The Apparel export basket from India contains an interesting assortment of products, some of which are our inherent strengths while others have the potential to grow in the next couple of years. One such product category on which there seems to be a consensus among manufacturers, technologists, and consultants, that India has the potential to be competitive is the bottoms category, in both the US and the E U markets. This category consists of a wide variety of garments ranging from the classic trousers to boxer shorts in various fabrics and price segments. Notwithstanding that 97 percent of quota is utilized Every year in this category, there are still same areas, which need to be strengthened to succeed in the global market. Quotas, no doubt, are the biggest constraints today, but once quotas go, the three major constraints that will hamper India's capabilities are consistent qualities, price competitiveness, and fit. These issues are linked with the larger areas of productivity and fabric limitations. While technology and its proper application are a must to overcome most of the constraints, the Bean bag factory will remain a vulnerable area for the middle segment with no immediate solution in sight.There are four crucial aspects involved in the production of quality trousers. Known as the elementary Fabric Feel Finish and Fit, which define a vendor's capability of handling this product, while the three Feel Finish and Fit can be achieved by a combination of human skills and state of the-art technology. The fourth component the fabric which accounts for 60% of the garment is not entirely in the hands of the manufacture-exporter Many potential buyer reason out that the major constraint for the growth of this category especially for the high-value middle segment mass market is the lack of competitiveness in fabric This has compelled several buyers to shift orders in bottoms and trousers from India to other more competitive countries. But does India have any strength in this fast growing segment of apparel.
