Textile and clothing sector is one of the oldest industries in India. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), “The close linkage of the textile industry to agriculture (for raw materials such as cotton) and the ancient culture and traditions of the country in terms of textiles make the Indian textiles sector unique in comparison to the industries of other countries”.
The Indian textile industry is estimated around 108 billion dollar and expected to reach 223 billion dollar by 2021. The industry also employs over 45 million people directly to 60 million people indirectly. The Indian Textile Industry contributes approximately 5 per cent to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), and 14 per cent to overall Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The textile industry is also one of the largest contributor to India’s export with approximately 13.5 percent of total export amounting 42.24 billion dollars.
Brands like Benetton, Zodiac, Z3, Zara, Vero Moda, Calvin Klein, Diesel and Tommy Hilfiger have experienced good sales growth in the country, while names like Zara, Armani, Forever21 or Uniqlo appeal to the Indian audiences, attracting higher per square foot sales compared to the departmental or hypermarket stores.
On the other hand, Indian companies like the Arvind group, Madura Fashion and Lifestyle, Raymond Apparel, Trent Retail, Reliance Retail and Future Group has launched their own fashion labels.
| Company name: | Market value | Annual revenue | Company type |
| Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail | 3 billion dollar | 400 million dollars | Public |
| Vardhman Group | 1.7 billion dollar | 1.1 billion dollars | Public |
| Arvind Limited | 1.6 billion dollar | 850 million dollars | Public |
| Raymond Limited | 1 billion dollar | 800 million dollars | Public |
