C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Fair reports\Latest Pret A Porter Paris report-DCH.doc
Report of Pret A Porter Paris expo held at Porte de Versailles,
Saturday 3rd to Tuesday 6th September 2011
EU & Textiles and Clothing industry:
The EU textile and clothing sector is a SMEs based industry as companies of less of 50 employees account for more than 90% of the workforce and produce almost 60% of the value added. In the EU-27 the biggest producers in T&C industry are the 5 most populated countries, i.e. Italy, France, UK and Germany, Spain accounting for about three quarters of EU-27 production of textiles and clothing. Southern countries such as Italy, Greece and Portugal, some of the new Member states such as Romania and Poland and, to a lesser extent, Spain and France contribute more to total clothing production, while northern countries such as the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden contribute relatively more to textile production. On average, the T&C sector plays a more important role in the economy and employment of the new Member States and candidate countries than in the EU-16.
As regards the textiles and clothing external trade performance, about 20% of EU-27 production in value is sold on the external market despite limited access to many third country markets. However, remain significant impediments to trade in textiles and clothing, especially in some of the largest and more competitive exporters in the sector, and the European industry has the potential to increase production and exports to those parts of the world when trade barriers are lifted. By comparison with manufacturing as a whole, it is worth noting that external markets are of higher importance for the textiles and clothing industry.
Textiles & Clothing external trade performance
Despite the huge labour cost differential between those countries and Europe, EU industry remains competitive due to higher productivity, and competitive strengths such as innovation, quality, creativity, design or fashion. While, on their home market, EU operators are faced with intense (and increasing) competition from all over the world, many export markets remain virtually closed due to a wide variety of tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Trade flows have developed as follows:
- Imports show a constant increase, reaching €79.2 billion in 2008. The EU's main suppliers were China (39% of all imports in terms of value), followed by Turkey (14%), India (7.7%), Bangladesh (6.3%) and Tunisia (3.6%).
- Exports after a slow down in the nineties have increased in the recent years reaching €35.7 billion in 2008. Russia has become the first export market of EU textile and clothing (T&C) products (11.9% of total exports) followed by the Switzerland (11.7%), US (10.7%), Turkey (5.6%) and Tunisia (5%). Morocco and Ukraine are also important export markets for T/C products. In total, 15% of EU exports are oriented to the Euro-Med area where EU industry developed outsourcing strategies for labour intensive operations.
Regarding market access, tariffs of most trade partners remain prohibitively high, including tariff peaks among countries from the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD). Non-tariff barriers too require priority treatment, as their incidence is growing and they are not efficiently tackled in the WTO. In particular, the EU has proposed harmonization and more transparency on barriers such as labelling, certifications of conformity procedures, export restrictions, importers' registration.
Increased market access to emerging economies, where middle classes are growing, is of strategic importance, as these represent a quality-conscious market where the EU has the highest competitive advantage. Regarding relocation, the increased competitive pressure from Asia and the market power of multinational branding or retailing companies, is pushing towards FDI or outsourcing of the whole production process, not just garment-making, mainly to China. Relocation is more limited when the industry is focused on quality upgrading. Finally, market access potential could be improved by efforts to negotiate Free Trade Agreements with markets with high potential such as South Korea, India and Mercosur.
Priorities of trade policy
Market access constitutes a priority of Community trade policy in the textile and clothing sector. It is generally recognised that global trade in textiles and clothing must be in both directions. The Commission has invited its trading partners to enter into mutual market access negotiations: if they want improved to access to the EU market, they will, in turn, have to be ready to liberalise their markets.
India’s export to France:
As per DGCI&S, Kolkata data for the period April 2009-March 2010 of Handloom products, France occupies 5th place among top export destinations with value of Rs.423.41 million and quantity of 3.62 million sq.mts. As per DGCI&S, Kolkata export figures for the period April 2009-January 2010 vis-à-vis April 2010-January 2011 export of Handloom products to France has registered growth of 10.84%.
Pret A Porter Paris expo:
Current status- Sodes, the company organising Pret A Porter has been acquired by Paris-based WSN Development that organises the Who’s Next and Premiere Classe shows. It is reported that this initiative is in line with the present thinking of trade show organisers to re-organise their strategies and become more focussed and creative. Another factor attributed to the change is that stores make 40 percent of their annual revenues between October and December and if high impact events like Paris Design Week are organised at the beginning of the season it can only help boost sales. In the clothing and apparel segment the focus is more on streamlining for e.g. Pret A Porter for instance will group ready-to-wear on one floor and accessories on another.
Council’s participation in Pret A Porter Paris expo, Spring-Summer 2012 edition:
Council under Handloom Export Scheme (HES) of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms (DCH), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India participated in the Spring-Summer 2012 edition of Pret A Porter Paris expo held at Porte de Versailles from Saturday 3rd to Tuesday 6th September 2011. PRET A PORTER PARIS® is the meeting place for Fashion - cutting-edge brands and innovative designers, with 1300 fashion and accessories brands. PRET A PORTER PARIS® showcases the best of the Spring-Summer 2012 collections. The show was organised under 8 universes namely Atmosphere’s, Heart of Pret, New Talents, So Ethic, The Box, Accessory & Go, Maro & Go and Shopequip. Only Pret offers French and international buyers a wide range of women’s fashion products organised by sectors- Heart of Pret-235 labels, Atmosphere’s-119 labels, So Ethic-47 labels and New Talents-60 labels. Only Accessories offers varied and fashion-forward accessories grouped into sectors- The Box-70 labels, Maro & Go-83 labels and Accessory & Go-163 labels and the latest innovations in merchandising in Shopequip-11 labels.
During the Spring-Summer 2012 collections there were more than 705 exhibitors from countries ranging from France, India, Romania, Italy, United Kingdom, United States of America, Germany, Turkey, China, Ukraine, Korea, Iceland, Japan, Peru, The Netherlands, Israel, Poland, Russia, Greece, Thailand, Pakistan, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Taiwan, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Lithuania, Belgium, Monaco, Denmark, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Croatia, Finland, Hong Kong, and Morocco. There were 104 Indian exhibitors and were located in Atmosphere’s, Heart of Pret, The Box and Accessory & Go. Council’s Member participants were located at Level 1 in Accessory & Go.
HEPC had booked space of 110 sq.mtrs in the Spring-Summer 2012 edition for 12 member-exporters exporting fashion accessories like scarves and stoles. The Council had also taken up a central promotional stall at the event. The show was organised under nine sections in two pavilions 7.1 & 7.2, wherein Atmosphere’s, The Box Paris-New York, So Ethic, Shibuya Arts, Go Easy Accessory were placed at 7.1 and Go Magic Fashion, Creative By, So Shop, Secret By accessory tip were placed at 7.2. HEPC was allotted stalls in the Go Easy Accessory section at Level 1 in Pavilion 7.1.
The names of participants and their stall numbers are as given below:
Sl.No. / Company Name
and address / Products
- 1
- 2
- 3
Kolkata – 700001 / Scarves.
- 4
- 5
- 6
Varanasi – 221010 (UP) / Natural Handloom Woven Fancy, Decorative Fabrics and Scarves and Tops adorned with Elegant Hand Embroidery,
Tie-Die and Print.
- 7
H.N.83, Ward 7, Gompa Road, P.O.Manali, Kullu Distt. – 175131
Himachal Pradesh / Handwoven shawls & stoles.
- 8
- 9
Gurgaon-122009. / Scarves, Shawls, Stole, Bandana, Neckerchief, Sarongs & Pareos.
- 10
Varanasi -221001(UP) / Hi-fashion Scarves, Stoles, Shawls, Accessories,Garments, Fabrics, etc.
11 / Co-optex International, 350, T V Pattu Maligai, Pantheon Road, Near Aavin Booth, Egmore, Chennai – 600008 / Scarves, Stoles, Bags, Garments, Silk, Cotton and denim.
- 12
Kolkata-700034 / Scarf, Stoles, Shawls & Fabrics.
- 13
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004. / Information stand
As per feedback received from Member participants at the fair, Council’s members had 214 visitors to their stalls and this edition had facilitated them to venture into new markets like Spain, Chile, Belgium, Russia, Czech, Hungary, Scandinavian countries, Japan, Greece, France and Italy. Spot orders worth Rs.1,23,85,000/- had been booked and enquiries to the tune of Rs.1,87,70,000/- were generated during the fair.
Out of the 12 member participants, three have rated HEPC’s coordination as excellent, six as very good, two as good and one as average. 11 exhibitors have expressed their willingness to participate through the Council for the next edition.
Shri.Sohan Kumar Jha, Additional Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Office of Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India attended the fair. Shri.Vijay Khanduja, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Paris visited the fair on September 3, 2011. Both the officers, ADC and Second Secretary visited the booths of HEPC's Members and interacted with them. They discussed in detail about Member participants’ products and if they had
encountered any problem in getting visa from French Embassy. Second Secretary informed to participants that in case Member participants face problem in getting visa from French Embassy they may immediately approach Embassy of India, Paris for help.
Second Secretary discussed with Ms.Christine Basset, Manager of Pret A Porter and was informed that the fair authorities would like to change the layout for the next edition to suit buyers -wholesalers and retailers as they feel that presently buyers are finding it difficult to locate the right sellers. Later the Second Secretary ended his visit and left the fair ground.
The Council in its stall had displayed posters, promotional materials like brochures, Exporters Directory C.D., India International Handwoven Fair 2012 brochure, Handloom Atlas, fair catalogue etc. Buyer mobilisation was undertaken by spot registration. The following buyers were contacted:
- Ms.Isabelle Fourcade, I.C.J. Creation, France
- Ms.Ya-Chi Chang, World Link International Corp., Taiwan
- Mr.Philip Shaw, Pia Rossini, United Kingdom
- Mr.Marcel Nezri, The Sourcing Project, France
- Mr.Antoine Achdjian, Lakshmi Schmuck & Accessories, Germany
HEPC’s official also contacted Ms.Laurian Davies, Business Development Executive of UK Fashion & Textile Association Ltd, London who suggested to contact Mr.Adam Mansell of British Interior Textiles Association for mobilising buyers for IIHF 2012. Accordingly e-mail has been sent to British Interior Textiles Association requesting them to provide a database of interior textile buyers. UK Fashion & Textile Association Ltd official has suggested that the Council may explore the possibility of participating in The London Craft Fair organised by the Crafts Council, UK.
Photo Gallery
Shri.Sohan Kumar Jha (third from the left), ADC for Handlooms, Office of Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Shri.Vijay Khanduja (fourth from the left), Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Paris at the booth of Shri.Rajiv Agrawal, Silko International (second from the left), EC Member, HEPC . /
Shri.Sohan Kumar Jha (third from the left), ADC for Handlooms, Shri.Vijay Khanduja (fourth from the left), Second Secretary at the booth of Shri.Sunil Kumar Goel of Sunil Enterprises (second from the left)
Shri.Sohan Kumar Jha (first from the left),
ADC for Handlooms, Shri.Vijay Khanduja (second from the left), Second Secretary at the booth of Shri.Ramniklal H.Desai (third from the left) of Kamini Krafts /
Shri.Sohan Kumar Jha (third from the left), ADC for Handlooms, Shri.Vijay Khanduja (second from the left), Second Secretary at the booth of Mr.Jayant Malhotra (first from the left) of HCM Exports
Shri.Sohan Kumar Jha (second from the left), ADC for Handlooms, Shri.Vijay Khanduja (third from the left), Second Secretary at the booth of Shri.Arnab Roy, (first from the left) of ARN-N-ITA Handloom Export Co. /
Shri.Sohan Kumar Jha (third from the left), ADC for Handlooms, Shri.Vijay Khanduja (second from the left), Second Secretary at the booth of Shri.Nobinoor Islam (first from the left) of Anisa Overseas
Conclusion:
Mr.S.Gurusaranaraj, Assistant, HEPC coordinated the participation of members at the fair.
1