RItu Beri: India has potential of a Billion Buyers

Changing patterns among consumers, for whom "wants" have become "necessities", denote good times for those offering fashion and luxury products, says designer Ritu Beri.

"India's position as a target market for international brands has been improving, as is evident from the number of launches in the last six to seven years. This is because although the per capita income in India is low, India is a huge market, even for expensive products," Beri told IANS in an interview.

"In general, India has a potential of almost a billion buyers. Indians are now unapologetic about spending lavishly on luxury goods. The purchasing power of Indians has indeed gone up. For the consumer, wants have become necessities," she added.

In the business for over two decades now, Ritu Beri feels that the Indian fashion industry has got a huge potential.

"My vision for the future of the domestic fashion industry for Indian designers is to develop corporate fashion houses along the lines of their successful western counterparts. This would involve our designers establishing strong brand identity by utilizing niche aspects of Indian culture.

A case in point is that of several Japanese brand names, while preserving the spirit of Japanese influence in their designs. This has enabled them to carve out a special niche for themselves in the competitive world of international fashion."

Over the years, Beri has made a mark with her chic apparels, having started at a time when the Indian fashion industry was at its nascent stage. Ever since, she has showcased at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week and dressed up noted international celebrities such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles and Nicole Kidman - a representation of the inroads that Indian fashion has made into the world outside.

A graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, the designer launched her label in India in 1990. She became the first Indian designer to present a show in Paris, where she successfully launched her first luxe collection in 1998. Her gradual success led her to be named by Time magazine among the People to Watch in International Business.

http://www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/fashion-and-beauty/ritu-beri-india-has-potential-of-a-billion-buyers-64759.html

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