By IANS
New Delhi : Nine of India's biggest fashion houses have come together under a common umbrella to accelerate the growth of the fashion, lifestyle and luxury retail industry, a move the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has backed.
"This is a very important step in the right direction for the Indian fashion industry," FDCI director general Rathi Vinay Jha said at a press conference here Friday to announce the formation of the Indiluxe Retail Council of India.
The initiative brings together Sailja Tahiliani of Ensemble, Sanjay Kapoor of Saamsara, Sangita Kathiwada of Melange, Sanjay Shroff of Ffolio, Amit Dholakia of Amara, Gayatri Ruia of Mogra, Kavita Bhartia of Ogaan, Sushil Jhaveri of Fuel, and Pradeep Hirani of Kimaya.
Together, they make up 90 percent of the buyers of Indian fashion designers' products.
"Retailers need to come together on a common platform to address their common concerns and leverage their strengths. FDCI shall, therefore, help the industry establish and maintain close links with their community," Jha added.
Hirani pointed out that globally, retail councils are forums that work towards the acceleration of the fashion industry's growth.
Toward this end, the Indian council will address issues of critical concern like plagiarism and the poaching of trained and qualified staff of fashion houses. It will also lay down guidelines and policies on the quality and prices of designer goods and work toward lowering the tax burden on the fashion industry.
It will also work toward generating corporate sponsorships for events like the FDCI-organised Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW).
"Indian fashion is now globally recognised. Its high time fashion houses joined hands and address their common concerns for the betterment of the industry as a whole," Hirani said.
"Fashion designers and fashion houses share a symbiotic relationship. We have to work for common goal of betterment of the fashion and lifestyle industry. I realised the need hence took the initiative to form such a collaboration," he explained.
Membership of the council is by invitation and it has categories for fashion designers, lifestyle and furniture stores, luxury leather goods, and Indian and international luxury brands.