-20 years.
Retailing is a common/desired phenomenon in any developing country.
The booming part, which you have mentioned, might face some challenges from
mom and pop stores, because some of the FMCG companies like Hindustan
Unilever pose a lot of challenge indirectly through kirana shops to the
organised retail.
The way they are training people in the street corner shops,
the way they are having their products collected at specialty stores or kirana
shops to some extent are threats to organised retail in some product groups.
But this would continue for awhile.
In the long run, with the economic development, there will not be any way out
even for Asia as far as fully taking to organised retail is concerned. However, this
might take time maybe 15 to 20 years for India, as compared to Europe and
America or even China indirectly through kirana shops to the organised retail.
Q. How has the Indian denim industry responded to economic slowdown? Where does it stand today as the economy starts looking up again?
A. In last six months, there has been no slowdown in India as far as denim industry is concerned. It is great news for India and the denim industry. Denim perhaps
doesn't follow a particular economy pattern and since denim has become the first priority of not only young Indians but even the senior citizens, the demand
is on rise.
Bottomwear is a necessity, and the basic bottomwear like chinos/khakis, trousers have not substituted denim jeans. Blue is really contagious as it looks smart and if I an put it this way, it does look sexy. I feel it is high time, someone should
venture into the dedicated classical denim production for seniors.
Q. From consumer's point of view, how is the overall consumer buying behaviour changing compared to the past and what could be
the reasons for this behavioural change?
A. First reason behind change in consumer buying behaviour is most certainly economic prosperity; secondly since the world has become so
small, everyone can watch what others are wearing, so desires & trends have become much clearer. Earlier our knowledge about fashion was
confined to the surroundings around us but today with television becoming a part of every household, the world of fashion has become very
small.
Q. The rural Indian consumer is becoming aware of the branded wear, do you think this awareness would play a major role in
helping the branded denim wear to venture into the rural India?
A. The scenario is definitely changing but it would take a little longer for branded wear or denims to make inroads into the rural India,
compared to the western world.
For instance, youngsters have the tendency to follow their idols, so if you look at the khadi trend, it is hot among the Indians because
young political leaders endorse this attire, i.e. cotton khadi, and even wear it to international assemblies and so on. Similarly, they
follow bollywood icons ,when it comes to denim or western fashion.
Rural population has begun following the urban trends as the awareness levels increase but the progress is very slow.------XXXXX---- |
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