Indian SMEs see rise in global demand for Indian wear and jewellery

Indian SMEs are witnessing a shift in demand for Indian ethnic wear and jewellery from international markets via e-commerce, observe small business owners on Alibaba.com.

With Hollywood celebrities and global fashion labels taking India inspired attire and accessories onto red carpets and runways, Indian businesses have noticed an increase in buyer interest from new foreign markets.

Commenting on the shifting trend, Khalid Isar, Country General Manager, Alibaba.com India, said, “Our textiles and jewellery industries have been well-known in the region for their vibrant, beautiful designs and elegant patterns. Now, different parts of the world have started to take notice, helping Indian SMEs on our platform tremendously. E-commerce plays a pivotal role in opening doors to the global market and it is remarkable to witness how our members are leveraging the platform to support this budding trend globally.”

“We saw a whooping 60-70 percent increase in our sales this year compared to last,” said Subhash Jain, owner of Rajshri Fashions in Chennai. He has been listing his range of Indian traditional apparel and jewellery online as a Gold Supplier through Alibaba.com for the past four years.

“The enquiries we receive are no longer restricted to countries like the US and those in Europe. We’re now seeing growth from countries like Libya, Malaysia and Singapore, amongst others,” added Jain.

According to Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) export data, Indian apparel exports increased by 12 percent in March 2013. The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) also forecasts that the Indian apparel market will grow annually at 13-15 percent by 2020, and believes the trend for Indian inspired garments is here to stay.

“Up until last year, we saw some resistance with international buyers for some designs but since fashion designers of global repute have adopted Indian patterns and motifs, we have seen this resistance dissolve,” said Mayank Goyal, Masterpiece Jewellery CEO.

“The power of e-commerce has made it possible for us to showcase our designs and capitalise on the evolving market demand,” added Goyal who saw a 30-40 percent increase in sales this year from countries like Germany, UK and the US for their jewellery lines.