The Intimate Apparel Association of India (IAAI) recently hosted its largest gathering up to date with the second round of Galleria Intima, held on the 23rd and 24th of August 2013 at the Grand Hyatt, Goa.
The event turned out to be a massive success, with participation from 15 countries and more than 850 intimate apparel manufacturers visiting it, making the show truly the most diverse sourcing fair that the industry has witnessed thus far.
With the presence of prominent figures such as the Goa Tourism Minister Shri Dilip Parulekar at the inauguration ceremony itself, the event was assured to begin on a successful note, and this cheerful atmosphere and spirit of exchange was maintained throughout the two days.
At the Gala Dinner the show also witnessed visit of Shri Manohar Parrikar, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa and Smt. Arti Mehra, National Secretary for BJP. Panel discussions, workshops, exhibits and seminars facilitated a healthy exchange of information between the various giants of the industry who spoke from different viewpoints.
In terms of business turnover, Galleria Intima in a mere span of two days yielded transactions that were previously unheard of! It has been estimated that 4 billion rupees worth of business transactions took place at the fair, an amount that far exceeds the usual anticipated revenues, moreover in the Indian intimate apparel industry.
With growth rates that are rising precariously and slowly, especially in the face of present economic hindrances, this is a massive impetus to the market. Often dubbed as the largest sourcing fair of the intimate apparel industry, Galleria Intima 2013 was in fact predicted to grow threefold from its first round in 2012. Overall, a total of 1200 visitors attended the show making it the largest gathering of the intimate apparel industry so far.
Mr. Rakesh Grover, President of IAAI commented on the success of the show, "The facts and figures speak for themselves in describing how successful Galleria Intima has turned out to be. I am indeed extremely glad that the event has in some way picked up the momentum of the industry at a time when economically, it seemed to be entering a sort of slump." The event this year witnessed many thought provoking seminars and workshops by some of the industry's finest.
A number of knowledgeable sessions were planned and systematically conducted across both days, spawning a wealth of information relevant to the industry- whether from a consumer-centric or manufacturer's point of view. The event's highlights included a 2 day seminar by Carlin International, a French trend forecasting company on the coming season's trends and brand building.
Says Mr. David Landart, Asia Sales Director of Carlin International, "My participation at Galleria Intima 2013 was truly promising. Immediate feedback by attendants was extremely positive. I also had the chance to meet at Indian lingerie brands and leading design schools who are keen on increasing their design awareness and exposure.
"Galleria Intima allowed me to introduce Carlin International to the industry and I look forward to my participation to 2014 fair." The event this year also marked the unveiling of India's First White Paper on Intimate Apparels by Wazir Advisors, the Knowledge Partners of the event. Predicting a potential of growth rate of 15% in the next 7 years, Wazir confirms the bright future ahead for intimate apparels in India.
