The Hindu Business Line : Ladies garments top apparel exports

In fact, the ladies' garments segment is already at the top slot in the country's apparel export portfolio, currently accounting for over 45 per cent of shipments, according to industry estimates. Ladies' blouses — the country's top apparel export item — alone accounted for exports worth $909 million last fiscal. The other top export items include ladies' dresses, nightdresses and skirts. While dresses accounted for exports of $289 million, the exports of skirts and night dresses were worth $244 million and $289 million, respectively last fiscal.

"Indian exporters have carved out a niche for themselves in the middle and high-end apparel markets in the US and the EU. The ladies' segment is characterised by frequent changes in patterns and Indian exporters have been able to cater to these changes much better than their Chinese counterparts," a sector analyst said.

Besides the ladies' segments, the other categories topping the export list include T-shirts ($882 million), gents' shirts ($570 million), trousers and shorts ($503 million), sweater and cardigans ($255 million), overcoats, coats, blazers ($222 million) and babies' garments ($180 million).

With Indian exporters expected to be the second largest supplier of garments to the US and the EU, the driver for growth is expected to be the ladies' segment in the short and medium term, industry analysts said.

According to a Global Source report, India's garment manufacturers expect exports to reach $6.5 billion in 2005 — up 20 per cent from 2004. Led by the ladies' wear segment, the estimated growth figure for the current year is significant, as apparel exports have been growing at an average of only around 10 per cent annually since 2002.

Following the phasing out of the quota regime in global textiles trade , India is expected to have several competitive advantages, including the availability of relatively low-cost skilled labour and qualified designers, and also because it is one of the world's largest producers of cotton and man-made yarns and fabrics.

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