Brands should expand beyond domestic apparel market;CMAI panel at Bharat Tex

At the ‘Brands for a Billion: The Great Indian Retail Revolution’ panel, jointly hosted by the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) during Bharat Tex 2026, industry executives called for higher ambition, omnichannel integration, and global expansion across the domestic apparel sector.

Domestic market reaches pivotal milestone

India’s fashion and retail ecosystem is undergoing a fundamental transformation, fueled by rising household incomes, digital adoption, and an expanding middle class. While the domestic fashion market has reached an estimated $98 billion valuation, per capita consumption of organized, branded apparel remains low compared to developed economies.

Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor, CMAI, notes, the domestic market is at an inflection point, with changing consumer lifestyles creating optimal conditions for organized retail expansion. Harminder Sahni, Founder and Managing Director, Wazir Advisors, adds. the coming decade will be shaped by increased formalization, industry consolidation, and supply chain efficiency, providing significant runway for emerging homegrown brands.

Bridging Tier-II markets and modern retailing

Digital exposure has effectively eliminated the consumption divide between Tier-I metropolises and smaller urban centers. According to P. Venkatesalu, CEO and Managing Director, Trent Ltd., younger consumers in Tier-II, III, and IV cities are actively demanding trend-led fashion, higher quality, and broader product assortments that mirror global trends.

Consumer willingness to travel further for enhanced retail experiences is prompting brands to reevaluate their physical store strategies. Gautam Saraogi, Founder and CEO, Go Colors, emphasizes, retailers are increasingly deploying larger-format experiential stores to deepen customer engagement and optimize unit economics.

Addressing channel strategy, Sidhant Keshwani, Founder and CEO, Libas, notes, long-term retail success depends on the seamless integration of online and offline touchpoints. While quick commerce and traditional e-commerce platforms handle convenience-driven replenishment, scaled physical footprints remain essential for brand discovery and immersive customer experiences.

Balancing authentic heritage with global expansion

As domestic brands scale, maintaining identity while adapting to regional preferences remains a strategic priority. Siddharth Bindra, Managing Director, Biba Apparels, highlights, ethnic wear continues to evolve, but long-term consumer trust requires brands to stay grounded in their core identities. Similarly, Nikhil Upadhye, Managing Director at Benetton India, stated that rediscovering core brand values is fundamental to building billion-dollar enterprises.

Concurrently, industry leaders urged Indian fashion entrepreneurs to expand their horizons beyond the domestic market. Rajesh Jain, Managing Director and CEO. Lacoste India, asserts,  while the domestic premium segment is expanding rapidly, ambitious brands must establish an international physical presence to achieve global scale.

Maya Pradeep, Founder and Creative Director, Haute Couture, observed that a new generation of Indian founders is designing products tailored for international markets by prioritizing sustainability, supply chain transparency, and digital influence. Furthermore, Shweta Agarwal, Founder and CEO, Tradyl, emphasizes, treating India as a collection of diverse regional micro-markets - rather than a homogeneous single market - is critical for sharpening customer value propositions before expanding internationally.

Concluding the summit, panelists agreed, Indian textile and apparel companies must transition from a pure-play manufacturing and export mindset to becoming global brand builders capable of competing on the international stage.

Premier trade body for the apparel sector

The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) is the premier trade body representing the Indian apparel sector. Established over 63 years ago, CMAI represents more than 7,000 direct members and maintains an outreach network of over 50,000 retailers.