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India for quality, China for quantity: Harrods
British superstore Harrods has come seeking individuality steeped in tradition at the Lakme India Fashion Week, the store's representative Jason Broderick has said.
British superstore Harrods has come seeking individuality steeped in tradition at the Lakme India Fashion Week, the store's representative Jason Broderick has said.
"We are very bullish about India," Broderick said. "We see the garments export sector here leapfrog in future. I am seeing a lot of energy here, lots of bright colours, silks and cottons."
In a post-textile quota world, Broderick said the fashion world is looking to China for numbers and India for value-addition.
"We are looking at China for quantity, India for quality, China for mass production, India for more niche stuff," said Broderick, buyer (evening wear, millinery, Armani and Max Mara) for Harrods.
This is the first time Harrods has sent a representative to the fashion week. Broderick is in India as a guest of the Fashion Design Council of India, the apex body of the fashion in the country.
"The Indian market is alive with energy," said Broderick, adding, "However, it is suitable for the Indian market. At the moment, it seems to be developing in a different direction (from the international mass market or the European market)."
He has, though, liked a few "jackets and tiered skirts with beading". The luxury eveningwear buyer said that India's tradition of heavily embellished garments could be worked into high-end eveningwear for the global market.
"The thing about luxury buying is that the things we buy have to be of impeccable quality - expensive fabric, great finish. These are some issues that I would be looking at very closely," said Broderick.
"We certainly feel that there is a niche demand for clothes from India or with the Indian element in Britain and in the global fashion world. Our main markets are in the Middle East and Russia, where there are buyers with lots of money power and they really demand the best. But it has to fit into their lifestyle."
The work of current Indian designers, said Broderick, could be refined to match global demand but refused to name any particular designer that he had found promising. "The market is becoming mature and we see lots of potential here."
