CMAI’s 80th National Garment Fair 2025 (NGF) Spring-Summer Edition Boosts a Positive Outlook for the Apparel Industry

During his visit to the 80^th NGF organised by CMAI, Hon’ble Shri Sanjay Savkare, Minister of Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, said, “In this 3-day trade fair organised by CMAI, exhibitors of branded clothing manufacturers from all over India have gathered to develop business for the next four months. Buyers and sellers from different states are here to do the business, and these three days are expected to generate a significant turnover.”

“Maharashtra has its own budget for the textile sector, and we are still in the process of planning it. We are awaiting additional supplementary demands, and new demands are also expected to arise in the future. A majority of these demands pertain to subsidies for the corporate and private sectors. We are also focusing on generating employment in regions like North Maharashtra, where suicide rates are high. To support this, we have provided additional incentives and subsidies in the energy sector, aiming to create jobs and set up factories in these areas,”

Speaking about the NGF 2025, Santosh Katariya, President, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) stated, “The domestic apparel industry continues to witness positive momentum, fueled by expanding retail networks and a rising demand for latest fashion collections. The continued support and proactive collaboration between brands and retailers have significantly strengthened the fair’s influence, making it a key driver for business growth and industry connections. The success of the fair stands as a testament to this upward trajectory, with exceptional business traction and substantial order volumes recorded. The positive feedback from exhibitors underscores the industry’s resilience and continued progress, setting the stage for a dynamic and prosperous season ahead.”

Speaking about the current outlook of the domestic apparel industry, Anand Chokshi, Joint Chairman, National Garment Fair, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), said, “As we progress into 2025, the apparel industry is witnessing a significant shift in consumer demand. With brands continuing to expand presence into tier-2 and tier-3 markets, there’s a marked uptick in demand compared to  metro cities. This year, we see a growing trend towards conscious shopping, where quality, sustainability, and personalized experiences are taking center stage. These evolving preferences are reshaping the market and driving growth, positioning the apparel sector for a dynamic and transformative year ahead.”

Spanning approximately 700,000 sq. ft. at the Bombay Exhibition, the fair hosted 1220 brands presented by 1020 manufacturers across 1120 stalls. The diverse range of collections included Women’s wear, Men’s wear, Kids wear, and Accessories, highlighting the latest fashion trends and innovations for the upcoming Spring-Summer season.

Bhumil Veera, representative of Avega, said, “We’ve been participating in NGF for seven years. The response and footfalls have been tremendously good. Especially considering it is summer, which is typically a slower season, the response has been outstanding. CMAI has done a great job, constantly presenting innovative concepts and encouraging both buyers and exhibitors. With festivals and weddings around the corner, we optimistically anticipate a strong market. Men’s wear is evolving rapidly, with trends changing as quickly as in women’s wear. We are constantly adapting to meet the demands of our customers.”

Gaurav Sithya, Director, PRO Riders, another leading Men’s wear brand, said, “This is my eighth season in CMAI’s NGF, and the response has been excellent. Every time we come, we gain new customers and have the chance to reconnect with existing ones. The industry is becoming more competitive, and fast fashion will dominate this coming year. These trends are emerging in new fabrics, and the fashion cycle is moving fast. What’s in trend today may be replaced in a month or two. Big brands are introducing new collections every few months, and new brands entering the market must adapt or risk falling behind.”

Shalini, representative of Stil-O-Stitch, a Jaipur based women’s wear brand said, “This is our third year participating in CMAI and NGF, and while the response has been positive. However, we continue to see growth and engagement with buyers who have attend from pan India. Our focus in the apparel industry is on inclusivity, particularly with the launch of our plus-size collection. We aim to provide more variety for our customers, whether in prints, embroidery, or other styles they are comfortable with. We expect growth, especially with the increased footfall and positive response to our designs. In terms of trends, pastels are dominating the color palette, we see a shift towards boxy and easy regular fits. People are preferring more relaxed, casual fits over snug garments.”

Rushab, representative of Zola, a long-time Mumbai based women’s wear brand, shared, “We’ve been participating in NGF since the inception of our company in 1996, and we’ve been a regular participant throughout the entire journey of NGF. We’ve always received a good response. Every time we come, our intention is to find new customers and reconnect with our old customers, and we do find new ones. Looking ahead to 2025, it’s going to be a very critical and difficult year to do business due to growing competition. Many new entrants are entering the market, and the e-commerce space is also becoming very competitive. It will be tough, but brands that bring new ideas and creativity will have an easier time penetrating the market. Consumer demand changes daily, and their perceptions and requirements evolve over time, but as a brand, we strive to meet their needs. When it comes to trends, India is a very highly diversified country with numerous cultures. One thing is clear, value products are in high demand right

now. Competition in the value product segment is going to increase significantly, as it’s completely price-driven.”

Jagdish Harwani, Director, Little Bull Clothing Company, a Mumbai brand specializing in boys’ ethnic wear, said, “It’s been almost ten years that we have been participating in the NGF, and the response has been increasing each time. There are always new clients and retailers, and we always receive a positive response. The year started on a promising note, and we are hopeful that everything will continue well. Business should increase, and the wedding season was good in November and December, and we are hopeful it will continue. In the party wear section, everything is always positive, it’s always good. However, in the casual wear segment, there have been some sales challenges. But in party wear, there are no issues, whether it’s for boys or girls.”

Another exhibitor, Hemal Gandhi, from Evolve, a brand specializing in kids’ apparel, said, “This is our third year participating in the fair and the experience has been great so far. While 2025 started with some ups and downs, with a slight downtrend in the market and a dip in sales initially, we are seeing positive momentum now, especially in terms of bookings. The market is gradually recovering, and we are witnessing steady growth across different segments.”

The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) is the most representative association of the Indian apparel industry having over 5000 members and serving more than 25,000 Retailers. Its Membership consists of Manufacturers, Exporters, Brands, and ancillary industry.

CMAI advocates regarding policies and also guides and encourages its members on ESG related matters and initiatives. In 2019, CMAI launched the SU.RE initiative to encourage members to embrace sustainability.

Established sixty (60) years ago, CMAI has contributed immensely towards development of the industry. In 1978

CMAI had led the creation of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). CMAI is also authorised by the Government of India to issue Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential) to Exporters.

CMAI is the only Indian Association that represents the entire Indian Apparel Industry & Trade on prestigious international forums such as International Apparel Federation (IAF) headquartered in Netherlands.