81st National Garment Fair ends with Rs 25 Bn business and 50,000 buyers

The women’s and men’s segment of the trade show garnered an excellent response from both exhibitors and buyers.

The 81st National Garment Fair (NGF) – women’s and men’s wear edition, organised by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) held from July 14 to 16, 2025 turned out to be a landmark trade fair that surpassed industry expectations. Together, both NGF segments —kidswear held last month and recently concluded women’s and men’s wear was India’s largest apparel trade show that generating an estimated business turnover of Rs 25 billion by drawing a record turnout of 50000 buyers mainly retailers, distributors, agents and wholesalers from across the country.

The women’s and men’s segment of the trade show garnered an excellent response from both exhibitors and buyers. The fair saw healthy order placements, with many exhibitors securing bulk order bookings ahead of the festive season reflecting a robust demand and continued demand for apparel. The fair featured more than 800 menswear and womenswear brands and over 40 accessories labels apart from 590 Kidswear brands in both segments.

Witnessing the growth of the apparel industry, Santosh Katariya, President of CMAIremarked, “The Indian apparel landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, shaped by a young, aspirational, and trendsetter consumer base. Today’s consumers are no longer confined to traditional fashion norms—they are increasingly embracing contemporary styles that seamlessly blend global trends with Indian sensibilities. As incomes grow and choices evolve, apparel is becoming a more occasional and lifestyle-led category, opening new opportunities for brands, designers, manufacturers and retailers.”

Speaking about the success of Women’s and Men’s wear edition, Rohit Munjal, Vice President and Chairman of the Fair Sub-Committee, CMAI, said, “This edition reflected how trade events are helping brands to shape the Indian apparel market. This year, buyers at both segments were able to have focused and productive sourcing time which helped drive strong order placements. The overall response has been very encouraging and satisfying with a record visitor turnout that exceeded expectations.”

Speaking on broader industry trends, Anand Chokshi, Joint Chairman, Fair Sub-Committee, CMAI, said,“The Indian apparel market is experiencing unprecedented transformation, as tier-2 and tier-3 cities drive real growth beyond traditional metro markets. Women’s wear is witnessing modern makeovers of traditional outfits like sarees and lehengas alongside seamless East-West fusion and bold prints making a comeback. Men’s fashion is blending athleisure, casual and formal wear with softer tones and traditional looks. Participants proactively presented accessible fashion collections with regional preferences.”

Some of the notable Women’s and Men’s wear retail brands that visited the fair included – Sohum Shoppe (Guwahati), GV Mall (Khammam), Asopalav (Ahmedabad), Pakiza Retails (Indore), B S Channabasappa & Sons (Karnataka), Shree Shivam Attire (Indore), Sanjay Textile Store (Jaipur), and Rajwadi Emporium (Valsad). Their presence underscored the fair’s role as an important platform for discovering the latest trends and innovation in Women’s and Men’s wear.

Radhika Jalan, Tandhan Fashion, Women’s wear brand from Kolkata,said,“This is our first time participating in CMAI, and the response has been very good. I’m really happy with the footfall and the kind of visibility we’ve received. With the kind of response we’ve received, we would definitely love to participate again in future editions.”

Another Participant in Women’s Wear, Purvi Agarwal, Linen and Linens Wear from Mumbai,expressed, “We are overwhelmed with the response. There’s been a good inflow of customers, and the feedback has been really positive. We’re confident that this is going to be a great experience and it’s definitely bringing us back again.”

Raghushree Poddar, REME Lifestyle, Women’s wear brand from Jaipur, added,“I started coming to NGF a few years ago, and it’s been our biggest exposure to the domestic market for designers like me. I remember starting with just 15 pieces of linen, and today I have over 500 designs for buyers. All my positive thoughts go to CMAI because it helped shape me into the ‘REME lady’ that I am today.”

Naman Singhal, VANAM by SBS, Men’s wear brand from Kolkata,said, “This is my first year at NGF, and I must say the infrastructure, the team, the setup, it’s all brilliant. I had a great show and the customer walk-ins have been simply outstanding. Overall, it’s been a very positive and soothing experience.”

Vishesh Dadu, Dadu Apparels, Men’s wear brand from New Delhi, expressed with joy, “This is our first time participating as an exhibitor though we’ve been associated with CMAI for over 20 years. The response from customers has been phenomenal. This feels like an entirely different part of the world compared to Delhi, the buyers here have a distinct taste and a keen eye for detail.”

Shriniwas Choudhary, Aditya Shirts, Men’s wear brand from Mumbai, commented, “We’ve been participating for the last 21 years, and every year we’ve witnessed growth. The response has been really good. There’s a lot of footfall and strong order bookings. We are also seeing buyers from new markets. There’s a definite buzz and vibrant energy on the show floor.”

The Indian apparel market is entering a phase of redefinition. Consumer preferences are no longer dictated by metro trends alone, there’s a growing pulse in regional markets, driven by aspiration, digital influence, and a strong sense of identity. We’re seeing fashion choices becoming more conscious, custom-driven, and seasonless. To stay relevant, brands must not just follow trends, but anticipate needs, reflect local stories, and deliver value across both design and experience.

Recognized as the largest and highly anticipated trade fair in the Indian Apparel Industry, the National Garment Fair by CMAI serves as a vital platform for connecting National and Regional Brands, Manufacturers, Designers, and Fashion Accessories manufacturers with Retailers, Agents, Distributors, and E-commerce Companies. This biannual event holds significant prestige in the industry and is widely regarded as India’s foremost trade fair, offering a comprehensive sourcing platform that maximizes both time and cost efficiency for all stakeholders involved.