Welcome to India
The staggering pace at which business intistutions, practices and beliefs are changing today will have its impact felt for years to come. Sustainability of trade equations and profitability in these turbulent times are no longer matters of just strategy, but of definition in business itself.
Global economies are becoming more interdependent than ever before and country-based and political boundaries are giving way to regional economic alliances and commercial cooperation across continents. Traditional competitors are no longer being looked at as opponents to defeat but as potential allies to help mutual survival.
The scene in the fashion industry is no different.
The 25th IAF World Apparel Convention will be held against this challenging back-drop to explore experiences, opinions, strategies and the possibilities of forging inter-dependent relationships throughout the entire fashion industry value chain. What better a venue to reflect on these ideas than India! The land of tradition, history, culture and now, of opportunities!
A major supplier to the world’s fashion markets, India is also fast emerging as a promising market for global brands and retailers. A fast growing economy powered equally by agriculture, manufacturing and services, through public spending and private consumption, it is home to a growing number of global players. Otherwise known as the world’s largest democracy and melting pot of different cultures, languages, religions and foreign influences, India also contributes significantly to the world’s textile and apparel market. The textile and apparel industry also forms the backbone of India’s recent economic boom.
With an educative tour to some of the leading apparel and textile factories in the region, visits to the emerging retail landscape and an equally interesting leisure tour through India’s historical treasures, the IAF proudly welcomes you to the Silver Jubilee Convention 2009 in New Delhi, India.
Namaste!
Program and speakers
Wednesday, November 18th IAF Meetings
(Executive Committee, Board of Directors, General Assembly, Technical Committee, GR Committee, Education Committee
(IAF Members only)
IAF Dinner for international delegates
Thursday, November 19th
Inaugural Session of the 25th IAF World Apparel Convention
Session I: From vertical integration to virtual integration: a way forward?
What are the evolving models for long term and more sustainable businesses?
Are fashion brands, apparel suppliers and textile manufacturers ready for more meaningful relationships?
What is the future for the traditional buyer-seller equations?
Session 2: Asia – From a sourcing hub to a fashion destination
Is Asia a promising fashion desitination for international brands and retailers?
How easy is it to supply into the same markets that you source from?
Session 3: Fair Trade – is it really fair?
How can apparel fashion ensure fair trade?
Should International Social Compliance Norms be comliant to local conditions?
How can social and environmental responsibilities be shared throughout the value chain?
How can awareness and education be more effective?
IAF International Designer Award Show 2009 & Dinner
Friday, November 20th
Session 4: India – a destination to partnerships: an exciting retail opportunity for international fashion
Apart from being a major sourcing base, India features significantly on the radar of most international brands and retailers as an emerging marketplace. India’s organized retail sector has seen a phenomenal organic growth through expansion and inorganic growth through M&A and partnerships such as licensing, franchise and joint ventures in the coming years.
How is the retail landscape in fashion going to evolve in India?
What are the opportunities for IAF in India?
Session 5: Branding your way into emerging markets: dealing with cultural influences on apparel fashion
What are the cultural, religious, and climatic influences on apparel fashion?
How to sell international fashion in a traditional Asia
Does apparel fashion really address design, color and seasonal preferences of consumers in diversified emerging markets?
Session 6: From fashion savvy to tech savvy: technology to the rescue of fast fashion
How is fast fashion using newer Technologies and applications for shorter runs and quick turnarounds?
Is PLM the best way to virtually integrate the entire apparel supply chain?
Presentation of the 26th IAF World Apparel Convention
Farewell Cocktails
Please contact the IAF Secretariat if you would like to receive the presentations.
Study Tour: Discover Incredible India
The IAF convention will be followed by an optional study tour in the Golden Triangle of India. The famous Golden Triangle of India covers three most beautiful and captivating cities of the country: Delhi (the capital of India), Agra (the city of Taj) and Jaipur (the land of Rajput kings). It is actually a kaleidoscope that presents the Indian pageantry at its most colorful and offers you a dazzling vista of stately and grandiose architectural buildings, forts and palaces with a legendary heritage and a fertile and affluent tradition of art and culture. These cities are undoubtedly, the epitomes of Indian cultural, historical and architectural heritage and have all been the capitals of the princely states in the past.
Saturday, 21 November: Delhi
09:00 Depart from Taj Palace Hotel for a sightseeing tour in Delhi
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Factory visit
17:00 Shopping mall visit to see apparel shops and brands
Evening: free time
Sunday, 22 November: Agra
Agra! The city made famous by the magnificent Taj Mahal–the seventh wonder of the world! A small city but an intrinsic part of the Indian tourist triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, in the 16th and 17th centuries, strains of its former glory are still reflected in the city. Sikandar Lodi chose to make Agra his capital in 1501. The early Mughal emperors too ruled from Agra. Some of the monuments in this city date back to the reigns of the Mughal emperors Babur and Humayun. It was Humayun’s son Akbar, who ruled from Fatehpur Sikri between 1570 and 1585 and once again from 1599 to 1605 (having moved to Lahore for a short period of time) and his grandson Jehangir who initiated Agra’s ascent to glory! Jehangir, however, chose to spend much of his time in the beautiful Kashmir Valley. It was Shah Jahan who built the Jama Masjid, some of the buildings in Agra Fort and of course, the glorious Taj Mahal!
08:00 check out from Taj Palace Hotel
08:30 leave for Agra by air conditioned coach
13:30 arrival in Agra, check in at the Gateway Hotel, part of the Taj Group
14:00 lunch at The Trident Hotel in Agra
17:00 sunset visit to the Taj Mahal.
Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder, which is always the sole raison-de-etre for every tourist’s visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
19.30 return to hotel
20.30 dinner
Monday, 23 November: Jaipur
06:30 visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise (optional)
08:30 check out from hotel
09.00 visit to Fatehpur Sikri. Situated about 40 kms from Agra, this was the erstwhile
capital of the great Mughal ruler – Emperor Akbar.
This magnificent fort palace had to be abandoned after just 15 years of occupation
due to lack of potable water.
12.30 lunch at Udai Vilas Palace Hotel in Bharatpur and leave for Jaipur
Jaipur is the first planned city of India, located in the desert lands of Rajasthan. The city that once had been the capital of the royalty, now serves as the capital city of Rajasthan. The very structure of Jaipur resembles the taste of the Rajputs and the Royal family. In the present date, Jaipur is the major business centre for the natives of Rajasthan with all requisites of a metropolitan city. The city of Jaipur, painted in pink, grasp the appreciation of every visitor. One can see that hoary charm still alive in the avenues of Jaipur. The active streets of Jaipur get plenty of visitors, every year at their footsteps. The Ancient Testimonials in the form of mind-blowing monuments remind one of the past ages. The city comprises the famous structures like Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amber Fort, the best architectural examples of India. Artistic temples and gardens of Jaipur, marks the atmosphere of serenity and aestheticism to the lands of Rajasthan. All theses features make Jaipur, one of the most sought after tourist destinations of Rajasthan, India. The glorious city boasts of its cultural heritage from every nook and corner. Jaipur is the reservoir of Indian customs, traditions, civilization and legacy.
17:00 arrival in Jaipur and check in at the famous Rambagh Palace Hotel.
19:30 Elephant Polo Match and dinner.
In the land of Maharajas & Princes, Palaces & Forts, the game of Elephant Polo was one of the ultimate Royal experiences. As in yesteryears, your arrival is accompanied by the beating of “Nagadas” (Huge Indian drums) and a tableau of horses and camels along with ladies attired in traditional costumes add to the royal welcome, before the start of the Tuesday, 24 November: Jaipur & Delhi
08.00 check out from hotel
08.30 visits to the Amber Fort and City Palace. The Amber Fort is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace, with its rugged, time-ravaged walls and fascinating palaces inside. Visit the enchanting palaces and gardens inside the fort palace to complete your tour. The City Palace is the former residence of the royal family, a part of which is converted into a museum. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the old city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the Armory Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry.
12:30 lunch at the Spice Court restaurant in the heart of Jaipur’s posh area.
14:00 Drive to Bagru village, famous for its typical wooden prints. These prints of Bagru are acclaimed all over India and are particularly known as Bagru prints. The Prints of Bagru, unlike other prints, involve a different kind of printing. The unique method for printing employs wooden block in it. In the process, the desired design is engraved on the wooden block first and then the carved block is used for replicating the design in the preferred color on the fabric.
appr. 17:.00 end of our study tour
The group will be brought to Jaipur airport for a flight back to Delhi or to other destinations. Please book your own trip back home. There are several flights i.e. IT Red 4302 from Jaipur at 19:00 (arrival 20.05) to Delhi domestic airport (close to international airport). The cost of this ticket is not included in the fee for this study tour.
