Quality and variety at India textile show
Exporters want to sell more to SA
BEAUTIFUL clothing, fabulous fabrics and extravagant accessories to match were all on display at the India clothing and textile trade show at the Sandton Convention Centre this week.
The high commissioner of India, Virendra Gupta, hosted the opening ceremony on Monday and welcomed local buyers to view the offerings from 22 traders.
Products of high quality and workmanship from across India were on display. Among the guests from India were Virender Uppal, chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, and Zohra Chatterji, secretary of textiles.
Gupta said India and South Africa had enjoyed a good relationship over the past 20 years and the time was right for a good business relationship.
Chatterji said the show shared in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, because the textile industry had been close to his heart. Gandhi hand-spun his own fabric, khadi, which is still popular in India.
Indian fabrics were sold across the world, Chatterji said, but unfortunately the South African market had been disappointing — Chinese-made clothing was cheaper than Indian, but of poor quality. She said Indian exporters were optimistic that this would change.
About 20 local traders attended the opening of the two-day show, looking for the best possible deals and closely examining the fabrics. They were spoilt for choice with the latest in men’s and ladies’ Western trends.
The guests were treated to light snacks and tea during their shopping break.
The trade show, unlike many India fairs, offered good-quality clothing at reasonable prices — an Indian shopping experience without dodgy betel-nutchewing salesmen.