Since Diwali, Indore’s ready-made clothing producers have reduced their output by more than 20 per cent due to a drop in demand from usual outstation markets and a lacklustre Eid demand.
The main events for the apparel industry, which sees a significant spike in business after Diwali, are weddings and Eid. However, this season’s weak Eid queries have led to lower production at the majority of domestic factories.
Demand for Eid is low and the market’s weak demand has caused most manufacturers to cut production by 25–30 per cent. Demand declined after Diwali and did not increase again until February, said Ashish Nigam, president of the Readymade Textile Dealers Association, adding that the advance order book is weak because of the lacklustre demand.
Although intense competition keeps the margin on the lower side, the Readymade Textile Dealers Association reports that the export of ready-made clothing to Gulf countries has gradually improved in recent years, with more domestic companies entering the market.
According to garment makers, merchants and international markets usually start to place orders for Eid at least a month in advance. Eid is anticipated to occur on either 30th March 2025, or 31st March 2025, depending on whether the moon is visible.
More than 1,500 small-scale ready-made clothing manufacturers operate in Indore’s garment sector.
Manufacturers claim that the main markets for Indore’s ready-made clothing are Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, with around 50 per cent of supplies going to southern India.
