Sanjay Savkare, the Hon. Minister of Textiles for the Maharashtra government, attends the expo and pledges financial help and policy support.
Pan’s presence India In three days, retailers, distributors, and wholesalers generate substantial business through solid business interactions.
After an exciting three days from January 15 to 17, 2025, the 80th Edition of the National Garment Fair (NGF) Spring-Summer Edition, organized by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), came to a triumphant end in Mumbai at the Bombay Exhibition Centre. The Honorable Shri Sanjay Savkare, Minister of Textiles in the Maharashtra government, graced the occasion to pledge financial and policy support for the apparel industry.
With over 21,500 trade visitors, including national and regional retailers, distributors, and wholesalers, the show had impressive foot traffic, resulting in robust commercial interactions that portend a successful retail season. The tremendous turnout and thriving commercial activities at the 80th NGF further highlight how important CMAI is in forming the Indian clothing industry by offering a wide range of options for sourcing, networking, cooperation, and growth exploration.
“In this three-day trade show organized by CMAI, exhibitors of branded clothing manufacturers from all over India have gathered to develop business for the next four months,” stated Hon. Shri Sanjay Savkare, Minister of Textiles, Government of Maharashtra, during his visit to the 80th NGF organized by CMAI. It is anticipated that these three days would result in a substantial turnover as buyers and sellers from other states come to conduct business.
“We are now in the process of creating Maharashtra’s own budget for the textile industry. New requests are anticipated to emerge in the future, and we are now expecting such supplemental demands. Most of these requests are related to corporate and private sector subsidies. Additionally, we are working to create jobs in areas with high suicide rates, such as North Maharashtra. We have supported this by offering more incentives and subsidies in the energy industry with the goal of establishing manufacturing and jobs in these regions.
Speaking on the NGF 2025, Santosh Katariya, President of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), said, “The growing demand for the newest fashion collections and the expansion of retail networks are driving good momentum in the domestic garment sector.The fair’s significance has been further enhanced by the ongoing support and aggressive cooperation between brands and merchants, making it a major engine for industry connections and company expansion. With remarkable economic traction and significant order quantities documented, the fair’s success serves as evidence of this increasing trend. The encouraging comments from exhibitors highlight the industry’s tenacity and ongoing development, paving the way for a vibrant and successful season.
“As we move into 2025, the apparel industry is witnessing a significant shift in consumer demand,” remarked Anand Chokshi, Joint Chairman, National Garment Fair, Clothes Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), in reference to the present state of the domestic apparel industry. Demand has significantly increased in comparison to metro areas as companies continue to establish themselves in tier-2 and tier-3 markets. This year, quality, sustainability, and customized experiences are becoming more and more important in the expanding trend of conscious purchasing. These changing consumer tastes are changing the market and spurring expansion, setting up the clothing industry for a dynamic and revolutionary year.
The expo, which took up almost 700,000 square feet at the Bombay Exhibition, included 1220 brands from 1020 producers spread across 1120 booths. Highlighting the newest fashion trends and innovations for the forthcoming Spring-Summer season, the varied collections featured clothing for women, men, children, and accessories.
Avega spokesperson Bhumil Veera stated, “We have been a part of NGF for seven years. The foot traffic and response have been excellent. The reaction has been exceptional, particularly given that it is summer, which is usually a slower season. CMAI has performed admirably, consistently showcasing creative ideas and motivating exhibitors and purchasers. With weddings and festivals now approaching, we hope for a robust market. Trends in men’s clothing are changing just as swiftly as those in women’s clothing. We are always changing to satisfy our clients’ needs.
“This is my eighth season in CMAI’s NGF, and the response has been excellent,” stated Gaurav Sithya, Director of PRO Riders, another well-known men’s clothing business. We have the opportunity to reconnect with previous clients and acquire new ones each time we visit. Fast fashion will rule this upcoming year as the market grows more competitive. The fashion cycle is accelerating, and these themes are appearing in new textiles. In a month or two, what’s popular now could not be. New brands entering the market must adjust or risk falling behind as major brands release new collections every few months.
“This is our third year participating in CMAI and NGF, and while the response has been positive,” stated Shalini, a representative of the women’s clothing firm Stil-O-Stitch, located in Jaipur. Nonetheless, we still observe expansion and interaction with attendees from all across India. With the introduction of our plus-size line, we are putting a lot of emphasis on diversity in the clothing business. Whether it’s prints, embroidery, or other styles that suit our consumers, we want to provide them additional options. Given the increasing foot traffic and favorable reaction to our designs, we anticipate growth. The color palette is dominated by pastels, and boxy, simple regular fits are becoming more popular. People are choosing looser, more comfortable fits over tight clothing.
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.”
Recognised as the premier and highly anticipated bi-annual trade fair in India’s apparel industry, the National Garment Fair (NGF) by CMAI continues to be a cornerstone event for connecting national and regional brands, manufacturers, designers, and fashion accessories creators with retailers, distributors, agents, and e-commerce companies. This prestigious trade fair holds a prominent place in the industry, solidifying its reputation as the country’s leading platform for business networking and collaboration. NGF offers an unmatched sourcing experience, driving both time and cost efficiency for all stakeholders, while delivering valuable growth opportunities across the apparel sector.